Rusty Hardin said the FBI contacted his legal team, saying they were "investigating a matter as to whether one of Mr. [Tony] Buzbee's clients had committed extortion."
Rusty Hardin, Deshaun Watson's attorney, said Wednesday his client was interviewed by the FBI in relation to the 22 civil lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct that were filed against the Texans quarterback.
Hardin said the FBI contacted his legal team in April following public allegations that one of the women suing Watson attempted to extort him.
"In April, the FBI came to us and told us they were investigating a matter as to whether one of Mr. [Tony] Buzbee's clients had committed extortion in the way they were demanding money from Deshaun or what they would do if they didn't pay it," Hardin said in a news conference.
Hardin added that Watson has in fact spoken with the FBI.
Wednesday's press conference came after Buzbee said to League of Justice founder Amy Dash on Friday that the FBI met with him to discuss the Texans' quarterback. Buzbee also said the FBI spoke with several of the plaintiffs.
"I don't think they're investigating Deshaun," Hardin said in the press conference. "What they're investigating is the allegations Buzbee has made in his lawsuits. I didn't know about that until yesterday, and then I checked it out and it's true. They are."
Vrentas: ‘This Woman Asked Me What I Was Wearing’
It is not public which lawsuit the FBI is investigating, specifically. In March, Hardin said that his law firm has “strong evidence” showing that at least one of the women attempted to blackmail Watson. The blackmail allegedly occurred in January 2021 when someone requested $30,000 in exchange for her “indefinite silence about what she stated was a consensual encounter.”
Hardin added later in the press conference that Watson has not spoken with NFL investigators as of Wednesday, which is not unusual.
“The NFL regularly tries to not reach out to the defendant and his lawyers until the criminal investigation is over. They want to make sure they don’t interfere with the criminal investigation,” Hardin said. “Whenever the time is appropriate we will fully cooperate.”
Watson is also reportedly facing 10 criminal complaints. Last week, Mark Berman of Fox 26 in Houston tweeted that a Harris County grand jury is investigating whether there is enough evidence to bring criminal charges against Watson. Additionally, Berman reported that the human trafficking section chief for the Harris County District Attorney’s office was sending out subpoenas for the investigation.
More Deshaun Watson Coverage: