NEW YORK (AP) — Seven new lawsuits have been filed against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, including one particularly disturbing claim involving the alleged rape of a 13-year-old girl. This surge in legal challenges comes as Combs’ attorneys made another attempt on Monday to secure his release on bail, expressing concerns that ongoing media coverage is compromising his right to a fair trial.
Combs, 54, has entered a not guilty plea to federal sex trafficking charges outlined in an indictment that was unsealed following his arrest on September 16. The indictment accuses him of years of coercing and abusing women, allegedly supported by various associates and employees, while silencing victims through intimidation tactics that included blackmail, violence, kidnapping, and arson.
In the lawsuits, which were lodged on Sunday across state and federal courts, four men and three women—all remaining anonymous—allege they were sexually assaulted by Combs at various parties over the past twenty years. Lawyers representing the plaintiffs claim these lawsuits stem from an extensive list of over 100 accusers planning legal actions against Combs. Attorney Tony Buzbee publicly announced the forthcoming litigation at a news conference held on October 1, where he also provided an avenue for additional accusers to come forward.
Among the new allegations, one lawsuit details an incident from September 2000, in which a 13-year-old girl, invited to a party by a limousine driver after the Video Music Awards in Manhattan, was reportedly raped by Combs following an assault by another unidentified male celebrity. Another lawsuit accuses Combs of assaulting a 17-year-old male at a hotel penthouse party in Manhattan in 2022. The plaintiffs in these cases also assert that they suspect their drinks may have been drugged before the assaults occurred.
As for Combs’ legal team, they have characterized the recent lawsuits as “clear attempts to garner publicity” and expressed unwavering confidence in their legal arguments and the integrity of the judicial system. They firmly assert, “Combs has never sexually assaulted anyone—neither adults nor minors, men or women.”
In addition to defending against the lawsuits, Combs’ attorneys are also appealing earlier bail denials, arguing that there are now “significant changed circumstances” warranting a new request for bail. They have cited issues concerning his conditions of confinement that raise constitutional concerns, alongside new evidence provided in recent legal documents.
Prosecutors countered in their own filing to the appeals court last week, explaining that judges who denied bail were presented with evidence demonstrating that Combs employed meticulous and sophisticated methods to silence and intimidate witnesses during both the racketeering conspiracy and the subsequent government investigation.
In light of the recent developments, Combs’ legal team submitted a request on Sunday seeking a judicial order to prevent potential witnesses and their counsel from making public statements that could jeopardize the fairness of his trial. They highlighted the continuous stream of allegations from these individuals as damaging to Combs’s character and case.
