21 July 2023 , 20:02
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NFL running back Dalvin Cook’s former girlfriend, Sgt. 1st Class Gracelyn Trimble, reportedly alleged in a now-sealed court filing that he offered to pay her $1 million (£780,000) to walk back her abuse claims against him.
No criminal charges were filed against Cook, but Trimble sued him for battery, assault, and false imprisonment in a still-ongoing civil case in Minnesota. Trimble, who has given sworn testimony of her allegations, claims she declined Cook's financial offer asking her to send a letter to the NFL absolving him of wrongdoing.
That's all according to the Star Tribune, which reportedly obtained a court filing from Trimble's lawyer in Dakota County District Court requesting she be allowed to use evidence of the alleged $1 million (£780,000) offer at trial. "This does not pass the smell test, and can and should be admissible as evidence of Cook's consciousness of guilt," a filing from attorney Daniel Cragg read. The judge later sealed the court filing.
In November 2021, Trimble filed a civil lawsuit against Cook, alleging battery, assault, and false imprisonment. Cook responded with counterclaims for assault and battery, intentional damage to personal property, invasion of privacy, and defamation. In pleadings in a related case brought by Allstate Indemnity Company against Cook in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Cook’s counsel argued “in addition to containing defamatory statements, Trimble’s Complaint against Cook in the Underlying Action is patently groundless and blatantly false. Cook has specifically denied the allegations asserted against him by Trimble in the Underlying Action and, furthermore, has specifically denied that he committed any assault, battery and/or false imprisonment against Trimble.”
Both cases are pending, and a representative for Cook has not replied to a Friday afternoon request for additional comment.
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The alleged pay-off attempt brings the domestic violence incident back to light at an inopportune time for the free agent; the document obtained by the Star Tribune reportedly includes graphic, previously unreported details accusing the running back of a violent attack. It also complicates his free agency situation, as multiple NFL teams were said to be on the verge of signing him at the start of training camp.
The Vikings released Cook after last season in a move related to clearing cap space, not the domestic violence allegations. Until now, the public focus on Cook this summer has been related to his difficulties getting the long-term contract offer he desires amid a running back market nearing rock bottom.
The Minnesota Vikings released Dalvin Cook after the 2022 season. (Getty Images)Trimble accused Cook of assaulting her on Nov. 19, 2020, in Minnesota after she tried to break up with him and collect belongings. They reportedly dated for about two years. Police were not called to his Inver Grove Heights home during the incident.
The 27-year-old has denied wrongdoing. "We are confident a full disclosure of the facts will show Mr. Cook did nothing wrong and any injury Sgt. Trimble may have sustained that evening was the result of Sgt. Trimble's own unlawful conduct," attorney David Valentini wrote in a statement on his behalf in 2021.
Cook was born in Miami and attended Florida State. The Vikings drafted him in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft, and he soon became one of the most productive rushers in the NFL, accumulating 5,993 ground yards in 73 games.