CNN
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Even earlier than regulation enforcement raided his properties, the rapper, producer and businessman Sean “Diddy” Combs confronted a number of authorized points.
Since November, he has confronted 5 separate civil lawsuits accusing him of a spread of sexual misconduct and different criminal activity. A kind of circumstances has already been settled, however the others stay energetic.
A number of of the lawsuits allege misconduct was captured on video. As well as, some have been filed beneath the New York Grownup Survivors Act, which created a one-year window for grownup victims to file a lawsuit in opposition to their alleged abusers and the establishments that enabled them, no matter statutes of limitations. This one-year window ended November 24, 2023.
Authorities searched Diddy’s properties on Monday as a result of he’s a goal of a federal investigation carried out by a Division of Homeland Safety staff that handles human trafficking crimes, in line with a senior federal regulation enforcement official briefed on the investigation. The investigation stems from lots of the similar sexual assault allegations put forth in the civil lawsuits, in line with a second regulation enforcement supply acquainted with Monday’s searches.
The music mogul’s legal professional, Aaron Dyer, issued an announcement Tuesday, calling the searches a “gross overuse of military-level drive.”
“This unprecedented ambush – paired with a complicated, coordinated media presence – results in a untimely rush to judgment of Mr. Combs and is nothing greater than a witch hunt primarily based on meritless accusations made in civil lawsuits,” he stated. “There was no discovering of felony or civil legal responsibility with any of those allegations. Mr. Combs is harmless and can proceed to battle each single day to clear his title.”
Right here’s a better have a look at every of the lawsuits, what they allege and the way Diddy has responded.
The fundamentals: Casandra Ventura, the R&B singer often known as Cassie who beforehand dated Diddy, filed a federal lawsuit within the Southern District of New York on November 16, 2023, in opposition to Diddy and the businesses Unhealthy Boy Information, Unhealthy Boy Leisure, Combs Enterprises, Epic Information and Doe Corps. 1-10.
The allegations: Ventura alleged she was raped and subjected to years of violent abuse by Diddy. The lawsuit particularly accuses him of intercourse trafficking, human trafficking, sexual assault and battery, gender-motivated violence, sexual harassment, gender discrimination and a hostile work surroundings.
Diddy’s response: Legal professional Ben Brafman stated in an announcement emailed to CNN by way of Diddy’s publicist, “Mr. Combs vehemently denies these offensive and outrageous allegations.”
The assertion continued, “For the previous 6 months, Mr. Combs, has been subjected to Ms. Ventura’s persistent demand of $30 million, beneath the specter of writing a dangerous e-book about their relationship, which was unequivocally rejected as blatant blackmail. Regardless of withdrawing her preliminary menace, Ms. Ventura has now resorted to submitting a lawsuit riddled with baseless and outrageous lies, aiming to tarnish Mr. Combs’ status and searching for a pay day.”
The place the case stands: The lawsuit was settled “amicably” only a day afterward, either side stated. “A call to settle a lawsuit, particularly in 2023, is under no circumstances an admission of wrongdoing,” Brafman stated.
The fundamentals: Joi Dickerson-Neal filed a lawsuit in New York Supreme Courtroom on November 23 in opposition to Diddy, Unhealthy Boy Leisure doing enterprise as Unhealthy Boy Information, and Combs Enterprises LLC.
The allegations: Dickerson-Neal accused Diddy of drugging and sexually assaulting her in 1991, when she was a Syracuse College scholar who had appeared with Combs in a music video. She additionally alleged she was a sufferer of “revenge porn,” saying he filmed the assault and confirmed it to others.
Diddy’s response: A spokesperson stated the allegations are “made up and never credible,” including the transfer is “purely a cash seize.”
“This last-minute lawsuit is an instance of how a well-intentioned regulation will be turned on its head,” the spokesperson stated. “Mr. Combs by no means assaulted her, and she or he implicates firms that didn’t exist.”
The place the case stands: Defendants’ response is due April 12.
