Two of the 22 women who filed civil lawsuits against Texas quarterback Deshaun Watson identified themselves at a press conference.
HOUSTON – Two of the 22 women who filed lawsuits against the Los Angeles quarterback Houston Texans Deshaun Watson, alleged sexual assault and misconduct, emerged publicly at a press conference on Tuesday.
Ashley Soliswho the lawyer Tony Buzbee She said she was the first masseuse to sue Watson, spoke at the press conference. Lauren Baxley wrote a letter to Watson which was read by the attorney Cornelia Brandfield-Harvey
“I got involved in massage therapy to heal people,” he said. SolisHeal their minds and their bodies. Bring peace to their bodies. Deshaun Watson He robbed me of it. That took that away from me, it stained a profession that I am very proud of … I suffer from panic attacks, anxiety and depression. I am in therapy as a result of the actions of Deshaun WatsonI hope you know how much pain you have caused me emotionally and physically. And I hope you know how much pain it caused these other survivors. ‘
“People say I only do this for the money,” he said. Solis“That is not true. I am now stepping forward so that Deshaun Watson do not attack another woman. “
In his letter to Watson Baxley wrote, “Every rule, from professional and therapeutic to sexual and degrading, you have crossed or attempted to cross.”
Baxley he said he had written the letter Watson under the recommendation of his trauma therapist “forgive me for not speaking before”, and that it was “so that you know without excuse or justification that they have brought a deep and irreversible fear to me and others.”
“At first I stepped forward to offer solidarity to other women, but since then I realized I deserve justice too,” she said. Baxley“I hope the court will pronounce that justice, and that you will be stripped of your power and ability to hurt more women.”
In a statement released this Tuesday, the spokesperson for the NFL Brian McCarthy, described the allegations as “very disturbing” and noted that “we take these issues very seriously”.
McCarthy said the league launched an investigation under its personal conduct policy last month, after the initial allegations against Watson, and that the NFL “It continues to closely monitor all developments in this area.”
A source told Ed Werder of this ESPN Which NFL has been in direct contact with Buzbee
Watson has publicly denied any wrongdoing, and his attorney, Rusty Hardin, said last month to believe that “any allegation that Deshaun Forcing a woman to commit a sexual act is completely untrue. “
Last week, 18 women made statements via Hardin, saying they’ve been working with the quarterback’s Texans and that he “never made them feel uncomfortable or demanded anything beyond the spectrum of a professional massage.”
The lawyer for Watson said the statements were voluntary from women who have “worked with.” Deshaun more than 130 times in the past five years. “
On Tuesday, Buzbee said one of the women who made those statements also sent a direct message about it Watsonand said she stopped working with him because she “listened too much that he messed around with other people.”
“They are two different stories,” he explained. Buzbee“Now, am I suggesting that those 18 women had bad experiences? I don’t know. Am I suggesting there was a reason why they came out in public? I don’t know. That’s a question to ask yourself. But what did you do? I know, it’s what was said publicly by one person and what was said privately were two different things. “
Buzbee He also said his office was “excluding about five women for whom we didn’t think we could defend a case.”
According to Buzbee Solis and at least one of his clients presented statements to the police. On Friday, Houston police said in a statement that they had opened an investigation into Watson after a declaration has been made.
“As with any allegation, the Houston Police Department is now conducting an investigation and will not comment until later in the investigation process,” the department said in a statement. He did not indicate what he was accused of Watson in the complaint.
Hardin said in a statement later on Friday that he and Watson “They will cooperate fully with the Houston Police Department.”
“We welcome this highly anticipated event,” he revealed Hardin about the involvement of the police in the case. Now we will know the identity of at least one prosecutor. We will cooperate fully with the Houston Police Department. ”
In a letter from the Texans Monday to their fans with a season ticket that is sent regularly in the spring, the family McNair He mentioned the civil suits and the complaint filed with the Houston Police Department and noted, “We want to assure you that we take these allegations very seriously.
“Pending the conclusion of these investigations, we are expressing our firm stand against any form of sexual assault,” the letter read. “Our family and the entire organization of the Houston Texans they are deeply concerned about any kind of abuse, and we condemn this type of behavior. ‘