As reported by ESPN on Friday, Ocmulgee (Ga.) Judicial Circuit D.A. Fred Bright has announced that charges will not be pursued against Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
Bright announced that the allegation of sexual assault cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, and that Roethlisberger will not be prosecuted.
He didn’t say that Roethlisberger is innocent. Bright only said that he can’t prove it in a manner that satisfies the very high standard of proof required from a conviction.
And while Bright pointed out that the alleged victim was “highly intoxicated,” the admission that she made it known via a letter from her lawyer on March 17 that the alleged victim did not wish to pursue charges will raise questions about whether there was a secret financial settlement.