NEW YORK, USA – Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, the influential music mogul, is facing a barrage of new sexual assault allegations as 120 individuals, represented by Texas-based attorney Tony Buzbee, prepare to file lawsuits against him.
At a news conference held Tuesday, October 1, 2024, Buzbee outlined the gravity of the accusations, which span over two decades and involve claims of violent sexual assault, abuse of minors, and other severe misconduct.
“We will expose the enablers who enabled this conduct behind closed doors. We will pursue this matter no matter who the evidence implicates,” Buzbee said, hinting at the potential involvement of other powerful figures.
He added that his team has gathered substantial evidence, including pictures, video, and text messages.
The allegations, according to Buzbee, include instances of “violent sexual assault or rape, facilitated sex with a controlled substance, dissemination of video recordings, and sexual abuse of minors.”
Buzbee emphasised that his legal team is proceeding carefully, vowing to ensure accuracy before revealing additional names involved. “These names will shock you,” he said.
Widespread Accusations and National Reach
Buzbee stated that more than 3,000 individuals have contacted his office with allegations against Combs, but the lawsuits will start with 120 accusers.
Of these, 62% identify as African American, and they come from more than 25 states, with most based in New York, California, Georgia, and Florida.
Buzbee also revealed that 25 of the accusers were minors at the time of the alleged incidents, with some claims dating back to 1991.
One of the youngest accusers was allegedly 9 years old when the incident occurred.
The lawsuits, which are set to be filed within the next 30 days, could involve additional defendants, though Buzbee has not yet disclosed who they are.
Combs Denies Allegations
In response to the mounting accusations, Combs’ lawyer, Erica Wolff, issued a statement vehemently denying the claims. “Mr. Combs emphatically and categorically denies as false and defamatory any claim that he sexually abused anyone, including minors,”
Wolff said. She added that Combs looks forward to clearing his name in court, should the lawsuits be filed, and emphasized that the truth will be established through evidence, not speculation.
Combs is currently being detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, following his indictment last month on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Despite repeated attempts by his legal team to secure bail, Combs has been denied release twice.
His lawyers, which now include Alexandra Shapiro, Teny Geragos, and Marc Agnifilo, filed paperwork earlier this week to appeal the bail decision.
A History of Legal Troubles
The allegations against Combs are not new. His ex-girlfriend, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, filed a civil lawsuit against him last year, accusing the rapper of assault and sex trafficking during their relationship.
Although Combs settled with Ventura for an undisclosed amount, the case brought significant attention to his alleged abusive behaviour.
Surveillance footage of Combs assaulting Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel hallway later leaked, prompting an apology from the music mogul.
Since then, more lawsuits have followed.
Dawn Richard, a former member of the girl group Danity Kane, also filed a suit, accusing Combs of groping, assaulting, and imprisoning her, and even threatening her life.
Combs has denied all the claims, calling them “sickening allegations” from individuals seeking financial gain.
Many of the lawsuits have been filed in New York City under the Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Law, which allows individuals to bring forth sexual abuse claims even after the statute of limitations has passed.
The Road Ahead
As Buzbee prepares to file the new lawsuits, the scale and severity of the allegations against Combs have become increasingly difficult to ignore.
With more accusers coming forward and the possibility of additional defendants being implicated, the entertainment mogul faces what could be the most significant legal battle of his career.
For now, Combs remains in detention, awaiting the next phase of legal proceedings as the public and the courts brace for the revelations that could emerge in the coming weeks.
