Sean 'Diddy' Combs' attorneys ask judge to publicly identify his accusers
Oct. 16, 2024, 7:54 AM GMT+5
A wave of anonymous accusations has created a media frenzy and deprived Combs of his right to a fair trial, his lawyers argue.
Attorneys for Sean “Diddy” Combs filed a motion Tuesday requesting that his accusers in a federal sex trafficking case be publicly identified so he can prepare a proper defense.
The motion requests that U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian of the Southern District of New York identify Combs' accusers because, his lawyers argue, the torrent of anonymous allegations are damaging his reputation, leading to a “media circus" and depriving him of a fair trial.
Identifying anonymous accusers would allow Combs to adequately prepare for his trial, prevent any surprises and protect him from double jeopardy should he be prosecuted again for the same offense, according to the filing from Combs’ team of lawyers.
“His case is unique, in part because of the number of individuals levying allegations against Mr. Combs due to his celebrity status, wealth, and the publicity of his previously settled lawsuit,” the motion reads.
It also alleges grand jury leaks and false inflammatory statements by Department of Homeland Security agents tied to the release of security video showing Combs beating his ex-girlfriend, singer Casandra "Cassie" Ventura, in the hallway of a Los Angeles hotel in 2016. (Combs apologized for the incident, saying that it was a one-off instance and that he had sought therapy and had changed, and he settled a lawsuit in which Ventura had accused him of rape and physical abuse.)
Combs’ legal team filed a petition claiming the government provided the video to CNN and was responsible for leaking other information to the media.
“Between the grand jury leaks and the incendiary public statements, the agents all but ensured that the grand jury would be tainted as well as the general public from which we will soon select a jury,” the filing says.
“This had a pervasive ripple effect, resulting in a torrent of allegations by unidentified complainants, spanning from the false to outright absurd. Yesterday alone, anonymous accusers filed an additional six lawsuits,” it argues.
The motion also mentions a recent news conference at which Texas-based attorney Tony Buzbee said he is representing 120 accusers in a series of lawsuits against Combs, with allegations including sexual abuse of minors. The filing called the news conference a "publicity stunt" and the allegations "outrageous and deeply prejudicial."