Tony Buzbee, the lawyer representing the seven women who have accused the Houston Texans star quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual assault in civil lawsuits, on Friday spoke publicly for the first time since the allegations emerged this week. Buzbee forcefully challenged skepticism about the claims,which he said had been echoed by at least 15 other women, and about the timing of the lawsuits filed so far.
The accusations have surfaced against the backdrop of Watson’s request to be traded from the team, whose executives have so far declined to honor his wishes, a circumstance that could have the effect of diminishing interest in Watson in the trade market.