Getty Images
Rusty Hardin, the lawyer for Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, released his most detailed statement in which he claims that Watson sexually harassed and assaulted about two dozen women who were employed to give him massages.
In the statement, Hardin said allegations of sexual assault against Watson were false, and he said one of the plaintiffs who filed a lawsuit against Watson was trying to blackmail him.
Hardin issued the following statement to PFT:
“I want to emphasize at the outset that Deshaun and I acknowledge that sexual assault and harassment are not only illegal but also morally wrong. It takes courage for women to come forward to report abuse, especially if they attach their names to a lawsuit. We do not take these allegations lightly. Equity for the accused, however, is equally important.
” Opposing lawyers have organized a circus-like atmosphere by using 14 ‘Jane Doe’ cases on social media over the past seven days in a way that is calculated to incite the public and malicious Deshaun’s otherwise excellent reputation. The tactic of refusing our requests to provide the names of the plaintiffs confidentially makes the uncovering of the truth extremely difficult. Anonymity is often needed as a shield for victims, but opponents’ advice used it as a sword to humiliate Deshaun in public before the truth-seeking process could begin.
‘I believe that any allegation that Deshaun forced a woman to commit a sexual act is completely false. And in the one case in which we were able to identify a plaintiff, we have strong evidence that the allegation is false. In January of this year, a woman tried to blackmail Deshaun by claiming $ 30,000 in exchange for her “indefinite silence” over what she said was an agreement. We believe that this woman is the plaintiff in the case 2021-15613. (Please see the attached statement by Bryan Burney.) It also questions the legitimacy of the other cases.
‘Over the past week, we have received numerous unsolicited comments from many licensed massage therapists who have worked with Deshaun in recent years. These women describe him as a gentleman and a model client who never engaged in inappropriate behavior. Before these blissful claims, everyone who associated him with Deshaun did indeed describe him as an outstanding, respectful, and compassionate man.
‘Once again we take the allegations very seriously, but we only ask that people should not rush to judgment, that people should not be unduly influenced by the antics of the conflicting council, and that they let fundamental justice rule on both sides. Thank you for your patience and understanding. ”