FORMER WWE boss Vince McMahon is being investigated by federal authorities over allegations of sex trafficking.
McMahon, 78, stepped down as the head of WWE’s parent company TKO Group Holdings last month after bombshell accusations from ex-employee Janel Grant.
The former WWE boss resigned from TKO Holdings last week after a former employee accused him of sexual assault and trafficking[/caption]Grant claims she was “the victim of physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault, and trafficking” during her time with the wrestling organization.
McMahon is now under federal investigation, The Wall Street Journal.
Federal agents “executed a search warrant for McMahon’s phone” over the summer and subpoenaed him for any documents related to the alleged crimes, including conversations with Grant, the Journal reported.
The subpoena, issued by a grand jury, also named several other women who had received payments from McMahon after accusing him of sexual assault and who prosecutors have since been interviewing, according to the Journal.
A spokesperson for McMahon said the lawsuit is “replete with lies, obscene made-up instances that never occurred, and a vindictive distortion of the truth,” per NBC.
“I intend to vigorously defend myself,” McMahon added.
Grant began working at WWE’s Connecticut headquarters in June 2019.
ALLEGATIONS AGAINST MCMAHON
The suit claims McMahon began sending Grant sexually explicit messages and making sexual demands after creating a position for her in the company’s legal department.
Grant also alleged that in March 2022, McMahon tried to traffic her to a top WWE superstar.
McMahon texted her, “Part of the deal was f**king U,” the suit claims.
The WWE superstar in question was not named in the lawsuit.
McMahon stepped down as CEO and chairman of the WWE in June 2022.
It followed a bombshell report by the Wall Street Journal accusing him of paying $12 million in hush payments to four women.
McMahon resigned from his position with TKO on January 26, just a day after Grant’s suit was made public.
“I stand by my prior statement that Ms. Grant’s lawsuit is replete with lies, obscene made-up instances that never occurred, and is a vindictive distortion of the truth,” McMahon said on Friday night in a statement obtained by Deadline.
“I intend to vigorously defend myself against these baseless accusations, and look forward to clearing my name.
“However, out of respect for the WWE Universe, the extraordinary TKO business and its board members and shareholders, partners and constituents, and all of the employees and Superstars who helped make WWE into the global leader it is today, I have decided to resign from my executive chairmanship and the TKO board of directors, effectively immediately.”
More to follow…
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