Apr 6, 2021 - Politics & Policy

2 of Deshaun Watson's accusers go public with sexual misconduct claims

Deshaun Watson #4 of the Houston Texans in action against the Tennessee Titans during a game at NRG Stadium on January 03, 2021 in Houston, Texas.

Deshaun Watson in action for the Houston Texans against the Tennessee Titans at NRG Stadium in Houston in January. Photo: Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

A woman who went public Tuesday with sexual misconduct allegations against Deshaun Watson said she has filed a criminal complaint with police, the second known criminal complaint made against the Houston Texans quarterback.

Driving the news: Ashley Solis said at a news conference in Houston that she's a "survivor of assault and harassment" and "Watson is my assaulter and my harasser, he assaulted me at my home doing what I love most, massage therapy." Watson has denied any wrongdoing.

  • Solis was the first of 22 women to file a civil lawsuit against Watson, accusing him of sexual misconduct.

The allegations: Solis accuses Watson of sexually assaulting her at a massage therapy session in March 2020. "I can no longer practice the profession I love the most without shaking," she said. "I hope he knew how heartbreaking that is to me."

  • Tony Buzbee, the lawyer representing Solis, said she's provided a statement to police. Houston police have declined to comment on the case, the Washington Post notes.
  • Lauren Baxley, a massage therapist, also attended the news conference, where an attorney from Buzbee's practice read aloud a statement on her behalf in which she described Watson as "nothing more than a predator with power."

The other side: Watson's lawyer, Rusty Hardin, said previously he believes "any allegation that Deshaun forced a woman to commit a sexual act is completely false."

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