Despite a report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski Saturday, the New York Knicks reportedly did not specify the pending rape allegation against Kristaps Porzingis when they traded him to the Dallas Mavericks in January, sources told The Dallas Morning News’ Brad Townsend on Sunday.
Those sources are strongly denying ESPN’s report:
“The word that was used was ‘extortion,’” one of the sources told The Dallas Morning News on Sunday.
“The word ‘rape’ was never used, only ‘extortion,’” the second source told The News.”
Whatever the case may be, Porzingis is definitely under investigation by the New York Police Department after a woman stated he raped her in his apartment in the early morning of Feb. 7, 2018, which would put that just mere hours after Porzingis tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
Porzingis’ attorney, Roland G. Riopelle, denied the allegations:
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“We are aware of the complaint that was made against Mr. Porzingis on Friday and unequivocally deny the allegations,” Riopelle said. “We made a formal referral to federal law enforcement on Dec. 20, 2018, based on the accuser’s extortionate demands. We also alerted the National Basketball Association months ago, and they are aware of the ongoing investigation of the accuser by federal law enforcement. We cannot comment further on an ongoing federal investigation. Please refer any questions to the Federal Bureau of Investigation or the National Basketball Association.”
As of this moment, he hasn’t been charged with a crime.
