Stefon Diggs’ Accuser Asks Courtroom to Transfer Civil Case, Fearing Commanders Followers May Bias Jury

Stefon Diggs’ transfer to the Washington Commanders has created a brand new argument in a civil lawsuit that started lengthy earlier than he joined the crew.

Christopher Griffith, who has accused Diggs of drugging and sexually battering him throughout a 2023 encounter, is asking the court docket to maneuver their authorized dispute to a courthouse farther from the Commanders’ house stadium in Prince George’s County, Maryland. TMZ reports that Griffith raised considerations in regards to the group from which a future jury might be chosen.

His movement factors to Commanders season-ticket holders, stadium workers and native followers who might find yourself amongst potential jurors. Griffith argues that some might have a rooting or monetary curiosity in seeing Diggs stay accessible and in good standing with the crew, creating what he describes as a danger that the extensive receiver might obtain an extra good thing about the doubt.

Diggs has denied Griffith’s underlying sexual-assault allegations, and the decide had not dominated on the request to alter the place the case might be heard when the brand new submitting turned public.

Griffith Says Diggs’ Commanders Function Modifications the Jury Query

Griffith’s submitting facilities on the concept Diggs is not merely an NFL participant with a nationwide profile. He now performs for the native franchise whose stadium sits in Prince George’s County, the identical county Griffith highlights in arguing that native soccer loyalties might have an effect on the jury pool.

Diggs formally joined Washington in August after spending the 2025 season with New England. The Commanders announced his signing on August 7, bringing the Maryland native again to the area the place he performed highschool and faculty soccer. Diggs made his Washington regular-season debut on September 13 in opposition to Philadelphia, catching 4 passes for 55 yards and a landing.

Griffith argues that Diggs’ new native prominence might matter when jurors are ultimately requested to guage two sharply conflicting variations of the occasions on the heart of the lawsuit. His movement warns in regards to the abnormal tendency to provide a hometown sports activities determine the good thing about the doubt when native followers really feel invested in that participant’s success.

The Lawsuit Began With Diggs Accusing Griffith of Defamation

The present federal case started with a lawsuit filed by Diggs in Maryland state court docket accusing Griffith of defamation and alleging that he fabricated claims a couple of Could 2023 encounter at Diggs’ Maryland house. Griffith later eliminated the case to federal court docket. The federal docket lists Diggs v. Griffith as arriving within the U.S. District Courtroom for the District of Maryland on November 17, 2025, after elimination from the Circuit Courtroom for Montgomery County.

Diggs stays the plaintiff, whereas Griffith is each the defendant and a counterclaimant. In his counterclaims, Griffith alleges that Diggs gave him one thing he believes contained an intoxicating substance and later sexually battered him throughout a Could 2023 encounter. Griffith has additionally alleged that Diggs was concerned in arranging a later assault supposed to silence him.

Diggs has denied the sexual-assault allegations and referred to as Griffith’s account false. In his authentic defamation go well with, he alleged that Griffith fabricated the story and triggered severe reputational hurt. Diggs has additionally denied data of or involvement within the later assault Griffith alleges was linked to him.

Washington Signed Diggs To a One-year Contract

Diggs’ ties to the area are unusually deep even other than his new crew. He grew up in Maryland, performed at Our Girl of Good Counsel after which the College of Maryland earlier than starting his NFL profession. The Commanders themselves described his August signing as bringing him again house.

Washington signed Diggs to a one-year contract reportedly price as much as $12 million. His first regular-season sport for the crew got here September 13, when he scored a fourth-quarter landing in a 24-22 loss to Philadelphia.