In 22 of the massage sessions that resulted in civil lawsuits being filed against Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, Watson admitted that three of the massages resulted in consensual sex.
During a podcast appearance, Watson’s lawyer, Rusty Hardin, told Gabe Feldman that any sexual activity between the three-time Pro Bowler and these women were all consensual.
“What little sexual activity did occur was consensual,” attorney Rusty Hardin recently told Gabe Feldman during a podcast appearance. “And there are only three occasions in our cases that any type of sexual activity occurred.”
On Tuesday, Hardin’s office released a video from the attorney that echoed those sentiments.
“As we’ve said, 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 nine depositions — 11 now — and sworn under oath that there was no sexual activity except those three incidents, and they were consensual.”
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Another member of Watson’s legal team, Leah Graham, made a similar admission during a conversation with HBO’s Soledad O’Brien.
“Well, in every massage, I will tell you he did go, intending just for a professional massage, and only those three instances where sexual conduct occurred — consensual sexual activity — it occurred after the massage session had ended,” Graham said. “And Mr. Watson has testified and is insistent that that sexual activity was initiated by the plaintiff in every single instance.”
The Browns traded for Watson two months ago, sending the Houston Texans a trade package that included three first-round picks to complete the deal. Watson is facing 22 civil lawsuits from women who have accused him of inappropriate sexual conduct during massage sessions. Two grand juries in Texas have declined to pursue criminal charges, and Watson has denied all wrongdoing.
The NFL is investigating whether Watson violated its code of conduct policy and it is expected to lead to him being suspended for an unknown number of games.
