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More than 100 new sexual assault allegations have been filed against Sean “Diddy” Combs, and a Texas attorney says he is representing 120 accusers who have shared dozens of new and shocking claims.
“We will expose the enablers who made this conduct possible behind closed doors,” Texas-based attorney Tony Buzbee said at a press conference Tuesday. “We will pursue this matter regardless of who the evidence implicates.”
“There are a lot of powerful people… a lot of dirty secrets,” the lawyer said, according to NBC News. He said his team had “collected photos, videos and texts” and that the list of names collected “will surprise you.”
On Friday, Buzbee’s law firm announced it was representing more than 50 accusers who had approached them with “serious” stories of what the rapper allegedly witnessed at “freak” parties.
He also wrote that he expects many others to become involved as the case and other lawsuits grow and move through the court system.
By Tuesday, the number of people taken on by Buzbee Law Firm and AVA Legal Group had more than doubled, Buzbee said. He also said more than 3,000 people have contacted his office to criticize Combs and that he plans to file lawsuits in several states.
“As we navigate these difficult times, we ask that you treat these brave men with the dignity and compassion they deserve,” he said at a news conference Tuesday. Additionally, “If you have been harmed or are a witness to the act, please report it. Your identity will remain confidential at this time.”
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Buzbee said, “The biggest secret in the entertainment industry, which was not a secret at all, has finally been revealed to the world.” “The wall of silence has now fallen.”
Buzbee said this new group of accusers is 62% African-American and equally split between men and women, with the youngest being 9 years old at the time of the incident. He added that 25 of the current accusers were minors at the time of the incident, which dates back to 1991.
After a news conference in Texas, a lawyer for Combs said the performer “cannot deal with all the nonsense claims that have become a reckless media circus.”
“Mr. Combs emphatically and emphatically denies any allegations that he sexually abused anyone, including minors, as false and defamatory,” attorney Erica Wolf said in a statement to The Associated Press. “He looks forward to proving his innocence and vindicating himself in a court of law, where once the suit is filed and served, the truth will be established based on evidence and not speculation.”
Tuesday’s announcement is the latest in a growing number of lawsuits against the disgraced musician.
Last week, it was announced that another woman had sued Combs, alleging that the music mogul and his security chief raped her and videotaped her at a New York recording studio in 2001. A human trafficking indictment has been released against him.
Combs’ “freaks” were often associated with drugs, including ketamine, ecstasy and GHB, according to the indictment. Damian Williams, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said drugs were used to keep the victims “obedient and compliant.”
The alleged “freaks” were often so physically demanding that Combs apparently stocked up on IV therapy for those in need of recovery. The music mogul was arrested on September 16 on charges of racketeering, prostitution and providing transportation for prostitution.
Sean (Diddy) Combs, left, depicted in this courtroom sketch, sits at the defense table with Teny Garagos, one of his attorneys, during a bail hearing in New York, Wednesday, September 18, 2024.
Elizabeth Williams via AP
Combs remains jailed in New York after being denied bail twice. He has pleaded not guilty to racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. His lawyer said he was innocent and would fight to clear his name.
The first lawsuit was filed in November last year by Combs’ ex-girlfriend, singer Cassie Ventura. Ventura said she endured years of sexual, physical and emotional abuse at the hands of Combs.
— With files from Sarah Do Couto of Global News
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— If you or someone you know is being abused or involved in an abusive situation, visit the Canadian Crime Victims Resource Center for help. You can also call us toll-free at 1-877-232-2610.
© 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
