DOJ Investigates Vince McMahon & WWE; Rape & Sex Trafficking Case Temporarily Paused

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York has launched an investigation into Vince McMahon, WWE, and former Talent Relations head John Laurinaitis, pausing a rape and sex trafficking lawsuit filed by former WWE staffer Janel Grant. This move comes after Grant alleged years of abuse and trafficking by McMahon and others. McMahon’s lawyer claims the allegations are false. The investigation puts Grant’s lawsuit on hold, likely for several months, as the DOJ delves deeper into the case. 

Grant's lawsuit, filed in January, details repeated abuse from 2019 to 2022 and claims of being trafficked to other WWE executives and a WWE Superstar. McMahon previously agreed to a $3 million settlement to keep these allegations private but allegedly only paid $1 million, prompting Grant to seek invalidation of the NDA.

McMahon resigned from his last leadership role at TKO Group in January following these allegations. Prior internal investigations and government probes into McMahon’s hush money payments to multiple women, including Grant, add to the ongoing scrutiny.