A lawsuit accusing former WWE CEO Linda McMahon, President-elect Trump’s choose for secretary of training, of turning a blind eye to baby sexual abuse by a former ringside announcer on the wrestling firm has been paused, in keeping with court docket paperwork filed this week within the U.S. District Court docket in Maryland.
The lawsuit, which was filed on behalf of 5 unnamed males, targets the McMahons and the WWE beneath a brand new change in Maryland regulation that eliminates the state’s statute of limitations for claims of kid intercourse abuse. Vince McMahon left the corporate in January following allegations of sexual misconduct. Linda McMahon left the corporate in 2009 to run for a U.S. Senate seat in Connecticut.
The lawsuit alleges Melvin Phillips for years employed — and later assaulted — “ring boys” as younger as 13. A fixture within the WWE, Phillips assaulted boys in enviornment services, corresponding to dressing and locker rooms, in addition to accommodations, the lawsuit alleges.
Phillips died in 2012.
An lawyer for Linda McMahon advised CBS Information in late November that the Cupboard nominee would “vigorously defend towards this baseless lawsuit and doubtless in the end succeed.”
The movement filed by their lawyer states that as a result of the incidents occurred within the Nineteen Eighties and had been filed beneath the regulation’s latest change, the case could not transfer ahead till the query of whether or not the regulation was constitutional was resolved.
Court docket paperwork mentioned the case was stayed pending a ruling by the Supreme Court docket of Maryland on consolidated appeals on the constitutionality of the Maryland Youngster Victims Act of 2023.
The events wanted to file a standing report each 60 days from the date of the order and inside 15 days of any opinion issued by the Supreme Court docket of Maryland within the consolidated attraction, court docket paperwork mentioned.
Linda McMahon and Vince McMahon co-founded the WWE and led it for many years. The couple have been buddies of Trump for over 20 years and are amongst his most prolific donors.
Linda McMahon led the Small Enterprise Administration throughout Trump’s first time period, stepping down in 2019 to assist together with his 2020 reelection marketing campaign. She is at present a co-chair of Trump’s transition staff.
Graham Kates
contributed to this report.