The fundamentals: In a lawsuit filed in New York Supreme Courtroom on November 23 and in an amended grievance on March 12, Liza Gardner sued Diddy, Aaron Corridor, MCA Inc., MCA Music Leisure Group, Geffen Information, Common Music Group NV, John and Jane Does 1-10 and ABC Corps. 1-10.
The allegations: Gardner accused Combs and Aaron Corridor, a member of the R&B group Man, of battery and sexual assault in 1990, when she was 16 years outdated.
She alleged that after they gave her alcoholic drinks, Diddy compelled her into having intercourse and Corridor pinned her down and compelled her to have intercourse. The subsequent day, Diddy assaulted her and choked her till she handed out, the lawsuit states.
Diddy’s response: In December, Diddy posted on Instagram denying the claims.
“Sufficient is sufficient. For the final couple of weeks, I’ve sat silently and watched individuals attempt to assassinate my character, destroy my status and my legacy,” he stated. “Sickening allegations have been made in opposition to me by people searching for a fast payday. Let me be completely clear: I didn’t do any of the terrible issues being alleged. I’ll battle for my title, my household and for the reality.”
CNN has reached out to Corridor for remark. He has not but publicly spoken in regards to the allegations.
The place the case stands: Defendants’ response to the grievance shouldn’t be but due.
The fundamentals: An nameless girl utilizing the title Jane Doe filed a federal lawsuit within the Southern District of New York on December 6 in opposition to Diddy, Harve Pierre, an unnamed third assailant, Daddy’s Home Recordings Inc. and Unhealthy Boy Leisure Holdings Inc. Doe filed an amended grievance on March 29.
The allegations: Doe accused Diddy, Pierre and a 3rd individual of intercourse trafficking and gang rape in 2003, when she was a 17-year-old highschool scholar.
Diddy’s response: In court docket filings, Diddy formally denied the allegations and advised the court docket the lawsuit ought to be dismissed as a result of the lady’s “choice to attend greater than 20 years to file her grievance has prejudiced” him as a result of he has “misplaced the power to defend himself totally and pretty.” He additionally argued the proof could now be “unavailable, misplaced, or compromised” and that “witness identification, availability, and recollections are seemingly compromised as a result of substantial passage of time.”
Pierre, the previous president of Unhealthy Boy Information, filed a 15-page response asking the court docket to dismiss the grievance. He stated he “by no means participated within the sexual assault of the Plaintiff nor did he ever witness anybody else sexually assaulting the Plaintiff.”
Daddy’s Home Recordings Inc. and Unhealthy Boy Leisure Holdings Inc. have additionally filed motions asking the court docket to dismiss the case.
The place the case stands: Defendants’ response to the amended grievance shouldn’t be but due.
The fundamentals: Rodney Jones, a music producer and videographer who glided by Lil Rod, filed a federal lawsuit within the Southern District of New York on February 26 in opposition to Diddy and a lot of different defendants. The swimsuit was refiled on March 4, and proposed amended complaints have been filed on March 25 and March 27.
The allegations: The lawsuit particularly accuses Diddy of racketeering, sexual assault and intercourse trafficking in 2022 and 2023 as Jones labored on Diddy’s most up-to-date album “Love.” Jones additionally alleges Combs didn’t compensate him for his music producing work.
As well as, the lawsuit accuses Cuba Gooding Jr. of sexual assault and makes reference to a number of different celebrities by title and by description.
Diddy’s response: Diddy’s legal professional denied the allegations and referred to as Jones’ claims “lies.”
“His reckless name-dropping about occasions which can be pure fiction and easily didn’t occur is nothing greater than a clear try to garner headlines. We now have overwhelming, indeniable proof that his claims are full lies,” legal professional Shawn Holley stated.
An legal professional for Gooding has not responded to CNN’s request for remark.
The place the case stands: Among the defendants have moved to dismiss the case, and the deadline to answer the allegations has not but arrived.