Prosecutors in New York are currently investigating allegations of sexual misconduct made against former WWE chairman Vince McMahon, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. The investigation stems from claims made by women who have accused McMahon of various forms of sexual misconduct, including rape, sex trafficking, sexual assault, and harassment.
The investigation, which began in 2022, gained traction when it was revealed that McMahon had paid hush money to his accusers while he was CEO of the WWE. McMahon resigned from his positions within the company and its parent company TKO Holdings after former employee Janel Grant filed a lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault and trafficking. McMahon has denied these allegations, while the WWE has not addressed them.
The Wall Street Journal also reported that a grand jury subpoena has sought communication between McMahon and the women who have made these accusations, including Grant. The subpoena includes several other women who have made similar allegations against McMahon. These women include a WWE contractor who claims McMahon sent her unsolicited nude photos and sexually harassed her, a former WWE wrestler who alleges McMahon coerced her into performing oral sex, and a spa manager who says McMahon assaulted her at a Southern California resort. Additionally, a former WWE employee accused the head of talent relations at the time, John Laurinaitis, of demoting her after she ended an affair with him.
Among the women named in the subpoena is former WWE referee Rita Chatterton, who publicly accused McMahon of raping her. McMahon has denied this claim and settled the case to avoid litigation costs, according to his lawyer.
Janel Grant’s lawsuit specifically alleges that McMahon pressured or forced her into a sexual relationship with Laurinaitis and that both McMahon and Laurinaitis sexually assaulted her in the WWE office during work hours. Laurinaitis’s lawyer has released a statement denying the allegations and asserting that his client is a victim in this case.
The investigation into these allegations against Vince McMahon is ongoing, and prosecutors are actively speaking to the women involved. McMahon has stated that he intends to vigorously defend himself against these accusations and clear his name. As the case unfolds, it remains to be seen how these allegations will impact McMahon’s reputation and the future of the WWE.
