Vince McMahon Sex Trafficking Lawsuit Update – Janel Grant Pauses Lawsuit at Request of U.S. Attorneys, Department of Justice Joins In as “Interested Party”

As noted before, former WWE employee Janel Grant filed a lawsuit this past January against TKO Executive Chairman Vince McMahon accusing McMahon of committing sex trafficking and sexual abuse towards her during her time in the company. McMahon, former WWE Head of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis, and WWE all recently filed motions requesting for Grant’s lawsuit to be moved to private arbitration.

Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw reported that Grant recently agreed to pause her lawsuit against McMahon, Laurinaitis, and WWE as a request made by the United States Department of Justice.

Shaw reported that this pause will be six months in length in order to give Federal prosecutors time for their own criminal investigations into McMahon, Laurinaitis, and WWE.

In an official statement to Bloomberg, Grant’s lawyer Ann Callis stated:

“Ms. Grant has consented to a request by the US 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. We will cooperate with all appropriate next steps.”

McMahon’s attorney Jessica Rosenberg also issued an official statement in response stating:

“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.”

In regards to the Department of Justice’s current investigations, the DoJ filed a notice to the court to officially include the United States government as an “interested party” for Grant’s lawsuit.

To the Clerk of this Court and all parties of record:

In addition to counsel already of record, please enter my appearance as counsel for the United States of America, Sarah Mortazavi, Assistant United States Attorney.

Respectfully submitted,

Damian Williams

United States Attorney /s/ Sarah Mortazavi

Assistant United States Attorney

United States Attorney’s Office

Southern District of New York

26 Federal Plaza

New York, New York 10278

The Wall Street Journal had reported this past February that Federal prosecutors in New York had been in contact with two women in relation to the sexual assault and sex trafficking allegations made by Grant against McMahon.