Ex-WWE employee agrees to PAUSE Vince McMahon sex-trafficking lawsuit at the request of DOJ - which wants to conduct its own investigation

The sex-trafficking lawsuit against Vince McMahon has been paused at the request of the Justice Department.

Former WWE employee Janel Grant has consented to stay her case against the 78-year-old billionaire while the Government conducts its own investigation.

In a statement to DailyMail.com, Grant's attorney Ann Callis said: 'Ms. Grant has consented to a request by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York to stay her case against Mr. McMahon, WWE and Mr. Laurinaitis, pursuant to a pending non-public investigation. We will cooperate with all appropriate next steps.'

McMahon's lawyer, Jessica Rosenberg, told DailyMail.com: 'We remain confident the evidence will prove Ms. Grant’s allegations are false and her complaint is nothing more than a fabricated, vindictive narrative from a disgruntled former girlfriend.'

Grant has accused McMahon and other WWE executives of sex trafficking as well as emotional and physical abuse during her time with the wrestling promotion.

The sex-trafficking lawsuit against Vince McMahon has been paused at the request of the DOJ

Janel Grant (above), a former WWE employee, accused McMahon, who is under investigation by New York prosecutors, of sex trafficking and multiple counts of sexual misconduct

Since then, McMahon has resigned from the WWE and sold more than $400 million worth of stock in TKO, the newly formed company that was created by the WWE-UFC merger.

Grant previously agreed to a $3million settlement in exchange for signing a nondisclosure agreement in 2022, but filed a lawsuit against McMahon in January after he stopped making payments after the initial $1m installment. 

Among Grant's initial claims were that McMahon defecated on her during a threesome and forcefully penetrated her with sex toys, which he named after his wrestlers. 

She also alleges that McMahon and another WWE executive locked her in a room at the WWE's Stamford, Connecticut headquarters in June of 2021 and took turns sexually assaulting her during the work day. 

The married McMahon is additionally accused of trafficking Grant to other men and sharing nude photographs of the plaintiff. Grant is seeking unspecified damages.

But, earlier this month, the WWE founder claimed his accuser wanted 'rough sex' and thousands of dollars for 'plastic surgery'.

He also recently denied the explosive charges levied against him and claimed Grant pursued their affair by sneaking into his penthouse apartment in the middle of the night to cheat on her fiancé, who lived in the same building.

Grant worked at WWE's headquarters in Stamford between June 2019 and March 2022

The wrestling mogul said Grant was a willing participant in their sexual relationship for three years. His filing also includes excerpts from a purported love letter he received from the former employee.

Grant then filed a motion asking the court to strike the 'inflammatory lies' made by McMahon.

According to SEScoops, McMahon's fresh allegations against Grant included:

• 'That she was in love with him McMahon and he was the love of her life'
• 'That she wanted to have sex with him and provided graphic detail'
• 'That she fantasized about being held down, enjoyed being in pain, and wanted rough sex'
• 'That she wanted Defendant to watch her have sex with other people and know about her sex with others'
• 'That she wanted Defendant to give her thousands of dollars for clothes, plastic surgery, and other gifts'
• 'That she wanted to have a future with Defendant even after signing the Agreement'
• 'That she wanted Defendant to keep living in the same building, so she could continue to see him, even after signing the Agreement'

Grant had previously taken aim at 'unsupported assertions' - including that she was 'absent' in her 'dying parents’ lives' - and 'falsehoods conceived by McMahon to intimidate Janel into submission—as he has done countless times before.' 

McMahon has denied the allegations, claiming: 'It is nonsensical that the disturbing alleged acts in the Complaint including violence, coerced sex, and forcing Plaintiff to be defecated on were taking place before Plaintiff returned to her lawyer fiancé four floors below without incident.' 

Last month it emerged that McMahon will end his fifty-year association with WWE by selling his remaining shares in TKO. 

McMahon has worked for WWE since the 1960s, before eventually buying the company from his father and transforming it into a sports entertainment brand and the biggest name in professional wrestling - whilst making him a billionaire along the way.