Vince McMahon is now under federal investigation.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Vince McMahon is under federal investigation for sexual assault and sex trafficking.
On January 25, a lawsuit was filed by Janel Grant against Vince McMahon, WWE and former executive John Laurinaitis. The lawsuit accuses McMahon of sex trafficking, emotional abuse, and sexual assault. The lawsuit includes disturbing details of how Janel was treated sexually, physically, mentally, and emotionally.
The report states that New York prosecutors have been in contact with women who have accused McMahon of sexual misconduct.
In a statement to the Wall Street Journal, McMahon denied Grant’s allegations and said the federal probe won’t find wrongdoing. He referred to a statement from last week: “I intend to vigorously defend myself against these baseless accusations, and look forward to clearing my name.”
In the summer of 2023, federal agents executed a search warrant for McMahon’s phone and delivered a subpoena to him for documents related to any allegation of “rape, sex trafficking, sexual assault, commercial sex transaction, harassment or discrimination” against current or former WWE employees.
The subpoena sought communications between McMahon and these women, including Grant.
The other women named in the grand jury subpoena include a WWE contractor whom McMahon allegedly sent unsolicited nude photos and sexually harassed; a former WWE wrestler who said McMahon coerced her into giving him oral sex; former WWE referee Rita Chatterton, who publicly accused McMahon of raping her; a spa manager who said McMahon assaulted her at a Southern California resort; and a former WWE employee who alleged the head of talent relations at the company at the time, John Laurinaitis, demoted her after she broke off an affair with him.
McMahon settled with Chatteron in January 2023.
Grant and at least four of the women named in the grand jury subpoena had entered into settlement agreements with McMahon over allegations of sexual misconduct. Prosecutors have reportedly interviewed some of the women.
McMahon resigned from his position as TKO Executive Chairman and as a member of the TKO board of directors on January 26.
Laurinaitis, through his lawyer, denied the allegations against his client and claimed that Laurinaitis is also a victim.
The lawsuit describes, in graphic detail, Grant's account of her interactions with McMahon. Readers can view the lawsuit, which comes with a trigger warning, by clicking here.
Victim Resources:
National Sexual Assault Hotline
Hours: Available 24 hours
1-800-656-4673
