Vince McMahon sex-abuse suit halted for DOJ investigation

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

Janel Grant filed her lawsuit in January, alleging, among other things, that McMahon and Laurinatis sexually assaulted her in Laurinatis' office at WWE headquarters. By February, news had come out that McMahon faced a federal investigation from 2022.

“Ms. Grant has agreed 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 pending a non-public investigation,” the attorney said of Grant, Ann Callis in statement provided to Rolling rock. “We will cooperate with all appropriate next steps.”

McMahon initially stepped down from his WWE role in 2022 following an internal investigation that detailed allegations of hush payments to a former employee, but McMahon returned to his position in 2023, stepping down once again after Grant sued him January. In addition to the assault allegation, among other allegations, Grant alleged that McMahon used her “as a sexual pawn” to keep an unnamed “WWE superstar” around while he negotiated a new contract.

While McMahon has resigned, he denies the allegations.

In a statement to The wrap, McMahon's attorney said “we remain confident that the evidence will prove that Ms. Grant's allegations are false and that her complaint is nothing more than a fabricated, vengeful narrative by a disgruntled ex-girlfriend.”