Federal prosecutors in Manhattan have decided to drop a criminal investigation into Vince McMahon, the former CEO of WWE, over allegations that he attempted to cover up multiple claims of sexual misconduct. McMahon's lawyer, Robert W. Allen, confirmed that the investigation has definitively concluded and will not result in charges.
The investigation began after allegations surfaced that McMahon had paid $10.5 million in settlements to two former female employees to keep their accusations of sexual misconduct confidential. The grand jury had considered whether McMahon broke the law by hiding these allegations from the company and its auditors. Despite a federal judge ruling in June 2024 that there was probable cause to believe McMahon and his former lawyer broke the law, the case was dropped before an indictment could be made.
In January 2025, McMahon reached a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over failing to disclose the settlement agreements, agreeing to pay a $400,000 civil penalty and reimbursing WWE $1.33 million. McMahon had previously stated that the case was closed and that there was never anything more than minor accounting errors.
While the criminal investigation has been dropped, McMahon still faces ongoing civil litigation related to the allegations. Former WWE employee Janel Grant filed a lawsuit against McMahon, WWE, and John Laurinaitis in January 2024, accusing McMahon of sex trafficking and sexual abuse. The lawsuit was paused for six months to allow for the criminal investigation but resumed in December 2024.
McMahon's legal team has stated that they are confident the civil litigation will also be resolved in his favor. McMahon's lawyer emphasized that the decision to drop the criminal probe was the result of an appeal of a procedural matter and that there had been consistent communication with the government since then.
The dropping of the criminal probe marks a significant turn in McMahon's legal battles, but the civil case continues to loom over him. As the legal proceedings unfold, the wrestling world and the public will be watching closely to see how McMahon navigates these challenges.
