The NFL is opening an investigation into the sexual assault charges against Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Tony Buzbee, a senior Texas lawyer who has already filed three lawsuits on behalf of Jane Does and says nine women hired him to file cases against Watson, posted a “confidential” letter on Instagram that was sent to him by Lisa Friel, the NFL’s special investigation lawyer. Later, Buzbee deleted the post. The Texans confirmed in a statement that the league is reviewing the allegations according to its personal conduct policy.
“I am writing to inform you that the League has opened an investigation into these allegations and to request the cooperation of your customers in our investigation,” Friel wrote in a letter posted by Buzbee on Thursday. “Such cooperation would begin with engaging in Zoom interviews with me and another League investigator in which, of course, you would be present. Please let me know as soon as possible if your clients are willing to help us with the investigation of their allegations. ”
Buzbee said on Instagram on Thursday that the accusations of all nine women are “similar.” The first three lawsuits in Harris County, Texas, claim that Watson sexually assaulted massage therapists. The first two claim that the defender assaulted the women “by touching her with his penis”. These two incidents allegedly took place in March and August 2020, respectively, according to the lawsuits.
The third lawsuit alleges that Watson forced another massage therapist to “have oral sex” on December 28, 2020. Watson, according to the lawsuit, dictated “aggressively” where the woman should touch him during a massage. He repeatedly told her to work on her “inner thighs” and “inner glutes.”
As the massage therapist became uncomfortable, Watson “repeatedly clarified that he was a professional football player who could help or hurt her career,” the lawsuit said. Watson later allegedly “became more aggressive” and told the woman to “slide her hand over her genitals,” according to the lawsuit. Then, according to the trial, Watson “forced the applicant to move his mouth to his penis, forcing the applicant to have oral sex”.
Watson, 25, has publicly denied the initial allegation, but has not made a statement since. Three times Pro Bowler disagreed with the Texans and requested a transaction.
“We continue to take this and all the issues involving anyone in the Houston Texans seriously,” the team said.