Seven new civil lawsuits have been filed against Sean “Diddy” Combs, including two from accusers who say they were minors at the time they were allegedly drugged and assaulted by the music producer.
For the first time in a year-long wave of litigation against Combs, other celebrities are cited and accused of participating in an alleged assault, though they are not identified by name.
In a lawsuit filed by one Jane Doe, she states she was 13 in 2000, when she was invited by a limo driver to attend an MTV Video Music Awards afterparty thrown by Combs in New York City. After consuming a beverage, Doe’s complaint states she felt drowsy, and she looked for a place to lay down. Combs, joined by an unnamed male celebrity and an unnamed female celebrity, came into the bedroom where she was resting.
“You are ready to party!” Combs told Doe, according to her complaint.
The unnamed male celebrity proceeded to rape Doe, her lawsuit states, while Combs and the unnamed female celebrity watched. Combs then raped Doe as the other two celebrities watched, according to her lawsuit.
When reached for comment, representatives for Combs referred CNN to a previous statement from his attorneys in which they denied the allegations in six other lawsuits filed last week.
“Mr. Combs and his legal team have full confidence in the facts, their legal defenses, and the integrity of the judicial process,” Combs’ attorneys said in the statement. “In court, the truth will prevail: that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted anyone — adult or minor, man or woman.”
The newest lawsuits, five of which were filed in federal court in New York and two in New York Superior Court on Monday, include allegations of rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, battery, or false imprisonment by Combs between 2000 and 2022 in New York, Los Angeles or Las Vegas. All alleged incidents occurred at parties that were allegedly hosted by Combs.
Three plaintiffs are women and four are men, submitted as either Jane Doe or John Doe. All but one allege they were drugged by Combs.
Another accuser states in his claim that he was a 17-year-old aspiring artist in 2022, when he was allegedly drugged at a party and sexually assaulted by Combs, who offered him a drink and “assured Doe that he could make him a star.”
Monday’s lawsuits join others against Combs filed last week by Houston-based attorney Tony Buzbee and co-counsel Andrew Van Arsdale, who previously said they were representing at least 120 alleged victims of Combs, including minors.
Federal prosecutors have accused Combs of orchestrating a “criminal enterprise” through his business empire that engaged in sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping and decades of physical abuse against women, among other allegations. He has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Combs is being held in custody in New York as he awaits trial, set to begin in May.
The latest on Combs’ criminal case
On Monday, Combs’ lawyers said they have “significant” new grounds to argue for his release from federal jail while he awaits trial.
Combs lawyers are asking the appeals court to put one appeal on hold so he can bring new information to the attention of the federal judge overseeing the case, Judge Arun Subramanian.
Prosecutors have opposed pausing any appeal.
Before Combs sought the delay the federal appeals court scheduled oral arguments on his detention for November 4.
Over the weekend, his attorneys asked Subramanian to issue an order to prohibit potential witnesses and their attorneys from speaking about the allegations against Combs.
“This Court should exercise its discretion in issuing an order requiring all potential witnesses and their counsel to refrain from making extrajudicial statements that have a substantial likelihood to interfere with Mr. Combs’s trial or otherwise prejudice the due administration of justice,” Combs’ lawyers wrote to the judge.
Since November 2023, at least 25 civil lawsuits have been filed against Combs with allegations of sexual assault or misconduct. The initial lawsuit, filed by his former girlfriend Cassie Ventura, was settled the next day. The other cases remain active.
Combs has denied the allegations.
Prosecutors have said their criminal investigation is ongoing and additional charges or defendants could be added in a possible superseding indictment.
Source: edition.cnn.com
