Former Hurricanes receiver, NFL star Michael Irvin discusses rape accusation

Attorney says evidence shows Irvin is innocent

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Former University of Miami star and NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver Michael Irvin held a news conference Tuesday to discuss the rape accusation made against him in March.

His attorney, Ken Padowitz, told reporters that the Broward County state attorney's office now has all the evidence in the case, which supports what Irvin "has said all along in this situation."

He called on prosecutors to close the criminal investigation into his client. 

A woman claimed Irvin raped her at the W Hotel in Fort Lauderdale.

In March, Irvin's attorney, Larry Friedman, said his client was blindsided by the allegations and had known the woman for years and believed the accusation was about money.

Padowitz reinforced Friedman's statements, saying that "this person was treated like a member of the (Irvin) family."

TMZ reported the accuser followed Irvin to his hotel room and was only inside for 15 minutes.

The site also reports the woman, who is a cosmetologist, texted Irvin a day after the incident, saying: "Come for a facial when you get back to Fort Lauderdale."

Irvin also spoke during the news conference, once again claiming his innocence.

"Nothing happened, period," he said. "There was no sexual contact whatsoever, Nothing happened, period." 

He said this case has been hard on his family.

"This has been the most difficult thing that my family and me, my family and I, have had to endure," Irvin said. 

Irvin went on to say that he believes the evidence in the case will prove his innocence. He called the woman's allegations against him "heinous" and "false" and asked prosecutors to "make a decision." 

"This is an ongoing case that the State Attorney's Office first received from police investigators on May 31, just nine business days ago," Broward County state attorney's office spokesman Ron Ishoy said in an email to Local 10 News. "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."


About the Authors:

Terrell Forney joined Local 10 News in October 2005 as a general assignment reporter. He was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, but a desire to escape the harsh winters of the north brought him to South Florida.

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.