Attorney: Bills didn't contact me while examining Araiza rape case

Punter Matt Araiza Shawn Dowd / USA TODAY NETWORK

Attorney of accuser in Matt Araiza rape case: Bills didn't contact me during 'thorough examination'

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 8/26/22

The Buffalo Bills have reportedly known about the serious sexual assault allegations against rookie punter Matt Araiza since July. In a statement on Thursday, after the disturbing details of the alleged gang-rape of a then 17-year-old high school student came out, the Bills said the following:

"We were recently made aware of a civil complaint involving Matt from October 2021. Due to the serious nature of the complaint, we conducted a thorough examination of this matter. As this is an ongoing civil case legal, we will have no other comment at this point."

According to the attorney of the accuser, the team failed to make an attempt at communicating with him or his client throughout the entire "thorough examination."

Gilleon adds his initial contact with the Bills was a long phone call with the team's assistant general counsel, Kathryn D'Angelo, but Bills never asked anything more or wanted to speak with his client.
— Tim Graham (@ByTimGraham) August 26, 2022

The alleged incident took place in October 2021 at on off-campus party while Araiza was a junior at San Diego State. Araiza was selected in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft and won the starting gig in Western New York after the team cut fellow punter Matt Haack earlier this week.

Buffalo is scheduled to play the Carolina Panthers in both teams' preseason finale at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, and according to Tim Graham of The Athletic, Araiza is expected to play in the contest.

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