Shocking lawsuit: Bills rookie Maxwell Hairston accused of sexual assault in dorm room incident

Just months after being drafted in the first round by the Buffalo Bills, rookie cornerback Maxwell Hairston is now facing a civil lawsuit over a sexual assault allegation stemming from his time as a freshman at the University of Kentucky.The lawsuit has thrown fresh scrutiny on the team’s vetting process and the NFL’s handling of off-field allegations especially when involving high-profile draft picks.According to court documents filed in Kentucky federal court, Hairston is accused of sexually assaulting a woman in March 2021 inside her dorm room while she was incapacitated. The plaintiff, identified in the suit as Rebecca Hendryx, says she had been drinking and lost consciousness before the alleged assault took place.The lawsuit claims Hairston and another football player, who remains unnamed, entered her room without permission and forcibly removed her clothing before assaulting her. Hendryx says she reported the incident to law enforcement, underwent a sexual assault forensic exam at a hospital, and later filed a Title IX complaint through the university.Despite the complaint, Hairston was not criminally charged at the time. The incident was not made public during his college career or throughout the NFL Draft process.Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane confirmed earlier this year that the organization was aware of the 2021 Title IX investigation when evaluating Hairston as a draft prospect. In fact, Beane said Hairston voluntarily took a polygraph test to support his denial of the allegations.“He’s an impeccable kid. We fully investigated that. We have zero information saying this actually happened,” Beane said during the draft weekend.Beane added that Hairston would not have been invited to the NFL Combine if the league had serious concerns. But the lawsuit now puts that confidence under the spotlight, as it introduces new legal proceedings into an issue the public only learned about after Hairston was drafted.So far, the NFL has not issued a formal statement. Under its Personal Conduct Policy, however, a civil lawsuit even without criminal charges can trigger an independent league investigation and potentially lead to disciplinary action depending on the findings.The Bills have not issued a new comment following the lawsuit’s filing, but will likely face increasing pressure from both media and fans regarding Hairston’s status on the team heading into training camp.The NFL has seen similar cases before, and how the league and team respond in the coming weeks could determine whether Hairston remains on the field or faces time away from the game.Also read - “I’m not the motivational speech guy”: Lamar Jackson opens up about leadership struggle