Ten women filed complaints with Houston police against Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, according to Rusty Hardin, the passer’s attorney.
Hardin spoke with ESPN on Monday about the progress of the criminal and civil cases involving his client.
“There are 10 women who have presented complaints to the police,” said the lawyer.
Eight of the women, according to Hardin, are among 22 who have accused in lawsuits that Watson sexually assaulted them or engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior during massage sessions.
Two of the women who have filed complaints with Houston police have not filed lawsuits against Watson, Hardin said.
“There are a couple of women we don’t know anything about,” he added.
Hardin acknowledged that he knows the names of the 10 women who have filed criminal complaints, including the two who are not involved in the civil litigation, but declined to provide the names to ESPN.
Houston police did not comment on the case when contacted or on the number of women who have filed complaints.
Hardin said Watson and his legal team have fully cooperated with the police and the Harris County prosecutor’s office.
“And when the criminal investigation concludes, we will fully cooperate with the NFL,” he said.
NFL investigators have yet to interview Watson, which is normal for a criminal issue, Hardin said.
In a statement to ESPN, Tony Buzbee, a Houston prosecutor who represents the 22 women who sued Watson, said that along with his legal team they are still in charge of the “22 civil cases that point to very serious and specific allegations.”
“As of today (Monday), nearly half of these women have sworn to the police and nearly half have spoken to the NFL investigative team. Both processes are very long. We hope to give more information on all the victims to the NFL, ”Buzbee said.
On the pending lawsuits, Hardin said that although both parties have exchanged documents, they have yet to schedule the statements of the 22 women. Under an agreement between the two legal teams, the plaintiffs’ statements will begin in September. Watson will declare until February 2022.
“This goes with the normal course of all civil litigation,” Hardin said of the remarks. “The dates have not been set yet, the exact dates on who and when, but they will start in September.”
If Watson decides to settle with any or all of the women who sue him, Hardin reiterated his desire to make any agreements public, noting that Watson would not sign any that include a confidentiality agreement.
Hardin acknowledged that he is not involved in any way in the decision-making process about Watson’s sporting future.
The Texans quarterback has been the subject of trade rumors for months, even before his offseason legal battles began.
“The teams are ready now if the Texans negotiate with them, even if this is pending,” Hardin stressed. “There is no doubt that teams, various teams, are interested. The ball is in the Texans court.
“About Watson’s career,” Buzbee told ESPN. “I’m not focused on whether Watson will play or not, my focus is on the well-being of the women he came in contact with and pursuing these cases in court.”
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