Lawyers for Sean “Diddy” Combs are demanding that prosecutors reveal the names of his accusers, claiming the government is “unfairly” making the music mogul “play a guessing game” ahead of his sex trafficking trial. This request comes as Combs faces an increasing number of civil lawsuits following his arrest and indictment last month on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation for prostitution.
In a letter to Judge Arun Subramanian, Combs’ legal team argued that while the government has mentioned “multiple” victims, none have been identified. They contended that the situation is complicated by what they described as “baseless” and “opportunistic” allegations from new plaintiffs.
The US Attorney’s office declined to comment.
Combs, currently held in federal custody in Brooklyn, has pleaded not guilty to the charges, which include accusations of running a “criminal enterprise” involved in sex trafficking, forced labor, and abuse of women. His trial is scheduled for May 2025.
Meanwhile, eight additional civil lawsuits have been filed against Combs in the past month, alleging sexual assault. Legal experts suggest these cases may provide valuable information to prosecutors as they continue their investigation. Some believe that the volume of new accusations could lead to further charges or the addition of more defendants to the case.
Federal prosecutors have indicated their probe is still ongoing and have urged other potential victims to come forward. They have also signaled that a superseding indictment could be issued, possibly altering the course of the trial.
The Department of Homeland Security and the Southern District of New York (SDNY) have declined to comment on the current status of the investigation into Sean “Diddy” Combs or whether additional charges will be filed.
This week, six new lawsuits were filed against Combs, all spearheaded by Houston-based attorney Tony Buzbee, who recently stated he is representing at least 120 new accusers. Since November 2023, Combs has faced at least 18 civil lawsuits. The first, filed by his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, was settled the day it was filed, but the others remain ongoing.
Combs has consistently denied any wrongdoing related to the various allegations. However, after CNN published a 2016 hotel surveillance video showing Combs dragging and kicking Ventura, he issued an apology in a video posted on social media. His defense team is now attempting to prevent that video from being used as evidence in his trial, claiming the government leaked the footage to the media, though they have not provided evidence to support these claims.
The six new accusers who came forward this week each allege separate incidents of sexual assault between 1995 and 2021. The victims, both men and women, are represented by Buzbee and San Diego-based attorney Andrew Van Arsdale. One accuser, who was 16 at the time, claims he was assaulted at a 1998 White Party in the Hamptons. Another accuser, who filed her lawsuit after Combs’ indictment, alleges her sexual assault was filmed without her consent. A third accuser, also filing post-indictment, claims she was drugged, sexually assaulted, and impregnated, with the alleged assault as recent as 2024.
Combs’ legal team has not addressed the specific allegations in the new lawsuits but has once again denied the charges. In a statement, his attorneys asserted, “Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted anyone — adult or minor, man or woman.”
Jennie VonCannon, a legal expert, suggested that Combs may have been indicted before the investigation was fully completed because prosecutors viewed him as a potential danger and feared he might be tampering with witnesses—a concern raised during his bail hearing. Combs’ defense team has rejected the government’s claim that he obstructed witnesses in their efforts to detain him.
“The government’s comments during Combs’ bail hearing about his threat to the community seem to explain why they moved so quickly with the indictment,” VonCannon said. “They likely wanted him off the streets, considering him a danger. It’s possible they felt they had enough for the charges in the indictment, but given the breadth of the allegations, it seems like part of a larger pattern of behavior that could lead to additional charges.”
Since Combs’ arrest, more accusers have come forward, emboldened by his time behind bars, according to sources familiar with the investigation who spoke with CNN.
In the months leading up to Combs’ arrest, sources revealed that many of the plaintiffs who had filed civil suits had already been interviewed by federal investigators, with preparations underway for grand jury testimony.
One accuser, who has met with federal agents, told CNN she has direct knowledge of additional alleged victims who have also come forward since Combs’ arrest. Despite the growing number of individuals speaking out, this accuser noted that many still fear retaliation, given Combs’ powerful position as a top music mogul and influential figure in the entertainment industry.
