WATCH: Deshaun Watson's attorney releases video statement ahead of HBO Real Sports segment
Ahead of an episode of HBO Real Sports where quarterback Deshaun Watson‘s accusers will speak, his attorney has released a statement. His attorney focused on the recent dispositions given by both Watson and his accusers, stating that two separate grand juries found no evidence of any criminal activity — and that the first woman to claim Watson used force testified under oath that no force was used.
Deshaun Watson’s attorney releases statement
“We just did a deposition yesterday and her deposition, her case was the third one filed and the first one to allege force. And the world went wild,” stated Watson’s attorney, Rusty Hardin. “Deshaun’s reputation was horrible for 30 days, we didn’t even know who she was. And then when we get to her deposition yesterday — she admitted under oath there was no force. He used no force against her. And this is the one that made the biggest scream when it first started.
“Nobody really wanted to deal much with the fact that two different grand juries found there were no criminal events. A grand jury decides probable cause. Is there any basis for believing that there was a crime committed, whether it’s a felony or a misdemeanor. And both of those grand juries found no probable cause to believe any crime at all was committed. That should have been given great sway because originally there were allegations that he used force against these women.
“It turns out that only three of the 22 lawsuits involved any allegation of force. And then when subjected to the investigation by law enforcement and presentation to a grand jury it was found no force was used. There was no indication of a crime involving any type of force. And as we’ve said, we believe — as Deshaun has insisted under oath — each of those three occasions were consensual and instituted by the women. But in the other 19 cases there was no sexual activity.
“And Deshaun has already given 11 depositions and sworn under oath that there was no sexual activity except those three incidents and they were consensual. We have a tremendous social problem in this area, I totally agree — but the solution is not to assume every allegation is true. Each one ought to be looked at separately and judged on its own merits. And if that happens, we’re comfortable that Deshaun has been telling the truth all along. He never did anything inappropriate with these women and certainly he never harmed them and never did anything that was not consensual.”
New accusations against Deshaun Watson
Ashley Solis, a massage therapist who is one of 22 women to accuse Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual misconduct, provided more harrowing details about their encounter in a recent report released by the NFL. During an appearance on HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, Solis revealed the ominous words Watson said to her as he left her Houston area home.
“I know you have a career to protect,” Solis claims Watson said. “I know you don’t want anyone messing with it just like I don’t want anyone messing with mine.”
Solis said she took that as a threat and it caused her to feel frightened. A previous report from USA Today claimed that she was crying as Watson left, which prompted him to send this text message in response:
“Sorry about you feeling uncomfortable,” he wrote, according to a screenshot of it previously posted by Solis’ lawyers. “Never were the intentions. Lmk if you want to work in the future. My apologies.”
Solis did not reply to the text, according to the lawsuit.
On3’s Chandler Vessels contributed to this article.