Afrigather Posted at 5:30 PM, October 1, 2024
An legal professional mentioned Tuesday he’s representing 120 accusers who’ve come ahead with sexual misconduct allegations in opposition to Sean “Diddy” Combs, the hip-hop mogul who’s awaiting trial on intercourse trafficking prices.
Houston legal professional Tony Buzbee mentioned he expects lawsuits to be filed inside the subsequent month, with most anticipated to be filed in New York and Los Angeles. Buzbee described the victims as 60 males and 60 females, and that 25 had been minors on the time of the alleged misconduct. One particular person alleged he was 9 years previous when he was abused, Buzbee mentioned. The allegations cowl a interval from 1991 to this 12 months.
FILE – Sean Combs arrives on the LA Premiere of “The 4: Battle For Stardom” on the CBS Radford Studio Middle on Wednesday, Might 30, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photograph by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP, file)
“The sort of sexual assault, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation ought to by no means occur in america or anyplace else. This could have by no means been allowed to go on for thus lengthy. This conduct has created a mass of people who’re injured, scared and scarred,” Buzbee mentioned at a information convention.
Following the announcement of the accusations in Texas, an legal professional for Combs mentioned the performer “can not deal with each meritless allegation in what has turn out to be a reckless media circus.”
“That mentioned, Mr. Combs emphatically and categorically denies as false and defamatory any declare that he sexually abused anybody, together with minors,” legal professional Erica Wolff mentioned in an announcement. “He appears ahead to proving his innocence and vindicating himself in courtroom if and when claims are filed and served, the place the reality will probably be established based mostly on proof, not hypothesis.”
Buzbee mentioned greater than 3,280 people contacted his agency and alleged they had been victimized by Combs and that after vetting the allegations, his agency determined to characterize 120 individuals. Different instances are nonetheless being reviewed. He mentioned a few of his purchasers have spoken with the FBI.
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The people that Buzbee’s agency is representing are from greater than 25 states, with the bulk from California, New York, Georgia and Florida.
The abuse that’s being alleged occurred largely at events held in New York, California and Florida the place people got drinks that had been laced with medicine, Buzbee mentioned.
Among the alleged conduct occurred at auditions the place “many instances, particularly younger individuals, individuals wanting to interrupt into the trade had been coerced into this sort of conduct within the promise of being made a star,” Buzbee mentioned.
Combs, 54, has been locked up on the Metropolitan Detention Middle in Brooklyn since pleading not responsible Sept. 17 to federal prices that he used his “energy and status” to induce feminine victims into drugged-up, elaborately produced sexual performances with male intercourse staff in occasions dubbed “Freak Offs.”
Different alleged victims have already filed lawsuits in opposition to Combs that embody allegations of sexual assault.
Combs has pleaded not responsible to racketeering conspiracy and intercourse trafficking. His legal professional mentioned he’s harmless and can struggle to clear his title.
Combs is likely one of the best-known music executives, producers and performers throughout hip-hop, having received three Grammys and labored with artists akin to Infamous B.I.G., Mary J. Blige, Usher, Lil Kim, Religion Evans and 112. He based Unhealthy Boy Data in 1993, the influential vogue line Sean John, a vodka model and the Revolt TV community. He bought off his stake within the latter firm in June of this 12 months.
Buzbee has additionally represented girls who accused NFL quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual assault and misconduct.
