Jerry Jones addresses sexual assault allegation against Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones opened up on Tuesday regarding allegations by a woman that Dak Prescott sexually assaulted her in the parking lot of a Dallas-area strip club in 2017. Despite no movement on contract extension talks, Jones believes the allegations and Prescott’s subsequent lawsuit claiming extortion have no impact on his standing with the team.
“We are very knowledgeable of it,” Jones said, via Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News. “Of anybody, I can say you work through the legal aspects of it. So, very aware of it. Not uncomfortable with it in any way. Hate it that the issue has to have any negative aspect to it all for everybody concerned. I can say that we’re just very aware of the details and very comfortable.”
As of mid-March, Prosper Police and Dallas Police are investigating both the claim of sexual assault and the claim of extortion involving the Cowboys star quarterback. Prescott filed a lawsuit claiming extortion for the amount of $100 million in Collin County at the beginning of the month. Prescott’s attorney told the DMN that the encounter between the QB and the alleged assault victim was consensual.
The NFL hasn’t issued any statement yet regarding the allegations against one of its star quarterbacks.
“Mr. Prescott — a new father to a baby girl — has great empathy for survivors of sexual assault. He fervently believes that all perpetrators of such crimes should be punished to the fullest extent of the law,” wrote Levi McCathern, Precott’s lawyer, in a statement. “To be clear, Mr. Prescott has never engaged in any nonconsensual, sexual conduct with anyone.”
Prescott has one more year on his contract with Dallas. He’ll become an unrestricted free agent next offseason if the two sides don’t agree on an extension this year.
Jerry Jones facing his own lawsuit for sexual assault allegations
A Dallas County judge sided with Jerry Jones’ lawyers earlier this month, ruling on a request to delay the Cowboys owner’s trial that was due to begin on March 18. The Texas Supreme Court previously ruled that the sexual assault case may move forward following an appeal by Jones’ attorneys. After the judge’s decision, a new trial date has not yet been set. Jones’s side was hoping to get a delay until at least March of 2025 while he deals with another legal proceeding.
When the case does finally head to trial, the jury will hear the evidence presented against Jones, the Dallas Cowboys Football Club and the National Football League by a woman who alleges the 81-year-old kissed her and “forcibly groped” her in 2018.
Through multiple filings in the lawsuit, the public has learned that more than a dozen figures within the Cowboys organization have sworn affidavits regarding the events of Sept. 16, 2018. In the Tom Landry Room that day were Jones, DeMarcus Lawrence, Tyron Smith, Jason Garrett, Ezekiel Elliott, and Tyrone Crawford, among others.
In the sworn affidavits, the witnesses involved said they did not see Jones “touch anyone in a way that [they] believe was inappropriate or offensive.” The woman, identified as J.G., is seeking damages due to “severe emotional distress,” “psychological pain and suffering” and for medical expenses.