Adam Schefter is getting cooked in HOT FISH GREASE on social media after he tweeted that now that a grand jury has decided not to indict Watson that must mean his massage accusers were lying.
Here was his exact statement.
This is why Deshaun Watson, from the beginning, welcomed a police investigation: He felt he knew that the truth would come out. And today, a grand jury did not charge him on any of the criminal complaints.
As you can imagine this did not go over very well with a lot of people.
Schefter has since apologized.
This was a poorly worded tweet that deserves a proper response. It was intended to provide insight into the strategy of Watson’s legal team from its POV. I should have been clearer. As legal experts have explained, a lack of an indictment alone does not mean someone is innocent.
Watson’s lawyer Rusty Hardin had this to say to BSO.
“We are delighted that the grand jury has looked at the matter thoroughly and reached the same conclusion we did. Deshaun Watson did not commit any crimes and is not guilty of any offenses.
Now that the criminal investigations have been completed, we are happy to move forward with the civil case depositions. We will vigorously defend those cases with every ounce we have.
There were no crimes here but there is a plaintiffs’ attorney churning up negative press and churning up his clients hoping for a pay day. These cases have been the product of a lawyer maximizing his own personal publicity at the expense of others, including his own clients.
It is time to let Deshaun move on.”
Watson still has to deal with 22 civil lawsuits, but the thing about civil suits is you can’t go to jail for those normally (unless you don’t pay), so the worst of it is behind Watson.
Flip the pages for Schefter’s tweets, Watson’s statement and some of the Twitter reactions.