Former WWE executive and personality Vince McMahon, 78, is under an FBI investigation as he grapples with trafficking allegations by an ex-employee, sources familiar with the matter.

The investigation stems from sexual misconduct accusations against McMahon by a number of women. "Sometime in the summer," McMahon received a grand jury subpoena, the sources said.

The US Attorney's office for the Southern District of New York is leading the investigation, the existence of which was first reported by The Wall Street Journal. A spokesman for the prosecutor's office declined to comment.WE’s parent company knew Vince McMahon — the founder of the wrestling behemoth — was a potential liability. It said so itself in government filings.

McMahon, who resigned Friday from his role as executive chairman of WWE parent company TKO following accusations of sexual assault and trafficking, posed such a risk to his company that it recently called McMahon a major risk factor, listing the company leader alongside the possibility of another pandemic and class-action lawsuits. That raises serious questions about why McMahon was allowed to return to the company early last year.

Companies are required by the US Securities and Exchange Commission to detail to shareholders the risks that pose existential threats to their stakes in the company. These risks commonly include legal actions, shifting consumer demand and other run-of-the-mill corporate concerns.

In TKO’s most recent quarterly regulatory filing with the SEC, filed in September, the company noted that McMahon’s position on the board “could have adverse financial and operational impacts on our business.”

“Mr. McMahon’s membership on our board could expose us to negative publicity and/or have other adverse financial and operational impacts on our business,” the company noted in the filing. “His membership also may result in additional scrutiny.”

Although companies frequently detail potential liabilities to business, it’s extraordinary to include the very presence of the company’s leader as a risk.

That risk was realized Thursday when a former WWE employee accused McMahon of sexual assault and trafficking in a disturbing and graphic lawsuit. Janel Grant, who worked at the headquarters of the wrestling behemoth McMahon founded, alleged that McMahon promised a job ­— and later promotions ­— at WWE in exchange for sex. Grant’s lawsuit also includes allegations that McMahon trafficked her to other men inside and outside of the company.

McMahon has denied the allegations, and said he is prepared to defend himself in court. But, in a statement Friday, McMahon said that he resigned “out of respect for the WWE Universe.”

TKO did not respond to CNN’s questions about why it allowed McMahon to return to the company.


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