(The Center Square) – Litigation against a North Carolina native, the leader of the U.S. Department of Education, in her role with WWE wrestling and entertainment is moving to the discovery phase following a federal judge’s ruling in Maryland.
World Wrestling Entertainment, TKO Group Holdings, and Vince and Linda McMahon are accused in Does 1-8 v. WWE, et al., of bringing in underage boys for wrestling events. The case has become known as “Ring Boys,” and accusations of exploitation and sexual abuse are in the lawsuit.
Linda McMahon is the second-term Republican President Donald Trump’s choice to lead, and eventually shutter, the Education Department. Her lawyer, Laura Brevetti, is on record saying the civil litigation is “baseless,” without truth, and was probed by the FBI years ago, with no findings to pursue prosecution.
TCS was unsuccessful prior to publication getting comment from Brevetti.
Greg Gutzler, partner at DiCello Levitt leading the plaintiffs’ case, said Judge James Bredar’s decision in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland affirms the accusations should be heard in court.
“Through discovery, we will obtain documents and testimony that shed further light on who knew about this terrible abuse and how it was allowed to persist,” Gutzler said in a release. “We look forward to uncovering the truth and pursuing accountability for survivors who have waited decades to tell their stories.”
Linda McMahon is a New Bern native and graduate of nearby East Carolina University.
She served as the administrator of the Small Business Administration from 2017 to 2019 in Trump’s first term. She’s known for several roles – cofounder with separated husband Vince of Titan Sports that later became World Wrestling Entertainment, twice a former candidate for the U.S. Senate while living in Connecticut, support of Special Olympics, and numerous million-dollar philanthropic efforts, including benefiting ECU.
