A judge in Houston ruled on Monday that Deshaun can face questions under oath in some of the civil cases filed against him by women who have accused the Houston Texans quarterback of actions ranging from harassment to sexual assault during massage sessions.
According to the motion filed last week, a delay of at least one week would allow the legal team to get depositions from all the women who are suing. The deposition was supposed to start as early as this week.
The Harris County District Attorney is expected to make a decision on whether or not to prosecute by April 1. Houston Police and the district attorney's office have refused to comment on the status of the criminal case.
The motion to delay the deposition was denied on Monday.
Houston attorney Tony Buzbee said that the team loudly and publicly claims he is innocent and wants nothing more than to clear his name, yet he refuses to sit in a room and face his accusers and answer questions under oath.
Despite his efforts, the Court ruled that there will be no more delay with regard to the first nine people.
The court ruled that he can be questioned under oath on the allegations relating to the pending civil cases. None of the women involved in those nine cases have ever filed a criminal complaint, and all of them have already provided depositions of their own in their ongoing civil cases.
In court Monday, it was argued that no attorney would allow his or her client to provide sworn testimony in a civil case when a criminal case is imminent, raising the possibility that he will exercise his Fifth Amendment right to remain.
While there is a criminal investigation going on, it is only fair to wait to see if charges are brought or not, and if you are going to submit someone for depositions.
There are 22 civil cases filed against him, accusing him of a range of actions during massage appointments, from refusing to cover his genitals to forced oral sex. He said that he was hopeful that the grand jury would conclude that he didn't do what he was accused of.
The deposition of Brian Burney, the Houston Texans organization's marketing manager, shed some light on the nondisclosure agreement that he insisted that many women sign after a massage session.
The NFL is looking into the case.
Despite remaining on the active roster, he did not play a single down for the Texans.
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