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The New York Police Division’s chief of division abruptly retired after a bombshell report claimed that he had preyed upon one in all his staff, permitting her time beyond regulation alternatives in trade for sexual favors.
Chief Jeffrey Maddrey, 53, stepped down Friday, shortly after Lt. Quathisha Epps publicly accused him of demanding sexual favors from her, the New York Put up first reported.
“He needed to have anal intercourse, vaginal intercourse, oral intercourse,” Epps instructed the outlet. “He was all the time asking me to kiss his penis.”
Epps, who has been working on the company since 2005 and just lately had an administrative job within the chief of division’s workplace, was NYPD’s highest-paid worker in fiscal 12 months 2024, making upward of $400,000, publicly obtainable information present.
Whereas the 51-year-old was making a base wage of $172,000, she earned $204,000 in time beyond regulation pay in addition to a further $26,000. In the meantime, her boss, Maddrey — the company’s high uniformed officer, made $292,000 in base pay this 12 months, information present.
Maddrey’s sexual calls for started in June 2023 when he grew to become chief of division, Epps instructed the outlet.
NYPD Chief of Division Jeffrey Maddrey speaks throughout NYPD press convention after the CEO of UnitedHealthcare Brian Thompson was reportedly shot and killed in Midtown Manhattan, in New York Metropolis on December 4. He abruptly resigned after allegations surfaced about demanding sexual favors from his inferior in trade for time beyond regulation pay (REUTERS)
Maddrey, who’s married, was allegedly sitting at his desk carrying only a white undershirt and unzipped uniform pants when he instructed her “he dreamed about f***ing me in my a**,” Epps claimed.
She recalled responding: “I mentioned, ‘However Chief, you’re the Chief of Division.’ He rubbed his chest. . . His work pants had been open. He was like: However ‘I’m nonetheless a n***** and also you look good.”
He then requested her to go to the again of his workplace — the place he had a sofa, she claimed.
“He bent me over the arm of the sofa and after I tried to again away however he was telling me ‘Simply let me put it in a bit bit,’” she instructed the outlet by tears.
He then grabbed Okay-Y Jelly from a locker close to the sofa and rubbed it on himself earlier than he pressured himself into her — regardless of her pleas for him to cease, Epps mentioned.
“He inserted himself, and he saved forcing it and forcing it,” she alleged. “And I saved asking him, ‘Are you able to please cease? Then I ended asking him to cease, and I requested him to only decelerate. ‘Are you able to please simply decelerate? You’re hurting me! You’re hurting me!’”
She recalled him saying: “‘I’m not attempting to harm you, child. I’m not attempting to harm you.”’
The pair had sexual activity about 10 occasions after that, she instructed the outlet.
Typically the highest uniformed officer texted Epps three letters: “DAP.” It stood for “dat ain’t pussy,” that means he needed anal intercourse, she mentioned.
Different occasions, she recalled he would enter her workplace and “ask me to kiss it,” referring to his penis.
Maddrey had “a want and a command,” that means Epps must adjust to what he needed, she instructed the outlet. He requested her to strip in her workplace, to pay for a visit for Maddrey and his spouse to Miami, and to offer her Decrease East Facet condo to his girlfriend — regardless of it being in Epps’ youngsters’s names.
She tried to interrupt free from Maddrey however feared she wouldn’t be believed. “I feel he’s a predator,” Epps instructed the Put up. “He’d say, ‘We’re going to save lots of your home.’ Like he’s rescuing me. When he’s actually simply f***ing me.”
Lt. Quathisha Epps reportedly acquired hundreds in time beyond regulation pay after her boss demanded sexual favors (LinkedIn)
After attempting to distance herself from Maddrey, she was retaliated towards and uncovered to be a excessive time beyond regulation earner, her lawyer Eric Sanders instructed the Put up. She was suspended for 30 days and is being probed over the exorbitant time beyond regulation pay, sources instructed the outlet.
The magnanimous time beyond regulation pay started years earlier, although, when Epps had instructed Maddrey — then chief of patrol — that she was struggling financially.
“I instructed him I used to be about to lose my residence,” she instructed the outlet. “He instructed me I may do no matter time beyond regulation I wanted. He instructed me I used to be like his sister.” However he additionally instructed her she may assist him with favors outdoors of the workplace — like serving to out his girlfriend, who was one other NYPD worker, she mentioned.
“A part of the time beyond regulation was to care for his girlfriend,” which included condo searching along with her and shopping for home goods for her, Epps mentioned.
Epps intends to file a discover of declare with town comptroller’s workplace Saturday, Sanders instructed the Put up. Sources beforehand instructed the outlet that she submitted paperwork for retirement this month.
The Impartial has reached out to Sanders’ workplace for remark.
“What a handy time to accuse any individual of misconduct after she’s caught stealing time,” Maddrey’s lawyer Lambros Lambrou instructed the Put up. “She’s clearly drowning and within the deep finish of the pool with out a lifesaver. She desires to take down as many individuals as she will be able to. That is fully meritless, and we deny each facet of it.”
The Impartial has reached out to Lambrou’s workplace for remark.
This isn’t the primary time Maddrey has been accused of sexual misconduct.
Tabatha Foster, a retired officer who used to work beneath Maddrey, filed a civil lawsuit towards him in 2016 in federal court docket. That swimsuit was dismissed and was delivered to New York Supreme Courtroom. She claimed that whereas they’d engaged in a consensual relationship, she felt that “she had no selection however to acquiesce” due to Maddrey’s “place of authority over” her, filings say.
On one event, after she retired, Maddrey started “slapping, punching, and pushing” her to the bottom along with his knee pressed to her again to the purpose the place she couldn’t breathe, the grievance says. He additionally pointed his gun at her. A decide finally dismissed the swimsuit.
The NYPD confirmed to The Impartial that Maddrey had resigned and that the division will examine Epps’ claims.
“Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch accepted the resignation of Chief of Division Jeffrey Maddrey Friday evening, efficient instantly. The NYPD takes all allegations of sexual misconduct severely, and can totally examine this matter,” a NYPD spokesperson mentioned in a press release.
Chief of Patrol John Chell will function interim chief of division, Pix11 reported.
From reproductive rights to local weather change to Large Tech, The Impartial is on the bottom when the story is growing. Whether or not it is investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our newest documentary, ‘The A Phrase’, which shines a lightweight on the American ladies preventing for reproductive rights, we all know how vital it’s to parse out the info from the messaging.
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Betting big Entain is being taken to court docket by Australia’s monetary crime regulator over allegations it breached anti-money laundering guidelines within the nation, leaving it at “severe danger of prison exploitation”.
The Australian Transaction Experiences and Evaluation Centre (Austrac) mentioned it had began civil penalty proceedings within the federal court docket towards the corporate.
The regulator alleges that Entain breached anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CTF) legal guidelines by its on-line betting platforms.
Entain, which owns betting outlets Ladbrokes and Coral, mentioned the result of civil penalty proceedings had been unsure, however may end in it being hit with a “doubtlessly materials” penalty.
Austrac’s allegations embrace that Entain’s board and senior administration didn’t appropriately oversee its AML and CTF programme, which left it susceptible to prison exploitation.
We notice the allegations made, which we take extraordinarily critically
Gavin Isaacs, Entain’s chief government
It additionally claims the agency didn’t conduct applicable checks on 17 higher-risk prospects, together with the place there was a danger of its on-line betting programs being exploited by criminals to spend the proceeds of significant crime.
In some circumstances, Entain used pseudonyms to obscure the identification of high-risk prospects by itself programs, in line with the allegations.
Gavin Isaacs, chief government of Entain, mentioned: “We notice the allegations made, which we take extraordinarily critically.
“We now have co-operated totally with Austrac all through its investigation and we’re implementing additional enhancements to Entain Australia’s AML and CTF compliance preparations.
“While we nonetheless have some additional enhancements to make, we anticipate these to be carried out in keeping with the plan we communicated to Austrac in 2023.”
