Ray McDonald was accused of rape in December, and the 49ers cut him immediately after news broke that police were investigating. But McDonald has not been charged, and now he plans to sue his accuser, saying she made a false claim and that it has put his football career in jeopardy.
McDonald’s lawyer told the San Jose Mercury News that video from McDonald’s home-surveillance system show the woman having “clearly consensual” sex with McDonald, and that the rape allegation was false. Yet the allegation led the 49ers to release McDonald, and no other team has shown interest in signing him. McDonald and his lawyer released a statement saying they hope the lawsuit can vindicate him and get his NFL career back on track.
“In the eyes of the NFL teams, the unresolved threat of charges being filed against him, even though factually unfounded, continues to present a roadblock to this remarkable athlete being able to move forward in his career,” according to the statement. “This lawsuit is intended to vindicate him . . . and return his good name. . . . False accusations such as this not only harm the person who was subjected to the accusation, but they also harm women generally, causing unwarranted suspicion in cases where an individual is rightfully accused of a sexual crime.”
McDonald was also arrested and accused of domestic violence in August. He was not charged in that case either.