Araiza has now reportedly “filed a claim against San Diego State University for damage to his reputation,” ESPN<\/em> reports.<\/p>\n According to newly released information, “Araiza couldn\u2019t have been present for the alleged attack, since he had left the house party an hour before it took place,” KUSI reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n ESPN<\/em> this week reported<\/a> on a December 2022 meeting between Araiza’s accuser, her attorney and members of the San Diego District Attorney’s office.<\/p>\n Prosecutors said Araiza was not present “when an alleged gang rape of a minor occurred at an October 2021 party, according to witness testimony included in evidence that prompted the San Diego District Attorney to not press criminal charges,” ESPN reported, adding Araiza “also was not visible in any of the videos recovered from the night in question.”<\/p>\n Outkick<\/em>, which this week also reported on the newly released details of that December meeting, noted that “Araiza did engage in sexual activity with the accuser. However, he maintains that it was consensual and he did not know the girl was under 18.”<\/p>\n Outkick<\/em> reported<\/a>:<\/p>\n \u201cA witness who was in the house gave a statement saying that at \u2014 at least one point in the party, that you made a statement telling people at the party you were 18,\u201d [deputy district attorney Trisha Amador] explained to the accuser. \u201cAnother witness at the party, a different one, says that they specifically heard you say you were 18\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cThe witnesses say \u2026 that shortly after you arrived at the party, you left and came back shortly thereafter,\u201d Amador said. \u201cAnd you told [a friend], \u2018I just had sex.\u2019 \u2026 You appeared to be having fun and that the encounter on the side of the house with Matt, suspect Araiza, was consensual.”<\/p>\n \u201cYou were approaching men at the party saying, \u2018I want you to [expletive] me and if you don\u2019t [expletive] me you\u2019re a [expletive].\u201d<\/p>\n This newly released transcript explains exactly why the DA\u2019s office declined to pursue charges. There are videos that show sexual contact between the accuser and the other men \u2014 not Araiza \u2014 however, the DA\u2019s office says they do not indicate rape.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s nothing in the videos that sound like you\u2019re saying \u2018stop\u2019 or \u2018this hurts\u2019 or anything like that,\u201d Ted Mansour, an investigator for the San Diego County district attorney\u2019s office, said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The Bills released Araiza in August 2021, shortly after a lawsuit was filed accusing him of rape.<\/p>\n Araiza told ESPN<\/em> on May 9, in light of the new details that emerged this week, “I am deeply gratified for the thorough work of the DA’s office in San Diego and for all the witnesses that were willing to come forward and tell the truth. I am thankful that the facts of this case as provided by the witnesses will prove that what I have been saying from the beginning is, in fact, the truth.”<\/p>\n \u201c[S]exual assault experts, including District Attorney prosecutors and investigators, meticulously analyzed all the evidence in the case, including over 35 taped witness interviews, the results of a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) exam, DNA results, and evidence derived from 10 search warrants,\u201d the DA\u2019s office said in a news release at the time.<\/p>\n \u201c…Ultimately, prosecutors determined it is clear the evidence does not support the filing of criminal charges and there is no path to a potential criminal conviction. Prosecutors can only file charges when they ethically believe they can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.\u201d<\/p>\n But a civil case against the three athletes is still pending, and the accuser’s attorney told ESPN<\/em> his client was raped and the men are lying.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Araiza’s future NFL career remains unclear.<\/p>\n “With this new information now public, Araiza likely earns another shot at the NFL. Though, we don\u2019t yet know how teams view this new information,” Outkick<\/em> reported. “Teams might want to wait until the civil lawsuit plays out in court before making any decisions.”<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/SDSUfootballplayers.jpg\")
Araiza and two of his Aztec football teammates were cleared of facing criminal charges for the alleged gang rape, The College Fix<\/em> reported<\/a> in December 2022.<\/p>\n