A recent lawsuit claimed that Linda McMahon, US President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for education secretary, allegedly enabled child sexual exploitation by a WWE employee dating back to the 1980s – claims she denies.
Linda McMahon, who previously served as WWE’s CEO, helped develop the organisation from a wrestling entertainment venture into a publicly listed media corporation alongside her husband, Vince. She stepped down in 2009 to pursue Senate campaigns in Connecticut, which proved unsuccessful in 2010 and 2012.
As McMahon seeks confirmation whilst co-chairing Trump’s transition team, this lawsuit raises concerns about her oversight of children’s welfare at WWE.
The legal action claims McMahon, her spouse, WWE and parent company TKO Group Holdings permitted employee Melvin Phillips Jr. to misuse his ringside announcer position to exploit children sexually.
According to the filing, Phillips recruited youngsters as “Ring Boys” to assist with ring setup at WWE events, using this role as cover for exploitation, allegedly occurring in view of staff in changing areas. The suit states he frequently recorded the abuse.
Filed in October in Baltimore County, Maryland, the case represents five anonymous plaintiffs who were aged 13-15 when Phillips allegedly recruited them. They report enduring psychological trauma from the claimed abuse.
“Phillips lured and manipulated the young boys with promises of meeting famous wrestlers and attending the highly popular wrestling shows, experiences that were otherwise unattainable for these kids,” the lawsuit alleges. “(The McMahons, WWE and TKO Holdings) allowed Phillips and others to engage in, and foster, the WWE’s rampant culture of sexual abuse.”
The plaintiffs seek damages exceeding $30,000, asserting the McMahons failed in their employer responsibilities. Phillips worked as a WWE announcer and crew chief through the 1970s-90s until his death in 2012.
The lawsuit states both McMahons knew of Phillips’ actions. According to the filing, Vince McMahon acknowledged that he and Linda were aware in the early-mid 1980s of Phillips’ “peculiar and unnatural interest” in young boys.
Linda McMahon’s solicitor, Laura Brevetti, dismissed the allegations as false.
“This civil lawsuit based upon thirty-plus year-old allegations is filled with scurrilous lies, exaggerations and misrepresentations regarding Linda McMahon,” Brevetti said. “Ms McMahon will vigorously defend against this baseless lawsuit and without doubt ultimately succeed.”
Brevetti confirmed Linda and Vince McMahon are separated. Vince’s solicitor, Jessica Rosenberg, has previously rejected the lawsuit’s claims but did not respond to recent enquiries.
The New York Post reported Phillips’ alleged WWE misconduct as early as 1992.
“It was common knowledge in the WWE — among the ring crew, wrestlers, and executives — that Phillips surrounded himself with a posse of underaged Ring Boys, including when he traveled across state lines and stayed in hotel rooms with the children,” the lawsuit alleges.
The McMahons terminated Phillips in 1988 amid mounting exploitation allegations, then rehired him weeks later with instructions to avoid children, though the abuse allegedly continued with their knowledge.
“After decades of suffering in silence from their childhood trauma, these survivors come forward now to hold Defendants accountable for their conduct in allowing the systemic and pervasive abuse by Philips,” the lawsuit alleges. No criminal charges have been filed.
Maryland’s Child Victims Act of 2023 removed time limits for certain abuse-related civil suits, acknowledging delayed disclosure due to trauma, according to plaintiffs’ counsel Greg Gutzler.
Linda McMahon previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration until 2019, later chairing a pro-Trump super PAC. She helps lead the America First Policy Institute, a Trump-aligned organisation.
Vince McMahon faces ongoing scrutiny over abuse allegations. In 2023, he settled with a former employee claiming rape and resigned from TK Holdings following assault and trafficking accusations, which he denies.
Vince McMahon currently faces federal criminal investigation and separate Connecticut federal court proceedings, temporarily suspended until December. A New York criminal probe continues but poses no legal risk to Linda McMahon, who departed WWE over a decade ago.
The US Attorney’s Office declined comment, as did Vince McMahon’s legal representation regarding the criminal investigation.
