Federal Investigation Pauses Janel Grant’s Civil Case Against WWE and Vince McMahon

The civil case filed by Janel Grant against WWE, Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis, and others has been officially paused. Recent court documents disclose that a judge has agreed to Grant’s attorneys’ request for a stay in the proceedings, allowing the US federal government to continue its criminal investigation into McMahon.

Additionally, the judge denied a motion from McMahon’s attorneys to compel private arbitration under an unfulfilled NDA with Grant. This denial was issued without prejudice, leaving the possibility for reconsideration open. The case also includes several sealed documents, likely associated with the federal investigation.

Grant’s complaint alleges that she faced sexual harassment, abuse, torture, and trafficking while working as an assistant to McMahon at WWE. It has been revealed that the federal government is investigating these claims, with the Department of Justice looking into the allegations against McMahon, Laurinaitis, and WWE. The motion to stay the civil case indicates the seriousness of these federal investigations.

A representative for McMahon expressed his eagerness to disprove Grant’s claims, stating that McMahon did not object to the government’s request to pause the matter for the investigation.

The representative suggested that the evidence would eventually show the relationship was consensual and that Grant’s allegations were false and vindictive. This statement underscores McMahon’s strategy to discredit Grant once the stay is lifted and the discovery process can proceed.

McMahon resigned from his positions at WWE and TKO Group Holdings in January following the public revelation of his alleged abuses. He had initially stepped down from WWE in 2022 after it was discovered he used company funds for hush money payments to alleged victims, including Grant.

Despite this, McMahon returned in 2023 to facilitate a merger between WWE and UFC, leading to the formation of TKO Group Holdings under UFC’s parent company, Endeavor.

The stay in the civil case highlights the complexity and gravity of the situation, involving both civil and criminal investigations. With the federal government’s probe taking precedence, the outcome of these investigations will likely play a crucial role in the future proceedings of Grant’s civil case against McMahon and WWE.

The ongoing investigations and legal maneuvers will continue to unfold, shedding more light on the allegations and the responses from those involved.