Final 12 months, Entain was hammered by a £585 million settlement with HM Income & Customs to resolve an investigation into alleged bribery at its former Turkish enterprise.
It has since been driving a turnaround in its monetary efficiency having been weighed down by heavy losses and seeing a brand new chief government be part of the group following a seven-month search.
Shares in Entain had been down 4% on Monday morning.
From reproductive rights to local weather change to Huge Tech, The Unbiased is on the bottom when the story is growing. Whether or not it is investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our newest documentary, ‘The A Phrase’, which shines a lightweight on the American ladies combating for reproductive rights, we all know how necessary it’s to parse out the details from the messaging.
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Two artists accused of rape and assault had been eligible for nominations on the 2025 Brit Awards ceremony, The Unbiased can reveal.
Rock singer Marilyn Manson, 55, and rapper Yung Filly, 29, appeared on the longlists for Worldwide Artist of the 12 months and Hip-Hop, Grime or Rap Act, respectively, as a panel of over 1,300 trade specialists had been requested to decide on who they wished to appoint. Voting for subsequent yr’s awards closed on Thursday night (12 December).
Manson, who has been accused of rape, sexual assault and violent abuse by a number of ladies, appeared on the longlist for Worldwide Artist of the 12 months prize alongside pop stars Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Kylie Minogue, Put up Malone and Billie Eilish.
The US rock artist has denied all allegations in opposition to him. In October, Recreation of Thrones actor Esme Bianco, who got here ahead in opposition to Manson in 2021, denounced District Legal professional George Gascón in October for ready greater than two years to behave on her case.
She and Manson settled her lawsuit in January 2023. Bianco’s lawyer mentioned in a press release on the time that his shopper wished “to maneuver on along with her life and profession”.
Marilyn Manson and rapper Yung Filly are eligible for nomination on the 2025 Brit Awards (Getty)
In the meantime, UK rapper and YouTuber Yung Filly was arrested on rape and assault prices in Australia in October. He appeared on the longlist for Hip-Hop, Grime or Rap Act alongside stars equivalent to Stormzy, Headie One and Dave.
The web persona born Andres Felipe Valencia Barrientos appeared in Perth Magistrates Court docket on Thursday (9 October) charged with three counts of assault occasioning bodily hurt and 4 counts of sexual penetration with out consent.
The 29-year-old, who was launched on bail on strict circumstances, has additionally been charged with one rely of impeding one other particular person’s respiratory or circulation by making use of strain to the neck.
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Yung Filly was charged with reckless driving whereas on bail this week (DAZN through Getty Photos)
The alleged assault of a girl in her twenties came about on 28 September in a Perth lodge room, after a efficiency on the nightclub Bar120 on 27 September.
Spice Women star Mel B, a vocal campaigner in opposition to violence in opposition to ladies and five-time Brit Award-winner, mentioned: “It’s an indictment of the music trade that [men accused of abuse] proceed to be celebrated – how lengthy does it really take for the world to see this could not occur?”
Former Spice Woman Mel B criticised the Brit Awards after it emerged that two accused rapists had been eligible for nominations (Lucy North/PA Wire)
Based on the Brit Awards’ guidelines, the eligibility checklist is “compiled by the Official UK Charts Firm Ltd (OCC) – not together with the style classes – and [comprises] artists who’ve launched recorded music and loved chart success within the UK”.
Artists are mechanically listed primarily based on their reaching business success throughout the eligibility interval and the longlists are solely accessible to the 1,300-strong voting academy.
“The artists which are eligible can be included within the related Award class longlists within the devoted and safe BRITs Voting Academy web site,” the principles state.
Final yr, The Unbiased reported that voters got the choice of nominating Tom Meighan, the previous Kasabian frontman who was convicted of assaulting his then-fiancée in 2020, and rapper Slowthai, who’s at present on trial for 2 prices of rape, to be shortlisted on the 2024 ceremony.
Slowthai, actual title Tyron Frampton, has pleaded not responsible to each prices.
