The sexual misconduct lawsuit filed by former WWE employee Janel Grant against the company's former chairman and CEO, Vince McMahon, is being paused in accordance with a pending federal investigation, per The Athletic's Alex Andrejev, Jenna West and Chris Vannini. This move comes at the request of the Justice Department and is being complied to by Grant, per her attorney, Ann Callis.

The accuser filed a lawsuit in Connecticut alleging that McMahon is guilty of sexual abuse and sex trafficking. Grant says her employment essentially became contingent on having a physical relationship with the billionaire businessman and former wrestling promoter. Acts of cruelty and depravity are depicted in the suit, which also names ex-company executive John Laurinaitis as being involved in the misconduct.

“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,” Callis said. “We will cooperate with all appropriate next steps.”

Vince McMahon faces serious accusations

McMahon promptly denied the claims of wrongdoing mentioned in the lawsuit back in January, with a spokesperson calling the 67-page document a “vindictive distortion of the truth.” Both sides will wait for the conclusion of this investigation.

Janel Grant says Vince McMahon told her she needed to be terminated from WWE because his wife, former CEO and head of U.S. Small Business Administration Linda McMahon, found out about their relationship. She then alleges that he pressured her to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) in exchange for a payment of $3 million, which Grant claims stopped at $1 million.

McMahon resigned from WWE after the lawsuit was filed. The company, owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings since last September, is eagerly move forward without the man who helped build the empire decades earlier. The wrestling juggernaut continues to enjoy substantial growth.

If McMahon is found guilty of Grant's accusations, however, public attention will likely shift to WWE in some capacity. There is a long way to go before this case concludes, though. Janel Grant remains intent on seeing her day in court.