Vince McMahon, WWE under Justice Department investigation, sex trafficking trial put on hold

A former WWE employee's ongoing trial over allegations of sex trafficking and sexual assault has been put on hold as the Justice Department opens its own investigation into disgraced WWE founder Vince McMahon, the WWE, and former WWE Talent Relations Manager John Laurinaitis.

In a filing sealed Thursday, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York presented information in federal court about an investigation into McMahon, WWE and Laurinaitis.

“In addition to the attorneys already listed, please list my appearance as Attorney for the United States of America, Sarah Mortazavi, Assistant United States Attorney,” wrote Damian Williams, United States Attorney for the Southern District from New York, in a note. filed with Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer and added to the record.

As a result, Janel Grant, the former WWE employee who filed an explosive lawsuit against her former employers, has agreed to stay her case while the Justice Department opens its own investigation.

“MS. Grant has consented to a request from the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York to stay his case against Mr. McMahon, WWE and Mr. Laurinaitis, pursuant to an ongoing non-public investigation,” the lawyer said. Grant, Ann Callis, in a statement. sent to MMA Fighting on Thursday. “We will cooperate with any appropriate next steps.”

Grant's lawsuit filed in January detailed allegations of horrific abuse, including sexual assault, sex trafficking and exploitation that she claims she suffered while working for McMahon in WWE. Grant detailed numerous alleged altercations in her lawsuit, including a claim that McMahon and Laurinaitis dragged her into a conference room at the WWE offices and sexually assaulted her.

The lawsuit also alleged that McMahon shared sexually explicit photos and videos of her with other WWE employees, as well as “a world-renowned athlete and former UFC heavyweight champion with whom the WWE was actively trying to sign a new contract.

McMahon, who resigned as executive chairman of TKO Group Holdings after the lawsuit became public, has denied any wrongdoing.

In the months since the lawsuit was filed, McMahon slowly continued to sell off portions of his stock in TKO, the merged company between the UFC and WWE.

TKO has distanced itself from McMahon, with company chairman Mark Shapiro saying there has been no contact with the former WWE executive as he continues to sell off his stock.

“We have no discussions with him,” Shapiro said in March. “He has given us no insight into his motives, his plans to sell or not sell, or, if he does, the amount. So we'll wait and find out, just like you.

The sealed Justice Department file proves the importance of this investigation, especially with Grant's trial suspended.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York has not yet made a public statement regarding the investigation into McMahon and WWE.