ACCUSED

Fairfax Accuser Meredith Watson: I Was Raped by NBA Star Corey Maggette

Basketball player strongly denies the allegation from Meredith Watson.

Meredith Watson—one of the two women who have accused Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax of sexual assault—says she was raped by former Duke University and NBA basketball star Corey Maggette. Watson alleges, through her attorney, that Maggette raped her during her sophomore year at Duke. Maggette went on to play 14 seasons in the NBA and is now an analyst on Fox Sports West. He strongly denied the allegations, saying: “I have never sexually assaulted anyone in my life and I completely and categorically deny any such charge.” Watson’s attorney, Nancy Erika Smith, said in a statement Friday—before Maggette was named—that after Watson was raped she went to a dean “who provided no help and discouraged her from pursuing the claim further.” A Duke spokesperson said the school was looking into the claims. Watson also alleges that Fairfax assaulted her when they both attended Duke in 2000. Fairfax denies that allegation, and a second from Vanessa Tyson, who alleges Fairfax sexually assaulted her at the Democratic National Convention in 2004.

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