Ex-NFL Star Michael Irvin Strongly Denies Sex Battery Allegations: 'Nothing Happened, Period'
Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter
FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) — Former Dallas Cowboy star and Hall of Famer Michael Irvin strongly denies allegations that he raped a woman.
"Nothing happened, period. There was no sexual contact whatsoever. Nothing happened, period," Irvin said.
A woman considered "like family" accused the football great of sexual assault at the W Hotel on Fort Lauderdale Beach in March.
"I want to answer this. This was not a case of consensual versus nonconsensual. This is a case of I said nothing happened and someone else said something else happened," Irvin said. "And the assault kit reports what I said, that nothing happened, period! Nothing happened, period!"
Fort Lauderdale police completed their investigation and handed the case over to the Broward State Attorney's Office on May 31st.
Irvin's attorney, Kenneth Padowitz, said state prosecutors have had plenty of time to realize the case should be tossed.
"All the evidence that I have seen significantly shows, and affirmatively shows, that Michael Irvin has done nothing wrong," Padowitz said. "This case should be closed by the Broward State Attorney's Office and end this situation now."
The Broward State Attorney's Office released a statement early Tuesday afternoon:
"This is an ongoing case that the State Attorney's Office first received from police investigators on May 31, just nine business days ago. Prosecutors in our Sexual Battery Unit are continuing their thorough and careful review of this serious matter with the professionalism that our community deserves and expects. Our review is well-within the time period required under the law."
Padowitz questions why it's taking so long to clear him.
"There is no reason for delay. Do not treat Mr. Irvin differently because of his celebrity status. Treat him as every single citizen of the state of Florida and the United States deserves to be treated," Padowitz said.
Irvin just wants it over.
"I just want to get this process behind me and my family and we can try to move on and start the healing process," he said.
The 51-year-old Irvin was a star receiver for the University of Miami and the Dallas Cowboys. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2007.