The Brit Awards voting guidelines state that the organisation “strongly helps the precept of inventive freedom of expression”.
Nonetheless, it provides that it “reserves the precise, in its absolute discretion, to deem ineligible any artist(s) or recorded music product(s) which it considers both might breach the Ofcom Broadcasting Code and/or which will deliver the Brit Awards into disrepute”.
“The BRIT Awards condemns any type of sexual violence or harassment,” a spokesperson informed The Unbiased on the time. “We additionally imagine within the due technique of the regulation. Artists change into eligible primarily based on their musical affect within the earlier 12 months as measured by success within the Official Charts.
“Members of the 1,300-strong BRITs Voting Academy (drawn from throughout the music trade and media) are then invited to make knowledgeable selections to train their judgement to create the shortlist of nominees, and the eventual class winners. The Voting Academy is reviewed yearly, as are the eligibility guidelines.”
The 2025 Brit Awards will happen on Saturday 1 March on the O2 Enviornment in London and be broadcast stay on ITV1 and ITVX.
From reproductive rights to local weather change to Massive Tech, The Unbiased is on the bottom when the story is growing. Whether or not it is investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our newest documentary, ‘The A Phrase’, which shines a light-weight on the American ladies preventing for reproductive rights, we all know how vital it’s to parse out the details from the messaging.
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A Chinese language businessman described as a “shut confidante” of the Duke of York has misplaced an attraction over a choice to bar him from coming into the UK on nationwide safety grounds.
The person, recognized solely as H6, introduced a case to the Particular Immigration Appeals Fee (SIAC) after then-home secretary Suella Braverman stated he needs to be excluded from the UK in March 2023.
Judges have been informed that in a briefing for the house secretary in July 2023, officers claimed H6 had been able to generate relationships between outstanding UK figures and senior Chinese language officers “that could possibly be leveraged for political interference functions”.
In addition they stated that H6 had downplayed his relationship with the Chinese language state, which, mixed together with his relationship with Prince Andrew, represented a menace to nationwide safety.
At a listening to in July, the specialist tribunal heard that the businessman was informed by an adviser to the prince that he might act on the duke’s behalf when coping with potential traders in China, and that H6 had been invited to Andrew’s birthday celebration in 2020.
The Duke of York had invited the businessman to his birthday (Chris Jackson/PA)
A letter referencing the birthday celebration from the adviser, Dominic Hampshire, was found on H6’s units when he was stopped at a port in November 2021.
The letter additionally stated: “I additionally hope that it’s clear to you the place you sit with my principal and certainly his household.
“You must by no means underestimate the energy of that relationship… Outdoors of his closest inner confidants, you sit on the very high of a tree that many, many individuals wish to be on.”
In a ruling on Thursday, Mr Justice Bourne, Decide Stephen Smith and Sir Stewart Eldon, dismissed the problem.
The judges stated: “The Secretary of State was entitled to conclude that the applicant represented a danger to the nationwide safety of the UK, and that she was entitled to conclude that his exclusion was justified and proportionate.”
The House Workplace confirmed in July 2023 that H6 could be excluded from the UK as he was thought-about to have engaged in “covert and misleading exercise” on behalf of the Chinese language Communist Occasion (CCP) and that he doubtless posed a menace to nationwide safety.
The now-50-year-old former civil servant introduced authorized motion for a evaluate of the choice, arguing that it was illegal.
Judges stated that Andrew might have been made ‘susceptible’ to the misuse of the affect H6 had (PA Archive)
The tribunal in London heard that H6 had stated he averted getting concerned in politics and solely had restricted hyperlinks to the Chinese language state.
His legal professionals additionally argued that there was proof that it was troublesome for a Chinese language nationwide concerned in enterprise to keep away from any contact with the CCP and that materials associated to his relationship with the prince needed to be learn within the context of an advisor writing to somebody who had been loyal to him in troublesome occasions.
Nevertheless, House Workplace legal professionals argued that H6 had downplayed his hyperlinks to an arm of the CCP and that his relationship with Andrew could possibly be used for political interference.
