“Nothing we did today has anything to do with what is going on at the criminal courthouse,” said Buzbee.
The 10 criminal complaints filed against the Houston Texans quarterback Watson last year described a range of actions including his exposing himself, purposely touching therapists’ hands with his penis and three claims of sexual assault. Multiple women who filed criminal complaints were at the courthouse ready to speak with the grand jury about their interactions with Watson if called upon by prosecutors. The plan by prosecutors also included presenting the videotaped interviews these women did with police, Buzbee said.
Hardin did not immediately respond to a message requesting comment.
Almost exactly one year ago, Ashley Solis, a 28-year-old licensed massage therapist, filed the first lawsuit against Watson, saying that he purposely touched her hand with his erect and exposed penis during a March 2020 massage appointment at her home. Over the ensuing weeks, similar allegations against one of professional football’s brightest young stars piled up at a stunning pace.
Watson has denied any wrongdoing, and Hardin has said any sexual acts that happened during massage appointments were consensual. Hardin said earlier this week that he was “delighted” the grand jury was set to make a decision about whether Watson would face criminal charges, and confidently asserted that he did not believe his client would be charged.
The fact that a grand jury decision, which is not a determination of guilt or innocence, held such importance for those involved reflected the stakes of the case. The women who spoke with the grand jury on Friday wanted their accounts of misconduct against a star athlete to be taken seriously. And Watson has sought not just to be cleared of wrongdoing, but to position himself to be traded from the Texans in order to resume his N.F.L. career with a different team.