Yahoo News Sean “Diddy” Combs Raped Us, Trio Of Men Claim In Latest Lawsuits Against Bad Boy Records Founder; “Full Of Lies,” Defense Insists
The victory Sean “Diddy” Combs scored today over federal prosecutors in gaining access to a laptop while behind bars in Brooklyn surely has to seem a Pyrrhic win after a trio of new rape and sexual assault lawsuits were filed this morning against the one-time music mogul.
In tales chillingly similar in scope and action, three John Does have separately sued Combs in New York State court alleging he plied them with booze and drugged them in hotel rooms or his Hamptons residence so he could attack them. In at least one case, the assault was supposedly filmed. Detailing the rapes taking place between 2019 and 2022, the civil actions, with the trio all individually represented by attorney Thomas Giuffra, are seeking a wide range of damages and jury trials.
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Perhaps most revealing is how the specifics in these three cases are similar to literally dozens of others accusations and suits against Combs, who was arrested by the NYPD and others on racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution charges on September 16. Having come up short three times on trying to get out of the hardcore Metropolitan Detention Center on a $50 million bail package, the 55-year-old ‘All About the Benjamins’ rapper is set to go to trial on May 5 next year and could face the rest of his life locked up if found guilty.
Almost certain to see allegations from the quickly multi-million dollar-settled lawsuit from ex-long time girlfriend Cassie Ventura be a big part of the case from outgoing U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, Combs has entered a not guilty plea in the sex trafficking matter.
In these particular cases filed Thursday, one of which includes a past employee of Combs, attorneys for the incarcerated performer were even more emphatic than usual proclaiming their client’s innocence. “These complaints are full of lies,” the Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos-led defense team told Deadline today. “We will prove them false and seek sanctions against every unethical lawyer who filed fictional claims against him.”
Buried in accusations in a mountain of civil suits mainly brought by high profile Houston-based lawyer Tony Buzbee and some including alleged sexual assault of minors, Combs will now be allowed to use a laptop for his defense prep in the sex trafficking case while in the MDC.
“The purpose of the Discovery Laptop is to review discovery, not to take or store notes,” wrote Judge Arun Subramanian in an order posted to docket early Thursday, giving a rare incremental edge to the defense. “It is the Court’s understanding that the laptop has been pre-loaded with discovery materials but does not allow any functionality beyond reviewing those materials,” the judge added, allowing Combs use of the unconnected device in specified areas of the facility from 8 am – 3 pm “seven days a week.”
“If Defendant wishes for broader access to the Discovery Laptop, his counsel should discuss the issue with the Government, which should consider any reasonable proposals in good faith and work with BOP counsel and MDC staff to effectuate them,” the judge additionally stated. “If there are further disputes, the Court will consider adjustments to this order.”
In another bruise for the feds, Judge Subramanian also ordered officials at the MDC “not to turn over Defendant’s attorney-visitation forms to the Government.” While Combs’ lawyers had nothing to say about this or the laptop order today, there must be some satisfaction after their vigorous battles for the now allowed access in various hearings as recently as December 5.
As the trial looms in less than six months, Judge Subramanian has scheduled a conference between prosecutors and the defense for December 18. Combs is expected to attend.
The developments in Combs’ sex trafficking case come as a simultaneous federal case involving Diddy, Jay-Z, a still unnamed female “Celebrity B,” and the alleged multiple rape of a 13-year-old girl over 24 years ago heated up once again.
The very violent attack on the then teen Jane Doe is alleged to have occurred on September 7, 2000 during one of Diddy’s drug fueled so-called “freak offs” in the hours after that year’s MTV VMAs. A very graphic October 20 filed lawsuit named Combs for the rape, but only referenced a male “Celebrity A” and a female “Celebrity B” who were also in the room and attacked the girl. Jay-Z was named as the “Celebrity A” in a December 8 refiling by Buzbee following a separate suit from a Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan-represented anonymous “celebrity and public figure who resides in Los Angeles” who went after Buzbee for extortion.
Quickly, Jay-Z a.k.a. Shawn Carter made a rare personal response, calling the allegations “so heinous in nature that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one!” Just after the now LA-based rap superstar showed up at the City of Angels’ premiere of Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King on December 9 with spouse Beyoncé and daughter Blue Ivy (both of whom do voiceover work in the Barry Jenkins directed adaptation), Jay-Z’s longtime Quinn Emanuel lawyer Alex Spiro moved to have the lawsuit either tossed out of court or have the name of the then 13-year-old plaintiff made public. In a December 10 letter to the judge in that case, Spiro also claimed that Buzbee’s firm was attempting to manipulate potential clients into filing unfounded suits against Combs
Never one to sit on his hands, Buzbee roared back with damning accusations that reps for Carter and his lawyers had been trying to bribe people with sums of $1,000 to sue the Texas attorney and his firm. This conduct is reprehensible and illegal,” the lawyer told Deadline. “There will be consequences coming soon.”
Later on December 10, Buzbee himself wrote to Judge Analisa Torres: “To be clear, my firm and I categorically deny all of the baseless allegations levied by Mr. Carter and his counsel in these letters. We will respond in due course and due time, through memoranda of law and other appropriate means, to the legal issues at hand as well as the accusations raised by Mr. Carter and his counsel. We also will address verifiable improprieties committed by defense counsel, outright illegal conduct for which we have actual evidence rather than vague hearsay declarations. For the moment, we simply want to timely inform the Court that such responses will be forthcoming”
We may be seeing the opening salvo in those consequences today as Buzbee filed a service of summons against the “99 Problems” rapper.
“Within 21 days after service of this summons on you (not counting the day you received it) — or 60 days if you are the United States or a United States agency, or an officer or employee of the United States ..you must serve on the plaintiff an answer to the attached complaint or a motion,” it reads. “If you fail to respond, judgment by default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint. You also must file your answer or motion with the court.”
So, looks like the fires around his and Beyonce’s house in Malibu isn’t the only heat Jay-Z is now facing.
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