Of their 53-page ruling, the judges stated that Andrew might have been made “susceptible” to the misuse of the affect H6 had.
They stated: “The applicant received a big diploma, one might say an uncommon diploma, of belief from a senior member of the Royal Household who was ready to enter into enterprise actions with him.
“That occurred in a context the place, because the contemporaneous paperwork document, the duke was underneath appreciable stress and could possibly be anticipated to worth the applicant’s loyal help.
“It’s apparent that the pressures on the duke might make him susceptible to the misuse of that kind of affect.
“That doesn’t imply that the House Secretary could possibly be anticipated to exclude from the UK any Chinese language businessman who fashioned a business relationship with the duke or with some other member of the Royal Household.”
The three judges stated that H6 had loved a personal life within the UK, which had been described because the businessman’s “second residence”, including: “He has settled standing, a house and in depth enterprise pursuits in the UK. He was considered an in depth confidant of the duke.”
The judges continued the house secretary was “rationally entitled to resolve” there was a possible to leverage the connection, including H6 was “not candid” about his hyperlinks to the CCP.
They concluded: “In our judgment it was open to the SSHD to take a fairly precautionary method to the chance, and to take motion rationally aimed toward neutralising it as far as attainable.
“While excluding the applicant wouldn’t essentially halt his actions, it might considerably hinder them.
“Cultivating relationships with outstanding UK people would logically be rather more troublesome if no conferences might happen within the UK.”
#Prince #Andrew #confidante #banned #allegations #Chinese language #spy
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#Prince #Andrew #confidante #banned #allegations #Chinese language #spy
From reproductive rights to local weather change to Large Tech, The Unbiased is on the bottom when the story is growing. Whether or not it is investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our newest documentary, ‘The A Phrase’, which shines a lightweight on the American girls preventing for reproductive rights, we all know how vital it’s to parse out the details from the messaging.
At such a important second in US historical past, we want reporters on the bottom. Your donation permits us to maintain sending journalists to talk to each side of the story.
The Unbiased is trusted by Individuals throughout all the political spectrum. And in contrast to many different high quality information retailers, we select to not lock Individuals out of our reporting and evaluation with paywalls. We imagine high quality journalism ought to be accessible to everybody, paid for by those that can afford it.
Your help makes all of the distinction.
The PinkNews boss accused of kissing a youthful colleague “too drunk to consent” has been suspended from his NHS function following sexual misconduct allegations on the information outlet.
Dr James has now been suspended from his part-time function as affiliate non-executive director at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Basis Belief pending additional investigation.
The function includes collaborating with govt and non-executive board colleagues, taking part in board actions, and contributing to collective decision-making.
In a press release, Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Basis Belief stated: “Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Basis Belief is conscious of allegations made on the BBC towards Dr Anthony James, affiliate non-executive director, in his function as PinkNews’ chief working officer.
“Following these allegations, we made the choice on Tuesday 10 December to droop him from his affiliate non-executive function, pending additional data.”
Based on a BBC investigation, a number of employees members on the world’s largest LGBTQ+ information web site claimed to have witnessed Dr James kissing and touching a junior colleague who appeared too intoxicated to consent.
The alleged incident reportedly occurred outdoors a London pub following a PinkNews occasion.
Representatives for Mr Cohen and Dr James informed the BBC they might not present a press release “at the moment” however reiterated that the allegations have been false.
In the identical report, a former employees member alleged that Mr Cohen slapped him on the rear in entrance of others at a Christmas get together, whereas one other claimed to have been invited to Mr Cohen’s dwelling beneath the pretext that his husband wasn’t there.
Present workers have since known as for the pair to resign, accusing the corporate of fostering a “poisonous tradition.” Talking to The Unbiased, employees expressed fears that PinkNews may “crumble” if the “boastful” pair refuse to step down, although many are sceptical that resignations will happen.
“There are intrinsic points with the best way PinkNews is run, however these are compounded by the best way Ben and Anthony behave,” one employees member alleged.
