Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Requests Court to Reveal Identities of Alleged Sexual Assault Accusers
Sean “Diddy” Combs filed a legal motion on Tuesday, requesting the court to disclose the identities of individuals who have accused him of sexual assault and rape. This filing comes a day after four men and two women sued the 54-year-old music mogul, alleging sexual misconduct.
The new lawsuits, filed anonymously under the names John and Jane Does, were brought forward by attorney Tony Buzbee, who represents 120 unidentified accusers in similar cases.
In his Tuesday motion, Combs asked the court to compel the government to identify these alleged victims so he can adequately prepare his defense for trial, as reported by People. His legal team argued that the case is “unique” due to Combs’ high-profile celebrity status, wealth, and the extensive publicity surrounding previous lawsuits, some of which have already been settled.
Combs’ attorneys claim that the wave of new lawsuits has created a “ripple effect,” prompting accusers to file claims ranging from “false” to “outright absurd.” They dismissed the recent lawsuits as a “publicity stunt” and pointed out that several similar accusations against Combs have been discredited, though not before damaging his reputation.
“These swirling allegations have created a hysterical media circus that, if left unchecked, will irreparably deprive Mr. Combs of a fair trial, if they haven’t already,” his legal team stated in the filing.
The motion also contends that without the identities of the accusers, it would be impossible for Combs to fully understand the accusations or defend himself effectively. His attorneys argue that the ambiguity surrounding the accusers’ identities could lead to an unwarranted examination of his entire sexual history over the last 16 years, complicating his defense.
The rapper’s legal team further asserted that the discovery process will likely reveal “voluminous evidence of consensual sexual activity,” making it harder for Combs to differentiate between consensual encounters and accusations of coercion.
This latest development follows concerns raised by Combs’ lawyers last week about the potential involvement of government officials in leaking damaging evidence, including 2016 surveillance footage allegedly showing Combs physically assaulting his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura. His legal team argued that such leaks are part of an effort to harm Combs’ reputation as he continues to face multiple allegations.