COMMANDERS RELEASE K BRANDON MCMANUS FOLLOWING SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS BY TWO FLIGHT ATTENDANTS
The Washington Commanders have released kicker Brandon McManus who has been accused of sexual assault by two flight attendants during his time with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Commanders confirmed McManus’ release late Sunday evening.
The lawsuit, filed on Friday, May 24th in Duval County Circuit Civil Court, alleges that an incident happened last year during the Jaguars’ overseas trip to London in which McManus rubbed himself against two female attendants and grinded up against them. The two women – identified as Jane Doe I and Jane Doe II – also accuse the Jaguars of failing to supervise McManus and failing to create a safe environment for the staff serving the team.
Texas attorney Tony Buzbee, whose firm represents the two women, said that an attempt to settle the case before the lawsuit was filed was made but was eventually unsuccessful. Buzbee also represented the more than two dozen women who filed sexual assault lawsuits against Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson a few years ago. According to the lawsuit, the two women are seeking an amount in excess of $1 million and are demanding a jury trial.
McManus’ attorney, Brett R. Gallaway, vehemently denied the accusations made against his client in a statement last week and said the claims were “truly” an “extortion attempt.”
“These are absolutely fictitious and demonstrably false allegations made as part of a campaign to defame and disparage a talented and well-respected NFL player,” said Gallaway. “We intend to aggressively defend Brandon’s rights and integrity and clear his name by showing what these claims truly are – an extortion attempt.”
The Jaguars acknowledged the lawsuit in a short statement on Monday last week, saying: “We’re aware of the complaint, and we acknowledge the significance of the claims. As we continue to look into the matter, it bears emphasizing that we insist on an organization built by people who represent our community and game with the highest character and class.”
The Commanders also released an initial statement last week promising to look into the matter but reserved further comment. “Earlier today, we were made aware of the civil lawsuit filed on May 24 against Brandon McManus,” said the team. “We take allegations of this nature very seriously and are looking into the matter. We have been in communication with the League Office and Brandon’s representation, and will reserve further comment at this time.”
According to the lawsuit, the two women worked as flight attendants on the Jaguars’ September 28th, 2023, Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings charter flight. The women allege that the flight “quickly turned into a party” as McManus and several other players disregarded the flight attendants’ personal space, air travel safety and federal law. The lawsuit also claims that McManus recruited three other flight attendants to the party and passed out $100 bills to encourage them to drink and dance inappropriately for him.
The first woman, identified as Jane Doe I, accuses McManus of trying to kiss her while she was seated during a session of turbulence and twice grinding up against her while she was serving the flight’s two meal services. Per the lawsuit, she also alleges that she made eye contact with another Jaguars’ player during the first assault, who she said looked ashamed of McManus’ behavior.
Jane Doe II alleges that McManus grinded up against her while she was serving the flight’s second meal service. Doe II confronted McManus, per the lawsuit, who just “smirked and walked away.” The lawsuit says Doe II remained in the aircraft’s second story to avoid McManus during the team’s flight back from London to Jacksonville on October 8th.
According to the lawsuit, the September flight was the first Jaguars charter flight the two women worked, and they experienced “severe mental anguish, anxiety, psychological and emotional distress, embarrassment and humiliation.” The two women have since been removed from the core crew that staffs the Jaguars’ charter flights, something both women worked hard to achieve, says the lawsuit.
The lawsuit alleges the Jaguars committed gross negligence by failing to properly train McManus about inappropriate and sexual contact with flight staff, supervise him on the flight, adopt policies and procedures to protect flight staff from sexual misconduct by employees, and enforce a zero-tolerance policy regarding inappropriate behavior.
Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said during the team’s second week of OTAs last week that Monday was the first he heard about the allegations against McManus and that he was disappointed to hear of it. He also said he would not describe the atmosphere on the chartered flight to London as a party.
“A typical flight is not that way,” said Pederson. “It’s a business trip, and that’s how we approach it from an organizational standpoint, from a league standpoint. So, when I read that, that part of it is disappointing.”
Pederson also said the seating arrangement on the flight is somewhat separated.
“I’m not going to get into a ton of those questions right now until I get more information, but we sit down — I’ll just maybe [make] a brief comment — we do sit down, and we want to make sure that the players are together and the coaches [sit] together, staff’s together and things of that nature and everybody’s comfortable and has space,” said the Jaguars head coach.
Washington signed McManus this offseason to a one-year, $3.6 million deal this offseason and are now set to go into Week 3 of OTAs on Monday morning without a kicker on their roster. McManus, 32, made 30-of-37 field goal attempts for the Jaguars in 2023 and was 35 for 35 in all his extra point tries.
-Maher Abucheri
Twitter: @pabloikonyero
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