On Monday, a new wave of lawsuits was filed against Sean “Diddy” Combs, accusing him of a range of sexual offenses, including rape, sexual assault, and molestation of a minor. The lawsuits, filed anonymously in federal court in Manhattan, include allegations from both women and men who claim to be victims of Combs.
One of the lawsuits, filed by a man from North Carolina, alleges that Combs fondled his genitals when he was just 16 years old at one of the rapper’s parties in the Hamptons in 1998. The man claims that Combs told him it was a rite of passage to becoming a music star and pressured him into complying out of fear and power imbalance.
Combs, who has only faced civil cases and criminal charges related to adult victims in the past, has pleaded not guilty to racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges. He is currently being held at a federal jail in Brooklyn after two judges determined he would be a danger to the community if released on bail.
Other lawsuits filed on Monday include allegations of rape, forced oral sex, and drugging victims to incapacitate them. One of the Jane Does claims that Combs raped her in a hotel room in 2004, while another alleges a violent attack and rape in a bathroom in 2005.
In response to the lawsuits, Combs’ lawyers have not provided immediate comment. The ongoing legal battle against Combs has been met with challenges in securing bail, with multiple judges expressing concerns about witness tampering and obstruction of justice.
As the legal process unfolds, more details about the allegations against Combs are likely to emerge. The lawsuits represent a significant development in the case against the hip-hop mogul, who continues to deny the accusations against him.