NEW YORK — Recently, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has faced the filing of seven additional lawsuits, one of which includes serious allegations of raping a 13-year-old girl. These developments come as Combs’ legal team made another attempt to secure his release on bail, expressing concerns that a “new wave of publicity” could jeopardize his right to a fair trial.
The lawsuits, lodged in both state and federal courts on Sunday, add to the ongoing legal woes for Combs. The plaintiffs, consisting of four men and three women, all choosing to remain anonymous, claim they experienced sexual assault by Combs during various parties that took place over the last two decades.
Combs, now 54 years old, has pleaded not guilty to federal sex trafficking charges, which were outlined in an indictment released following his arrest on September 16. The charges detail severe allegations claiming that Combs has coerced and abused women for an extended period, utilizing his associates and employees to carry out acts of intimidation, including threats of kidnapping, arson, and physical violence to maintain silence among victims.
Currently, Combs remains behind bars while awaiting a trial scheduled for May 5, a decision made after two judges denied his bail requests, rulings that are under appeal in the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
His legal representatives sought a court order on Sunday, asking for a stop to statements made by potential witnesses and their attorneys, arguing that such comments could compromise the fairness of the trial.
“Mr. Combs has been the target of continuous allegations from potential witnesses and their legal counsel in the media,” they noted. “These individuals have made many inflammatory and prejudicial claims aimed at tarnishing Mr. Combs’s reputation.”
The recent wave of lawsuits adds to a mountain of more than 100 accusers reportedly preparing to take legal action against Combs. Attorney Tony Buzbee brought this information to light during an October 1 press conference and shared a hotline number for additional accusers to reach out.
Representatives for Combs have dismissed these latest lawsuits as “blatant attempts to gain publicity,” asserting that both Combs and his legal team maintain strong confidence in the facts, their legal arguments, and the judicial system’s integrity.
According to Combs’ defense, he “has never sexually assaulted anyone — whether adult or minor, man or woman.”
One specific lawsuit alleges that a young girl, just 13 years old, was raped by a “male celebrity” and subsequently by Combs after being invited to a celebration by a limousine driver following the Video Music Awards in Manhattan in September 2000. Another complaint claims that in 2022, at a hotel penthouse party in Manhattan, Combs sexually assaulted a 17-year-old male. The plaintiffs alleged that they were likely served drinks that had been spiked with drugs before the assaults occurred.
Moreover, on Monday, Combs’ attorneys informed the 2nd Circuit of their intention to refile for bail at the lower court level, citing “significant changed circumstances” as a reason. They cited constitutional issues related to his detention conditions and details from recently disclosed evidence.
In defense of denying bail, prosecutors told the appellate court last week that judges had concluded Combs “employed systematic and sophisticated tactics to silence and intimidate witnesses throughout this racketeering conspiracy and during the government’s investigation.”