After probing text messages sent to a second accuser who has alleged sexual misconduct from Antonio Brown, the NFL has determined that the New England Patriots star did in fact send them.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media confirmed that the report initially provided by Robert Klemko of Sports Illustrated that Brown sent threatening, aggressive texts to the second woman, was corroborated by the NFL’s investigatory team.
Brown is also being investigated by the NFL over multiple allegations that he sexually assaulted a former trainer, Britney Taylor.
The second woman told her story to Klemko and alleges that Brown approached her completely naked with nothing more than a small cloth covering his genitals while she was in his home painting a mural.
After the story became public, Brown sent her multiple messages that she views as threatening and aggressive, per her lawyer.
The woman’s lawyer, Lisa J. Banks, has been in touch with the NFL and New England Patriots, asking them to put an end to this and invoked the league’s Personal Conduct Policy, which prohibits: “Stalking, harassment, or similar forms of intimidation.”
“Our client … is understandably frightened by these text messages, which are clearly intended to threaten and intimidate her,” Banks wrote. “While she certainly qualifies as a ‘starving artist,’ she has never approached Mr. Brown, nor will she, about seeking money to compensate her for his sexual misconduct, contrary to his allegations in the text messages.”
As pointed out by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk recently, this potential violation of the NFL Personal Conduct Policy could be grounds for the Patriots to release Brown, and for the NFL to place him on the commisioner’s exempt list at the very least.
At this time, Brown remains an active member of the Patriots roster. He caught four passes for 56 yards and a touchdown Sunday.