Sean “Diddy” Combs faces new civil charges of sexual assault and rape

Sean “Diddy” Combs is facing a wave of new civil lawsuits, with five separate suits filed in federal court on Monday. The allegations, dating from 1995 to 2021, include allegations of sexual assault and rape involving three men and two women, none of whom are named in the files. These lawsuits were filed under the Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Actwhich allows older claims to be submitted until March 2025.

One of the lawsuits accuses Combs of sexually assaulting and raping a 19-year-old college student Manhattan Hotel room. The lawsuits, filed by attorney Tony Buzbee, seek unspecified damages and list Combs and his various business entities as defendants. In an interview, Buzbee said NBC News that he intends to submit claims that are “credible and legitimate.”

Buzbee described a consistent theme across the cases, explaining that Combs “feels like he can do whatever he wants.” Combs’ legal team has not yet responded to these new complaints, although the music mogul has previously denied all allegations, calling them “disgusting” and part of a plan for a “quick payday.”

These lawsuits come at a time when Combs is already battling federal charges of racketeering and sex trafficking. The criminal case, which paints a picture of violent drug-fueled parties, is scheduled to go to trial on May 5. Combs, who is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, has been denied bail twice but is appealing the verdicts.

These legal issues are a result of a lawsuit filed last year by his ex-girlfriend, Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura, who accused him of years of physical and sexual abuse. Although the case was quickly settled, Combs continued to deny any wrongdoing. The case took a more public turn in May when surveillance footage was released showing Combs attacking Ventura in a hotel hallway in 2016. He later apologized for the incident, calling it a one-time incident and claiming that he has since sought therapy.

Combs’ legal team has also accused federal prosecutors of leaking evidence, including surveillance video, to the media. They are demanding an evidentiary hearing to address those concerns, even though prosecutors have denied any wrongdoing.