The office atmosphere was described as “unstable,” with workers reportedly avoiding Mr Cohen’s presence in conferences as a result of issues about inappropriate remarks.
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Sean “Diddy” Combs, a rapper and music mogul credited with serving to launch the careers of a few of the greatest stars in recent times, may very well be dealing with greater than 100 new lawsuits simply two weeks after he was arrested by federal brokers in New York.
The most recent wave of authorized filings was introduced on October 1, The Los Angeles Instances reported, as greater than 100 folks have deliberate to file lawsuits in opposition to Combs, alleging that he sexually abused and exploited them.
It got here simply weeks after Combs was arrested in September on intercourse trafficking and racketeering prices with federal prosecutors alleging that Combs and his associates threatened, abused and coerced girls and others round him “to satisfy his sexual wishes” – which allegedly contains forcing victims into participating in recorded sexual exercise which he known as “Freak Offs.”
Diddy (Getty Photographs)
A lawyer for the hip-hop artist referred to as Combs “an harmless man with nothing to cover.”
“We’re dissatisfied with the choice to pursue what we consider is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace,” his lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, instructed The Impartial through e-mail within the wake of his arrest.
A brand new federal choose was later assigned to Combs’ case, based on court docket paperwork obtained by Enterprise Insider. US District Decide Arun Subramanian is identical choose at present overseeing the Division of Justice antitrust case in opposition to Ticketmaster. A cause for the brand new choose was not offered.
Since his arrest, Combs has twice been denied bail on the fees regardless of providing his Miami mansion as collateral for a $50 million bond. The judges cited what federal prosecutors described as a critical danger that Combs might intimidate witnesses.
Combs is already interesting these bail denials. With the brand new choose seated, his attorneys might be argue for bail a 3rd time.
Nonetheless, on November 15, in a submission arguing for a 3rd denial of bail for the mogul, prosecutors alleged that Combs had spent his time behind bars making an attempt to blackmail victims and witnesses, utilizing fellow inmates’ telephones to name relations and engineer “narratives” to assist him within the case.
Combs, previously often known as Puff Daddy, P. Diddy and a bunch of different names, has undergone a myriad of reinventions because the begin of his profession – however has since entered a brand new and unwelcome “period”.
Federal brokers with US Homeland Safety raided two of the rapper’s homes in Los Angeles and Miami on March 25 as a part of an investigation into the allegations introduced in opposition to him.
The music mogul was additionally lately hit with a $100 million default judgment on September 9 over an alleged sexual assault from a 1997 occasion in opposition to Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith.
Lenawee County Circuit Courtroom Decide granted the award to Cardello-Smith, an inmate who filed the lawsuit in opposition to Combs, accusing him of drugging and sexually assaulting him at a celebration 30 years in the past.
Combs, 54, has strongly denied all the allegations in opposition to him. His attorneys have branded the lawsuits and their accusations as cash grabs, “baseless” or “sickening.”
What are the newest allegations in opposition to Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs as he’s arrested in New York?
On Could 17, surveillence footage captured at a lodge in Los Angeles in March 2016 confirmed Diddy chasing his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura down the hallway earlier than attacking her by the elevators. He then makes an attempt to pull her again to his lodge room.
The next day, he shared an apology video to Instagram saying his behaviour was “inexcusable” and that he took “full accountability for his actions within the video”.
The slew of allegations in lawsuits in opposition to Combs date way back to the Nineties, when he based his personal file label, Unhealthy Boy Data.
All of the allegations in opposition to Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs:
Lawsuits in opposition to the rapper started on 16 November 2023 when he was sued by singer and dancer Cassie, his former accomplice, who alleged years of abuse.
It was filed beneath the New York Grownup Survivors Act, simply earlier than it expired. This act provided a one-year window for grownup victims of sexual assault to return ahead with civil claims whatever the statute of limitations.
Casandra ‘Cassie’ Ventura
R&B singer Cassie, whose full identify is Casandra Ventura, filed a lawsuit in 2023 alleging that she was trafficked, raped and overwhelmed by Combs on many events over 10 years.
