A federal judge in Maryland has put a hold on a lawsuit against Linda McMahon, the former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) executive selected by President-elect Trump to serve as education secretary. The delay comes as another court reviews a recent state law related to such cases.

The lawsuit alleges that Ms. McMahon and her husband, Vince McMahon — who co-led WWE starting in the early 1980s — failed to address credible accusations of sexual abuse involving “ring boys” employed by the company. These boys assisted with tasks before wrestling events and ran errands. The McMahons have denied all allegations.https://wordpress.com/

Judge James K. Bredar of the U.S. District Court in Maryland approved a request on Tuesday to pause the case until the Maryland Supreme Court makes a ruling on the constitutionality of a 2023 state law. This law removed the statute of limitations for certain civil lawsuits related to child sexual abuse, enabling more victims to file claims. The judge noted that the state’s high court ruling could influence the case’s outcome.

In late October, just weeks before Ms. McMahon’s education secretary nomination was announced, five former ring boys filed suit, claiming they were abused in the 1980s by Melvin Phillips Jr., a deceased former ringside announcer and crew chief. According to the lawsuit, the plaintiffs, aged 13 to 15 at the time, met Mr. Phillips during this period.

The lawsuit, filed against the McMahons, WWE, and its parent company TKO Group Holdings, argues that the defendants had a duty to protect the boys but failed to take reasonable measures to prevent the abuse.

In a statement to CNN, Ms. McMahon’s attorney, Laura Brevetti, dismissed the allegations as groundless, calling the lawsuit “full of scurrilous lies, exaggerations, and misrepresentations” regarding her client.

Neither Ms. Brevetti nor attorneys representing the plaintiffs responded to requests for comment on this story.

Ms. McMahon served as WWE’s president and CEO until 2009, when she resigned to run an unsuccessful campaign for a U.S. Senate seat in Connecticut. During her time at WWE, she helped shape the company into a cultural powerhouse, though it was also marred by sexual harassment and abuse claims, including those involving minors.

A major Trump donor and ally, Ms. McMahon later led the Small Business Administration during much of the Trump presidency.

Her nomination to head the Department of Education, which Trump has consistently called for dismantling, has raised concerns among some educators and Democrats. Critics point to her limited education experience compared to previous secretaries and her support for policies like school choice. Supporters, however, argue that she would advocate for more educational options for parents.

The allegations in the WWE lawsuit have sparked additional questions about Ms. McMahon’s qualifications to enforce laws such as Title IX, which protects students from sex-based discrimination and harassment.

“Education is about providing opportunity and protecting children,” said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers. “Regardless of the legal status of this case, the secretary-designate will have to address these serious allegations during her confirmation hearings.”