Browns QB Deshaun Watson not yet criminally cleared, under scrutiny by another grand jury
grand jury in a different county declined to indict him on a series of sexual misconduct complaints against him, according to the woman’s attorney, Tony Buzbee.
The grand jury in Brazoria County, Texas, is expected to make a decision soon, possibly complicating Watson’s planned return to the NFL and the Cleveland Browns, where he was recently traded from the Houston Texans.
Two weeks ago, the grand jury in Harris County rejected nine similar cases against him. In this case, the alleged incident happened outside of Harris County involving a woman who is also suing him in civil court. She is one of 22 women who sued Watson last year, accusing him sexual misconduct in massage sessions.
“I have always known that there would be at least one other Texas grand jury,” said Buzbee. “The complaint being considered currently in Brazoria County was made a year back. I have no involvement in the criminal process. What happens criminally has no bearing on the civil cases. I am involved with the civil side in what I believe to be very strong cases. That is, has been, and will remain my primary focus. Even though I’m not involved, anyone who has suggested that Mr. Watson has been cleared criminally was obviously misinformed or not paying attention.”
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denied the accusations through his attorney, Rusty Hardin, who couldn’t be reached for comment Thursday.
Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. E-mail: bschrotenb@usatoday.com