Alawsuit filed in October accused former WWE CEO Linda McMahon, President-elect Trump’s nominee for secretary of education, of turning a blind eye to child sexual abuse by a former ringside announcer at the wrestling company.
The suit claims McMahon, her husband Vince and others at the WWE were aware of misconduct by Melvin Phillips — and negligent in failing to prevent it. The lawsuit alleges Phillips for years hired — and later assaulted — “ring boys” as young as 13.
Phillips died in 2012, and the lawsuit, which was filed on behalf of five unnamed men, targets the McMahons and the WWE under a new change in Maryland law that eliminates the state’s statute of limitations for claims of child sex abuse.
Phillips was a fixture in the WWE. The plaintiffs claim Phillips assaulted boys in arena facilities, such as dressing and locker rooms, as well as hotels.
An attorney for Linda McMahon said the Cabinet nominee “will vigorously defend against this baseless lawsuit and without doubt ultimately succeed.”
“This civil lawsuit based upon thirty-plus year-old allegations is filled with scurrilous lies, exaggerations, and misrepresentations regarding Linda McMahon,” said the attorney, Laura Brevetti. “The matter at the time was investigated by company attorneys and the FBI, which found no grounds to continue the investigation.”