The woman accusing former WWE CEO Vince McMahon of sexual misconduct has agreed to pause her lawsuit, her attorney told ABC News.
The decision by Janel Grant, a former WWE employee, followed a request from the Justice Department. Grant alleged in a 67-page suit filed in January that McMahon forced her into a sexual relationship. She also accused him of passing around pornographic images of her to other men at the company.
"Ms. Grant has consented to a request by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York to stay her case against Mr. McMahon, WWE and Mr. [John] Laurinaitis, pursuant to a pending non-public investigation," Ann Callis, Grant's attorney, said in a statement to ABC News. "We will cooperate with all appropriate next steps."
Along with that, she accused McMahon of "psychological torture and physical violence" and making "depraved sexual demands" in order for her to keep her job.
"McMahon is accused of trafficking Grant to other WWE employees," wrote Mike Coppinger of ESPN. "The lawsuit, which also named former WWE executive John Laurinaitis, included graphic descriptions of alleged sexual encounters along with explicit text messages."\
MacMahon, 78, stepped down as WWE CEO in 2022. He resigned from his position as TKO executive chairman this past January, as well as his role on the company's board of directors. TKO is the product of the merger between the WWE and UFC.
"I stand by my prior statement that Ms. Grant's lawsuit is replete with lies, obscene made-up instances that never occurred, and is a vindictive distortion of the truth. I intend to vigorously defend myself against these baseless accusations, and look forward to clearing my name," McMahon said in a statement in January.
