Former WWE Ring Boy Deeply Concerned By Linda McMahon's Nomination As Education Secretary

A former WWE ring boy has expressed his concern over the possibility that Linda McMahon will lead the Department of Education in Donald Trump's administration. McMahon is Trump's pick for Education Secretary and her confirmation hearing begins at 10 am ET/3 pm GMT today.

The former ring boy - who is a plaintiff in the lawsuit brought against Linda McMahon, Vince McMahon, WWE, and TKO Group Holdings by former ring boys - revealed their concern to NBC News, saying:

"Until she takes accountability and shows some remorse and some responsibility, then she shouldn't have that position. She's involved in covering it up. So what else will she cover up?"

Lee Cole, the brother of former WWE ring boy Tom Cole who committed suicide in 2021, also admitted to NBC News that he was disturbed by McMahon's nomination and revealed he had written to Senator Bernie Sanders to raise his concerns. Sanders, who twice ran for president in 2016 and 2020, is the ranking minority member on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee.

"I'm a big Trump supporter, and I'm very disappointed in his selection of Linda McMahon. It didn't matter whether you were a child, a man, a woman - nobody was safe from sexual abuse in that company," Lee Cole said.

The sister of a former ring boy also stated: "She let a paedophile run through her company. She knew better. It was her duty to report this to the police and have that man arrested."

A current employee in the Education Department speaking under the condition of anonymity also expressed their concerns about McMahon leading the Department of Education due to her involvement in the lawsuit and lack of education experience.

A particular concern amongst those who spoke to NBC News is Linda McMahon's commitment to safeguarding children and her overseeing Title IX, a law which prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or education programme funded by the federal government.

Five former WWE ring boys filed a lawsuit against Vince McMahon, Linda McMahon, WWE, and TKO Group Holdings in October 2024. It is alleged in the lawsuit that the defendants were aware of the sexual abuse carried out by Mel Phillips but did nothing to prevent or stop it. Mel Phillips is alleged to have groomed, exploited, and sexually abused children who were WWE ring boys. Ring boys were underage boys who used to help set up the ring at WWE events in the 1980s and 1990s.

More plaintiffs have joined the lawsuit since it was initially filed in October 2024 and the case was allowed to continue after the Maryland Supreme Court ruled the Maryland Child Victims Act was constitutional. The act removed the statute of limitations for civil lawsuits involving child sex abuse, including when negligence may have led to abuse.

The expectation is Democrats will focus on policy questions around McMahon leading the Department of Education at today's hearing but an aide for a Democratic Senator on the HELP Committee stated the ring boy lawsuit is "on our radar, but we're not going to show our cards before the hearing."

Should McMahon be confirmed as Education Secretary, she would be leading a department that President Donald Trump is looking to dismantle. It is believed that Trump is preparing an executive order to eliminate the Department of Education, an order which would require congressional approval.