A lawsuit accusing former WWE CEO Linda McMahon, President-elect Trump’s pick for secretary of education, of turning a blind eye to kid sexual abuse by way of a former ringside announcer on the wrestling corporate has been paused, in line with court docket paperwork filed this week within the U.S. District Courtroom in Maryland.
The lawsuit, which used to be filed on behalf of 5 unnamed males, objectives the McMahons and the WWE beneath a brand new exchange in Maryland legislation that removes the state’s statute of obstacles for claims of kid intercourse abuse. Vince McMahon left the company in January following allegations of sexual misconduct. Linda McMahon left the company 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 amenities, similar to dressing and locker rooms, in addition to accommodations, the lawsuit alleges.
Phillips died in 2012.
An legal professional for Linda McMahon told CBS News in late November that the Cupboard nominee would “vigorously protect in contrast baseless lawsuit and doubtless in the long run be successful.”
The movement filed by way of their legal professional states that since the incidents came about within the Eighties and had been filed beneath the legislation’s contemporary exchange, the case could not transfer ahead till the query of whether or not the legislation used to be constitutional used to be resolved.
Court documents said the case was stayed pending a ruling by way of the Perfect Courtroom of Maryland on consolidated appeals at the constitutionality of the Maryland Kid Sufferers Act of 2023.
The events had to report a standing file each 60 days from the date of the order and inside of 15 days of any opinion issued by way of the Perfect Courtroom of Maryland within the consolidated enchantment, court docket paperwork mentioned.
Linda McMahon and Vince McMahon co-founded the WWE and led it for many years. The couple have been friends of Trump for over twenty years and are amongst his maximum prolific donors.
Linda McMahon led the Small Trade Management throughout Trump’s first time period, stepping down in 2019 to assist along with his 2020 reelection marketing campaign. She is recently a co-chair of Trump’s transition group.
contributed to this file.
