A lawsuit filed in Maryland has accused Linda McMahon, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Education, of enabling the sexual abuse of children by a former WWE employee. McMahon, the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), denies the allegations.
The lawsuit, filed in October 2023, claims that McMahon, her husband Vince, and the WWE allowed Melvin Phillips Jr., a former WWE ringside announcer, to sexually exploit children in the 1980s and 1990s. Phillips allegedly recruited young boys to work as “Ring Boys,” a position the lawsuit says was a cover for the sexual abuse. The plaintiffs, five men who were allegedly between the ages of 13 and 15 when they were abused, claim Phillips exploited them in front of WWE executives and wrestlers, even filming some of the abuse.
The plaintiffs are seeking over $30,000 in damages, accusing the McMahons and WWE of negligence. The lawsuit asserts that Phillips manipulated the boys with promises of meeting wrestlers and attending events, while the McMahons and WWE were aware of his behavior.
“Phillips lured and manipulated the young boys with promises of meeting famous wrestlers and attending the highly popular wrestling shows, experiences that were otherwise unattainable for these kids,” the lawsuit alleges. “(The McMahons, WWE and TKO Holdings) allowed Phillips and others to engage in, and foster, the WWE’s rampant culture of sexual abuse.”
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Linda McMahon’s attorney, Laura Brevetti, called the lawsuit “false,” saying the allegations were based on events that occurred over three decades ago. Brevetti added that McMahon would “vigorously” defend against the claims. Vince McMahon’s attorney also denied the allegations in a previous statement.
Phillips, who worked for WWE in various roles from the 1970s to the 1990s, was reportedly known for surrounding himself with underage boys, according to the lawsuit. It also claims that despite firing Phillips in 1988 after initial abuse allegations, WWE rehired him shortly afterward, allowing him continued access to children.
The lawsuit comes after Maryland’s 2023 Child Victims Act, which repealed the statute of limitations for certain child sexual abuse lawsuits, allowing survivors to file claims regardless of when the abuse occurred.
Linda McMahon, who served as the Small Business Administration head under President Trump, is currently the co-chair of his transition team and is being considered for the Education Secretary position. She has denied any wrongdoing, and no criminal charges have been filed in connection to the allegations.
The allegations against the McMahons come amid ongoing legal troubles for Vince McMahon, who recently settled a multimillion-dollar lawsuit with a former WWE employee who accused him of rape. Vince McMahon has also stepped down from his position as executive chairman of WWE’s parent company, TKO Group Holdings, amid separate allegations of sexual assault and trafficking.
