Vince McMahon Sexual Abuse Suit Paused for DOJ Investigation

The former employee who accused WWE founder Vince McMahon of sexual abuse has paused her lawsuit against McMahon, former WWE exec John Laurinaitis, and the WWE itself, as the Department of Justice continues its own investigation.

Janel Grant filed her suit in January, alleging among other things that McMahon and Laurinatis sexually assaulted her in Laurinatis’ office at the WWE headquarters. By February, news had surfaced that McMahon had faced a federal probe since 2022.

“Ms. Grant has consented to a request by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York to stay her case against Mr. McMahon, WWE and Mr. Laurinaitis, pursuant to a pending non-public investigation,” Grant’s attorney Ann Callis said in a statement provided to Rolling Stone. “We will cooperate with all appropriate next steps.”

McMahon originally stepped down from his role at the WWE in 2022 after an internal probe detailing allegations of hush-money payments to a former employee, but McMahon returned to his post in 2023, stepping down once again after Grant’s lawsuit in January. Aside from the assault allegation, among other claims, Grant alleged that McMahon used her “as a sexual pawn” to retain an unnamed “WWE superstar” while negotiating a new contract.

While McMahon resigned, he’s denied the allegations.

In a statement to The Wrap, McMahon’s attorney said “we remain confident the evidence will prove Ms. Grant’s allegations are false and her complaint is nothing more than a fabricated, vindictive narrative from a disgruntled former girlfriend.”