HOUSTON — Houston Texans quarterback Deshawn Watson has completed his first two sessions of testifying in 22 lawsuits filed against him, confirmed to ESPN on Friday.
His attorney, Rusty Hardin, previously told ESPN that his client will assert his Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate himself while testifying until the criminal investigation is completed.
In July, Hardin told ESPN that 10 women had filed complaints with Houston police about Watson. Eight women have also filed lawsuits against Watson, with allegations ranging from sexual assault to harassment during massage sessions.
As the testimony proceeded, a grand jury sat in a Houston courthouse less than a mile away, hearing evidence from criminal complaints to determine whether Watson would face criminal charges.
Last month, a judge ruled that Watson could be ousted in nine of those civil cases after Hardin said delaying that testimony would allow Watson’s legal team to obtain testimony from all 22 women who are suing Watson and allow Watson to defend knowledge of whether he is also facing criminal charges.
It was originally planned that Watson’s testimony would begin on February 22.