A lawyer has claimed he’s representing 120 individuals who have come ahead with sexual assault allegations levelled at Sean “Diddy“ Combs.
Houston lawyer Tony Buzbee mentioned on Tuesday he anticipated lawsuits could be filed inside the subsequent month in New York and Los Angeles.
He mentioned the victims included 60 males and 60 females, and that 25 had been minors on the time of the alleged misconduct. He added that one of many people claimed he was simply 9 years previous on the time of his assault.
“This type of sexual assault, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation should never happen in the United States or anywhere else,” Buzbee mentioned at a information convention. “This should have never been allowed to go on for so long. This conduct has created a mass of individuals who are injured, scared and scarred.”
Following the announcement in Texas, a lawyer for Combs, Erica Wolff, mentioned the performer ”can not tackle each meritless allegation in what has turn out to be a reckless media circus”.
“That said, Mr Combs emphatically and categorically denies as false and defamatory any claim that he sexually abused anyone, including minors,” Wolff added.
“He looks forward to proving his innocence and vindicating himself in court, where the truth will be established based on evidence, not speculation.”
Some circumstances handed to FBI
Buzbee mentioned greater than 3,280 people contacted his agency and alleged they had been assaulted in several methods by Combs.
After vetting the allegations, Buzbee defined his agency determined to characterize 120 folks.
Different circumstances are nonetheless being reviewed. He mentioned a few of his purchasers have spoken with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The people that Buzbee’s agency is representing are from greater than 25 states, with the bulk from California, New York, Georgia and Florida.
The alleged abuse befell principally at events held in New York, California and Florida the place people got drinks that had been laced with medication, Buzbee mentioned.
Different situations reportedly unfolded at auditions the place “many times – especially young people, people wanting to break into the industry – were coerced into this type of conduct in the promise of being made a star”, Buzbee mentioned.
‘Wall of silence has now been broken’
Final month, Combs, 54, was arrested at a lodge in New York Metropolis after a grand jury indicted him on intercourse trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to have interaction in prostitution.
The costs in opposition to him had been initially sealed, however the 14-page indictment was in the end launched on September 17, when Combs pleaded not responsible in a federal court docket in New York Metropolis.
Combs is likely one of the best-known music executives, producers and performers in hip-hop, having received three Grammys and labored with artists throughout the musical spectrum.
“The biggest secret in the entertainment industry, that really wasn’t a secret at all, has finally been revealed to the world,” Buzbee mentioned on Tuesday. “The wall of silence has now been broken.”
Buzbee has additionally represented ladies who accused Nationwide Soccer League (NFL) quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual assault and misconduct.
The lawyer mentioned he deliberate to determine extra suspects, “apart from Sean Combs“.
“The names that we’re going to name, assuming our investigators confirm and corroborate what we’ve been told, are names that will shock you,” he added.
“I’m talking here about not just the cowardly but complicit bystanders. That is, those people that we know watched this behaviour occur and did nothing.”
