Former Buffalo Bills punter Matt Araiza has broken his silence for the first time since being accused in a rape case last year.
In August 2022, Araiza was accused in a civil lawsuit. Only days later, Araiza was released by the Bills. The initial report only broke a few days after he was named the team’s starting punter.
In December 2022, San Diego officials announced Araiza would not be charged.
That leads up to this week as prosecutors have gone on to state their reason for not charging Araiza for the first time. It was announced that an investigation concluded that Araiza was not at the scene of the alleged incident, which also included witness testimony.
Via statement to Pro Football Talk, Araiza thanked the work of the San Diego District Attorney’s Office for his exoneration.
That full release can be found below:
“I am aware that the facts of this case have been made public. 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.
“I can only hope that now people will assess me on the facts and not what was falsely claimed in both the civil suit and in the press.
“I am beyond thankful for the unwavering support of both my family and friends. They have been a rock in what has been a very dark eight months for me. However, now that the truth is out, I am amazed by the thousands of emails and tweets supporting me. It has truly been a blessing to know so many people have now judged me by the facts.”
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