Dak Prescott set to depart Dallas Cowboys
Dak Prescott, the quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, filed a lawsuit against a woman who he says attempted to extort him
of $100 million by claiming he had raped her during his rookie season.
The woman who made the claims is named as a defendant in the lawsuit, which was filed on Monday in Collin County,
Texas, along with her attorneys, Bethel and Yoel Zehaie.
The lawsuit claimed that “this case arises out of a blatant attempt by [the woman] and her legal team to extort plaintiff
Dak Prescott by weaponizing sexual assault allegations that are heinous but patently false and have no basis in reality.”
NBC News tried unsuccessfully to contact the woman and her attorneys on Wednesday.
Usually, NBC News doesn’t identify reported victims of sexual assault.
According to Bethel Zehaie, “Dak and his lawyers are trying to be bullies, play hardball, and victim blame,” in a statement
provided to The Washington Post. The truth does not frighten us.
The woman’s attorney issued a letter to Prescott’s reps around February 13, alleging that, in the months that followed
his first season with the Dallas Cowboys, he had sexually assaulted her.
According to the lawsuit, the woman asked for $100 million in return for not filing any criminal charges and disclosing the claims publicly.
Levi McCathern, the lawyer for Prescott, stated in a statement, “We will not allow the defendant and her legal team to
profit from this attempt to extort millions from Mr. Prescott.”
NBC 5 in Dallas was informed on Monday by Bethel Zehaie that the purported sexual assault took place in 2017 outside of XTC Cabaret.
Zehaie informed the station that the defendant was not employed by the Dallas club and had not at the time submitted a police report.
On behalf of the accuser, the legal team also announced that they will be submitting a criminal complaint.
The lawsuit stated, “Sexual assault is a despicable crime that no person should ever endure,” and mentioned
Prescott’s empathy for others who have experienced sexual assault as a new father of a young girl.
The lawsuit claimed that in addition to the defendants’ “horrible lies potentially destroying the legitimate legacy
of a great man and costing him tens of millions of dollars, defendants’ conduct is criminal.”
Prescott is requesting $1 million in legal fees, court expenses, and damages.
According to Prescott’s attorneys, accusations like the ones made against him in the purported extortion scheme
can deter victims of sexual assault from coming forward.
The lawsuit said that “false claims in this regard undermine the legitimacy of the horrific traumas they
have endured as well as the courage of actual survivors of sexual assault everywhere.”
Prescott agreed to a $160 million, four-year contract with the Cowboys in 2021, according to NBC Sports.
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