A massage therapist who accused Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual abuse identified herself to the public as the athlete continues to face numerous similar allegations in court.
Ashley Solis, the first of the accusers to denounce Watson publicly, gave brief remarks to reporters on Tuesday while her attorney Tony Buzbee was present. Solis is a masseuse in the Houston, Texas, area and claims not to practice her profession following an alleged inappropriate encounter with the football player in March 2020.
“I am a survivor of assault and harassment. Deshaun Watson is my assaulter and my harasser. Deshaun Watson assaulted and harassed me on March 30, 2020, at my own home doing what I love most: massage therapy,” she said.
“I can no longer practice the profession I love the most without shaking. … I hope he knew how heartbreaking that is to me,” she continued, adding that she’s “not afraid anymore” to come forward.
HOUSTON POLICE INVESTIGATING TEXANS QUARTERBACK AMID MORE THAN 20 CIVIL SUITS
Ashley Solis: “I am survivor of assault and harassment, Deshaun Watson is my assaulter and my harasser, he assaulted me at my home doing what I love most, massage therapy” [via @gifdsports]pic.twitter.com/8c6qyCRrtC
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) April 6, 2021
Another woman, Lauren Baxley, who claims to be a therapist, penned a letter that was read aloud at the press conference. She did not appear in person.
“I have been angry at you for so many reasons since that day in June,” Baxley wrote. “I am furious that the talented and hard-working young black man that gave so many children inspiration is nothing more than a predator with power. I am heartbroken for your family, for your loved ones, for those coming to terms with the fact that your charitable work and good-guy persona are nothing more than a meticulously designed facade to keep your victims silent and second-guessing themselves.”
The Houston Police Department announced that it was commencing an investigation into Watson after 21 civil suits were filed against him, many of which contained similar allegations pertaining to abuse of massage therapists. Solis’s lawyer, Buzbee, has filed all of the litigation so far, and the filings stem back to March 16.
“Today, a complainant filed a report with the Houston Police Department concerning Deshaun Watson,” the law enforcement body wrote in a Friday tweet. “As with any allegation, the Houston Police Department is now conducting an investigation and will not comment further during the investigative process.”
Watson’s lawyer, Rusty Hardin, said his client will “fully cooperate” in the inquiry.
“We welcome this long-overdue development,” Hardin said. “Now, we will learn the identity of at least one accuser. We will fully cooperate with the Houston Police Department.”
Some questions have been raised regarding Buzbee’s decision not to turn over the cases to the police before taking the civil route.
In a statement, Buzbee explained that he didn’t go to law enforcement with the allegations because he was afraid of political retribution.
“When I ran for Houston mayor against the CURRENT mayor, I called for the resignation of the former police chief,” he said. “I was thus reluctant initially in these important cases to provide info to HPD, at least while Art Acevedo was the police chief — even though my brother-in-law is a long-term HPD officer.”
Hardin rebuked Buzbee for the accusation, calling it “his lamest … excuse.”
“His latest excuse for failing to go to law enforcement is also his lamest. Anyone who has dealt with HPD, as I have for many years, would know that Mr. Buzbee’s suggestion that the department would overlook legitimate complaints based upon a family connection of one of its officers is ludicrous. It is also insulting to the dedicated professionals at HPD and to common sense,” Hardin said.
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Buzbee, however, insists that the cases against Watson “continue to mount.”
“These Deshaun Watson cases continue to mount. We filed two more public cases today,” Buzbee said last Tuesday when the latest two women filed suits. “Our team has been roundly criticized because these numerous brave women haven’t filed formal criminal complaints with HPD, although we have provided info to other organizations.”
