Lawyers for Sean “Diddy” Combs are urging prosecutors to reveal the identities of the accusers in his sex trafficking case, accusing the government of “unfairly” forcing the defense to “play a guessing game” as they prepare for trial. This latest request comes amid a wave of new civil lawsuits filed against Combs following his arrest and indictment on three criminal charges last month.
In a letter to Judge Arun Subramanian on Tuesday, Combs’ legal team argued that while the government has claimed there are “multiple” victims, it has failed to identify any of them. They also stated that the task of identifying the individuals at the heart of the case is complicated by what they describe as a “slew of baseless allegations” from “desperate” and “opportunistic” plaintiffs.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to comment.
Combs, who is currently being held in federal custody in Brooklyn, has pleaded not guilty to charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transporting individuals to engage in prostitution. Federal prosecutors accuse him of running a “criminal enterprise” through his business empire, engaging in sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, and years of physical abuse against women, among other allegations. They also claim that he did not act alone. His trial is scheduled to begin in May 2025.
Combs’ legal team is seeking to have his detention overturned, having already had two bail requests denied by a magistrate judge and Judge Andrew Carter, who later recused himself. A federal appeals court is expected to hear oral arguments regarding his release on November 4, but Combs’ lawyers have now asked for that appeal to be put on hold while they request bail from Judge Subramanian.
In the month following Combs’ arrest, eight additional civil lawsuits have been filed against him, each accusing him of sexual assault. Legal experts suggest that these new civil cases could play a significant role in the ongoing criminal investigation. Jennie VonCannon, a former federal prosecutor, explained that the influx of lawsuits could help prosecutors uncover new victims or evidence that was previously unknown to them, potentially leading to additional charges or defendants.
Federal prosecutors have indicated that their investigation is still ongoing, with U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, encouraging victims to come forward quickly. At a recent status hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson hinted that a superseding indictment could be issued, possibly extending the length of the trial and adding new charges or defendants to the case.
Sources familiar with the investigation say that new accusers and witnesses have already met with federal agents since Combs’ arrest.
The Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) have declined to comment on the current status of the investigation or whether new charges will be filed against Sean “Diddy” Combs.
This week, six new civil lawsuits were filed, all representing accusers who claim to have been victims of sexual assault by Combs. These lawsuits were brought by Houston-based attorney Tony Buzbee, who had previously stated that he is representing at least 120 new accusers. Since November 2023, at least 18 civil lawsuits have been filed against the music mogul. The first lawsuit, filed by Combs’ former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, was settled just one day after being filed. The remaining lawsuits are still active.
Combs has consistently denied all allegations of wrongdoing in these lawsuits. In response to CNN’s release of a 2016 hotel surveillance video showing Combs allegedly dragging and kicking Ventura, Combs issued an apology through a social media video. His legal team is now attempting to block this video from being used as evidence in his trial. In a recent filing, Combs’ attorneys accused the government of leaking evidence, including the surveillance footage, to the media, although they provided no supporting evidence for these claims.
The six new lawsuits filed this week accuse Combs of sexual assault, with incidents allegedly occurring between 1995 and 2021. The accusers, who remain anonymous, include both men and women. One of the alleged victims claims he was 16 years old when he was assaulted at one of Combs’ infamous White Parties in the Hamptons in 1998. Another accuser alleges that her assault was filmed without her consent. A third accuser, who filed her lawsuit after Combs’ indictment, claims she was drugged, sexually assaulted, and impregnated, with the incident allegedly occurring as recently as 2024.
Combs’ legal team has not addressed the specific allegations in the new lawsuits, but they maintain his innocence. “Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted anyone — adult or minor, man or woman,” his attorneys stated in a statement issued this week.
Jennie VonCannon suggested that the speed of Combs’ indictment may have been influenced by prosecutors’ belief that he posed a danger to the community, particularly due to concerns about witness tampering, as highlighted during his bail hearing. Combs’ defense team has pushed back against the government’s claims, arguing that there is no evidence he obstructed witnesses.
“The government’s comments during Combs’ bail hearing about him being a danger to the community seem to explain why they rushed to bring this indictment,” VonCannon said. “They wanted to take him off the streets because they saw him as a threat. It’s possible they had enough evidence to move forward with the charges, but the scope of the indictment suggests that there could be a broader pattern of behavior, potentially involving additional crimes.”
Sources familiar with the investigation have indicated that more accusers are now coming forward, encouraged by Combs’ detention. Several months before his arrest, many of the plaintiffs who had filed civil suits against Combs had already been interviewed by federal investigators, as part of preparations for grand jury testimony.
One accuser, who has already met with federal agents, told CNN that she is aware of additional alleged victims who have also been in contact with authorities since Combs’ arrest. Despite the growing number of individuals stepping forward, the accuser expressed concern about potential retaliation, noting Combs’ long-standing influence as a powerful figure in the music industry.
“He still has some hold,” the accuser said, referring to Combs’ continued influence and power within the industry.
