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In 22 of the massage sessions that resulted in civil lawsuits being filed against Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, Watson admits, through his lawyers, that three of the massages resulted in consensual sex.
“The little sexual activity that took place was consensual,” lawyer Rusty Hardin recently told Gabe Feldman during a podcast appearance. “And there are only three occasions in our cases where any kind of sexual activity took place.”
On Tuesday, Hardin’s office separately distributed a video of Hardin that, among other things, reiterated the admission that consensual sex had occurred with three of the 22 massage therapists.
“As we have said, as Deshaun has insisted under oath, each of these three occasions was consensual and instituted by women,” Hardin said. “But in the other… In 19 cases there was no sexual activity. And Deshaun has already given nine statements, now 11, and has sworn under oath that there was no sexual activity except these three incidents, and they went be agreed upon “.
Another member of Watson’s legal team, Leah Graham, made a similar admission during a conversation with HBO’s Soledad O’Brien.
“Well, in every massage, I will tell you that it was, only with the intention of a professional massage, and only those three cases in which sexual behavior (consensual sexual activity) occurred after the end of the massage. massage session, “Graham said. “And Mr. Watson has testified and insists that this sexual activity was initiated by the plaintiff in each case.”
Lawyers have allegedly made these admissions regarding sexual activity because they have no choice but to do so. However, this is not a strong case. In fact, it is a potentially important weakness.
Extend the lens. Watson was receiving massages from a wide range of therapists. Among the 22 who have sued him and the 18 who later endorsed him, are FORTY. For a guy who has access to all the massage services he would need or require.
The fact that he admits, through his lawyers, that three of the 22 massages that led to lawsuits ended in consensual sex underscores the potentially persuasive argument he was looking for not just massages, but something else.
Yes, he insists that all three cases of sex were consensual. Yes, he says massage therapists started it. But if Watson is finding massage therapists on social media and after 13.6 percent of those massages perform post-massage sexual activity, it’s unreasonable to conclude that he went into massage thinking that maybe, just maybe, he will become ? sexual? That maybe, just maybe, there is something you can do to drive things this way?
Most of the cases against Watson stem from allegations that he tried to push things that way. The fact that in three cases sexual activity has taken place necessarily adds credibility to the allegation that in the other 19 cases he at least tried to move the massage in that direction.
Several weeks ago, the presiding judge allowed the 22 plaintiffs to seek evidence as to whether Watson engaged in sexual activity with the 19 massage therapists who gave statements in support of Watson. This decision, and our fair and equitable treatment, provoked an angry response from Watson’s camp.
Why would Watson’s lawyers be angry? Because they know that if Watson can be portrayed as someone who used to line up massages on social media with strangers and in the hope that he would receive something more than a massage, that coincides with the claims of those who claim to have been. traumatized by his affirmative effort to get something more than a massage.