A woman who anonymously sued Sean “Diddy” Combs for rape earlier this month was told she had to reveal her name or her lawsuit would be thrown out.
Par BNCThe woman’s complaint was filed under “Jane Doe” in the Southern District of New York and alleged that Combs raped her in 2004 in a Manhattan hotel when she was a 19-year-old student.
Texas attorney Tony Buzbee – who revealed he is working with 120 people who have filed new complaints against the disgraced rapper – has filed a complaint under the Gender-Based Violence Victims Protection Act, which allows victims to file older complaints within two years. One-year window (ending March 2025).
The complaint in question was one of six filed by Buzbee on October 14, all anonymous.
The complaint alleged that Jane Doe was invited to one of Comb’s photo shoots in Brooklyn in 2004, after which she and her friend attended an after-party where they were invited to a “more exclusive party” by Combs .
Her complaint said she and her friend agreed and were taken to a Manhattan-area Marriott hotel by a member of Combs’ entourage. Doe and her friend were allegedly grabbed and taken to a separate room from the main party, and locked inside with the rap mogul.
According to the filing, Combs gave them drinks, ordered them to use cocaine and forcibly touched them. He allegedly ordered Doe’s friend to perform oral sex on him “or he would have them both killed” and raped Doe.
A security guard opened the door at one point and Doe’s friend rushed out, but Doe was ordered to stay and waited about half an hour until another guard security came and told her she could leave, according to the complaint.
In a ruling issued Wednesday, Oct. 20, U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil said that while the case is highly sensitive and likely to attract increased public scrutiny if Doe proceeded under her own name, her wish to remain anonymous does not did not outweigh the reasons. Combs’ and the public’s interests “in the customary and constitutionally entrenched presumption of transparency” in legal proceedings.
Judge Vyskocil went on to say that the woman’s complaint did not provide sufficient evidence demonstrating that she would face a “significant risk of harm” if publicly named, and that her lawyers offered “no support for this assertion — beyond the fact that 20 years ago, Combs allegedly threatened Doe’s life if she fled at the time of the alleged assault.
The complaint stated that Combs had no contact with Doe in the years since the alleged incident and that Combs was currently in custody.
Combs was arrested in New York in September and later charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation for the purpose of prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. He was later refused bail after being offered a $50 million (£38.4 million) surety and was reportedly placed on suicide watch while awaiting trial. The artist has since appealed the denial of bail. His trial date is scheduled for May 5, 2025.
He remains in federal custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York. Combs is scheduled to appear in court on December 18. rolling stonehe faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
The judge has now given Jane Doe until November 13 to file a complaint in her own name “or risk dismissal of this case.” She said Doe’s lawyers did not provide enough evidence that her identity could cause mental harm, and that the prospect of “public humiliation” was not enough.
Buzbee, in a statement made to CNNsaid: “We have great respect for the court and its decisions. Our job as these victims’ advocates is to protect their safety as best we can, and that’s what we were trying to do by filing cases anonymously. Anonymous or not, this matter will continue, period.
Following the recent accusation that Diddy sexually assaulted and drugged a 10-year-old boy, Combs’ lawyers denied the latest wave of accusations and criticized Buzbee in a statement (via Complex).
“As we have said before, Mr. Combs cannot respond to every new publicity stunt, even in response to seemingly ridiculous or blatantly false claims,” it reads.
“Mr. Combs and his legal team have full confidence in the facts and the integrity of the legal process. In court, the truth will prevail: Mr. Combs never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone – male or female, adult or minor.
For further help, advice or information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the United States, visit RAINN.
