Trans athlete’s lawyer avoids questions about West Virginia AG’s comments about sexual harassment allegations

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American Civil Liberties Union attorney Joshua Block walked away from questions regarding a recent statement byWest VirginiaAttorney General John McCuskey addressing allegations of harassment against Block’s client, a transgender athlete from West Virginia.

McCuskey, who is leading his state’s legal defense against the trans athlete after the athlete sued to block the state’s law to keep biological males out of girls’ sports,addressed the allegations ata news conference Monday.

“Any time you think of a child being harassed, it gives you pause as a parent.And it isn’t really part of our case, but harassment of any child of any kind in this country is inappropriate.And it’s wrong, and we all need to stand up to ensure that children aren’t being harassed in any of their venues, particularly athletics,” McCuskey said.

allegations were leveled againstthe trans athlete by Bridgeport High School student Adaleia Cross, who was a track and field teammate of the trans athlete when the two were at Bridgeport Middle School.

Cross’ locker room during the 2022-23 school year.Adaleia was in eighth grade, and the trans athlete was in seventh.Abby Cross alleges the trans athlete made graphic and vulgar sexual threats to her daughter and other girls on the team.

The trans athlete’s legal representatives at the American Civil Liberties Union denied the allegations.

“Our client and her mother deny these allegations, and the school district investigated the allegations reported to the school by A.C.and found them to be unsubstantiated.We remain committed to defending the rights of all students under Title IX, including the right to a safe and inclusive learning environment free from harassment and discrimination,�

The Cross family’s attorneys at Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) responded to the ACLU’s statement.

“Our client has sworn under oath and under penalty of perjury in numerous cases about the events that took place between her and the male athlete.As a result of the situation, [Cross] had to step away from the sport she loved entirely and sacrifice a key element of her school experience to protect herself,�

The trans athlete personally denied the allegations toThe New York Timesin a story published Monday.

“I was not raised like that,” the athlete said.

TOP DEMS SILENT AFTER TRANS ATHLETE THEY BACKED IN SCOTUS CASE IS ACCUSED OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION

The outlet obtained a letter from the Harrison County School District, stating an investigation determined Cross’ allegations “could not be substantiated.”

The Cross family said when they reported thealleged harassmentto the school, nothing was done to reprimand the trans athlete to their knowledge.

“They told me they would do a full investigation into what I told them,” Adaleia said.“And then, all of a sudden, it was like nothing else was happening.It was done, and it seemed like they thought nothing of it because they didn’t talk to us about it at all.They just left it there and didn’t tell us anything else.So, it just made it seem like, ‘Yup it’s done.'”

Her father, Holden Cross, said, “We received no response from the school after filing the report.”

�s investigation and clarification on whether an investigation occurred and, if so, why only the Cross family was not notified of the results.Those requests have not been met.

Meanwhile, former Lincoln Middle School girls track and field runner Emmy Salerno alleges the trans athlete used “intimidation tactics” against her after Salerno refused to compete against the trans athlete during an event in the 2024 spring season.

Salerno’s protest came on April 18, 2024, when she and the trans athlete were in eighth grade.Salerno, along with four other girls, refused to compete in the girls shot put competition that day at a local meet.Salerno claims her team was disqualified from the following meet and then began to face intimidating stares from the trans athlete at public events.

“After we stepped out, it was an immediate personality change.He didn’t want to talk to me.He just wanted to stare at me and just stare down,�

�Reminder that she has more testosterone than me.”

Salerno said there was an incident in which the trans athlete followed her while they were at a local basketball game, making intimidating stares, and Salerno was concerned the trans athlete would try to “fight” her.

“At the basketball game when he just followed me everywhere, I kind of felt like, ‘Is he gonna try to fight me?’” Salerno said.“‘Is he going to try and sneak up behind me and punch me?'”

Salerno and her father say they believe the stares, following patterns and social media posts were “intimidation tactics,” and there have been “lingering discomforts” stemming from the situation.

TRANS ATHLETE’S ATTORNEY SUGGESTS SEX SHOULD NOT BE DEFINED DURING SCOTUS TITLE IX CASE

Transgender in sports hearing at Supreme court

Protesters gather outside the Supreme Court as it hears arguments over state laws barring transgender girls and women from playing on school athletic teams Tuesday, Jan.13, 2026, in Washington.(Jose Luis Magana/AP)

“I’ve always tried to avoid him everywhere I went,” Salerno added.

�s request for a response to Salerno’s allegations.

Salerno said she avoided competing against the trans athlete the following season, but rather than making a public protest, she told her coach not to include her in the lineup for the meets against the trans athlete to avoid a penalty to the team.

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Salerno claims she has also heard other girls in the community speak about the sexual harassment allegations made by Cross against the trans athlete.Salerno said she has never been in a locker room or bathroom with the trans athlete.

“Around track season, it gets more talked about,” Salerno said of the sexual harassment allegations.“I heard through my school, people were talking about it.”

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Jackson’s reporting has been cited in federal government actions related to the enforcement of Title IX, and in legacy media outlets including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Associated Press and ESPN.com.