Houston Texan quarterback Deshaun Watson is under investigation by the FBI on alllegations of sexual assault and inappropriate behavior. Waston’s legal representative, Rusty Hardin said on Wednesday that his client had already spoken with the investigating agency on the 22 active lawsuits filed against him.
In the lawsuits, 22 women have accused Watson of exposing himself, touching them with his penis or kissing them against their will during massage sessions. The footballer has denied the accusations although his lawyers have said “some sexual activity” did happen during these sessions, but his client has never coerced anyone.
Tony Buzbee, legal counsel for the women suing Watson, told the Associated Press that the FBI had reached out to him and some of his clients about the case. The FBI’s involvement prompted Watson’s lead attorney to hold a news conference to say that the quarterback had already spoken with the investigating agency earlier this year.
According to ESPN, Hardin spoke with the outlet saying that 10 women have filed complaints about Watson with the Houston Police department. However, only eight of the complainants are among those who filed the 22 lawsuits for allegedly sexually assaulting or engaging in sexually inappropriate behavior during massage sessions.
Hardin added that NFL investigators have not yet interviewed the quarterback regarding the matter as the League he said, regularly tries not to reach out to the defendant and his lawyers until the criminal investigation is over. "Historically, they want to make sure they don't interfere with the criminal investigation. I have had no contact with the NFL except to call initially and say, whenever the time is appropriate, we will fully cooperate,” Hardin explained.
Meanwhile, Buzbee said that Hardin has been attacking the women pressing charges on Watson saying the latter was mainly focused on attacking him and his clients.
During the news conference Hardin said the FBI agents approached him in April over allegations that one of the women who sued Watson tried to extort $30,000 from him and claimed the player forced her to perform oral sex.
Hardin read text messages to Watson sent by the same woman and said that none of the messages made mention of the alleged attack that took place on Dec. 28, 2020 adding that she had even “apologize[d] for my actions."
He reiterated that Watson and his legal team will continue to fully cooperate with both Houston police and the Harris County District Attorney’s office as well as with the NFL in its subsequent investigation.
