((HT: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/Dunlap, Silver, Majors))Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger ((pictured, thanks Post-Gazette/Matt Freed)) broke his silence today, strongly denying allegations in a civil lawsuit that he raped a woman at a Lake Tahoe, Nev., resort where he stayed for a celebrity golf tournament last July.
Just after 2 p.m. at the Steelers' South Side facility, Roethlisberger walked into the media conference room flanked by Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, team director of football operations Kevin Colbert, his agent Ryan Tollner and his attorney, William David Cornwell Sr.
Roethlisberger, dressed in a pinstriped suit with a white, button-down shirt underneath, read from a prepared statement. He named his accuser at the outset, but it is the policy of the Post-Gazette not to identify alleged victims of sexual assaults.
"I did not sexually assault [name deleted]," Roethlisberger said. "Saturday was the first that I learned of her accusations. Her false and vicious allegations are an attack on my family and on me. I would never, ever, force myself on a woman. I am going to fight to protect my family and my reputation. I'm not going to discuss my private life or this civil case in the media. I'll respond to her outrageous allegations in the appropriate forum. I have an obligation to our fans, to my teammates, to my coaches and everyone in the organization to remain focused on the Pittsburgh Steelers, and I will do that. The allegations against me are reckless and false. As much as I would like to answer everyone's questions, I'm going to respect the legal process and I am confident that the truth will prevail."
As expected, Roethlisberger took no questions.
The plaintiff's attorney, Calvin R. X. Dunlap, contacted after Roethlisberger's nationally televised statement, said he did not watch it because "I was busy." He would not comment after he was told what the quarterback said.
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