The Buffalo Bills selected cornerback Maxwell Hairston in the first round of the draft despite an existing allegation of sexual assault against him. Recently, Hairston has been sued in a civil case related to this claim, which reportedly dates back to his college years.
The alleged incident occurred in 2021 while Hairston was a student at the University of Kentucky. The civil complaint accuses Hairston of non-consensual sexual contact with the plaintiff in her dorm room. The woman reported the incident to law enforcement at the time and later transferred to a different university. However, Hairston was never criminally charged.
Bills General Manager Brandon Beane spoke about the situation following the draft. He said the team had thoroughly investigated the matter and noted that the university’s Title IX investigation found no evidence supporting the accusation. Beane also mentioned that Hairston voluntarily submitted to a polygraph test and that many teammates and staff at Kentucky vouched for his character.
Though criminal charges were not filed, the civil lawsuit is moving forward in the legal system. This means the case could eventually go to trial, where more evidence will be examined and a decision will be made based on the civil court process.
For now, the Bills stand by their decision to draft Hairston, having conducted extensive research and vetting. The team continues to express confidence in his character as the legal proceedings take their course.
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