Her lawsuit claimed that Combs introduced the singer into his “ostentatious, fast-paced, and drug-fueled life-style” not lengthy after she met him, and signed her to his label in 2005 when she was simply 19 and he was 37.
Ventura stated that the sample of abuse started as quickly as their relationship began and that, as she was attempting to finish it in 2018, he pressured himself into her Los Angeles residence and raped her.
On Could 17, surveillance footage obtained by CNN confirmed an incident which appeared to corroborate components of Ventura’s unique grievance. The video from March 2016 confirmed Combs chasing her down the hall of a Los Angeles lodge and continuing to punch and kick her exterior a set of elevators.
Based on the grievance, which cited the altercation as occurring “round March 2016,” Combs grew to become “extraordinarily intoxicated and punched Ventura within the face, giving her a black eye.”
The surveillance footage confirmed Combs leaving Ventura then returning and shoving her right into a nook. He’s then seen hurling an object at her, which was additionally cited in her grievance.
Cassie (left) and Sean “Diddy” Combs on the 2017 Met Gala. Cassie filed a lawsuit in 2023 alleging that she was trafficked, raped and overwhelmed by Combs on many events over the course of 10 years (Getty Photographs)
The lawsuit in opposition to Combs was settled for an undisclosed amount of cash a day after Ventura filed it.
Ventura instructed CNN she had chosen to “resolve this matter amicably,” whereas Combs’ lawyer stated the settlement was “on no account an admission of wrongdoing” and didn’t change his denial of the allegations.
Her accusations in opposition to Combs had been introduced by means of the New York Grownup Survivors Act (ASA), which expired at midnight on November 23, 2023.
The act offered survivors a one-year window to pursue civil litigation no matter when the abuse occurred, that means incidents from many years had been lastly delivered to gentle.
Greater than 2,500 circumstances had been filed beneath the ASA earlier than its expiry at midnight on November 23, 2023, court docket information despatched to The Impartial confirmed.
Survivors introduced lawsuits in opposition to a few of the state’s strongest males, together with main gamers in leisure, similar to Invoice Cosby, Harvey Weinstein, Axl Rose, and Combs.
Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith
A lawsuit was filed by Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith, 51, an inmate who claims Combs drugged and sexually assaulted him at a celebration 30 years in the past, ccording to court docket paperwork obtained by Detroit’s Metro Instances.
On September 9, Cardello-Smith was awarded a $100 million default judgment after Combs failed to seem for a digital listening to.
A Lenawee County Circuit Courtroom choose arrange a cost schedule of $10 million per thirty days for Combs, slated to begin on October 1.
The lawsuit claims that Cardello-Smith and Combs met whereas he was working at a Detroit-area restaurant in 1997. Throughout an evening of ingesting and weed-smoking, they reportedly had intercourse with a gaggle of girls, based on the swimsuit. Cardello-Smith stated he felt a person’s hand, which he claims was Combs, touching him.
The swimsuit additionally alleges that Combs served him a spiked drink that prompted him to go out. When he awakened, Combs was having intercourse with a lady and allegedly stated to him, “I did this to you too.”
Combs’ lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, disputed the judgment and Cardello-Smith’s account.
“This man is a convicted felon and sexual predator, who has been sentenced on 14 counts of sexual assault and kidnapping over the past 26 years,” he stated.
Combs has moved to dimiss the swimsuit.
Rodney ‘Lil Rod’ Jones
In the newest lawsuit in opposition to Combs, filed on 26 February 2024 in New York, producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, alleged he was “subjected to undesirable advances by associates of Diddy at his route” and that he was pressured to have interaction in relations with the intercourse staff Combs had employed.
The producer, who labored for Combs between September 2022 and November 2023 claimed Combs sexually harassed, drugged and threatened him for greater than a 12 months.
He stated he has video and audio proof of Combs, his workers and others “participating in critical criminal activity.” The lawsuit recognized Rapper 50 Cent‘s former girlfriend and the mom of one in all his kids, Daphne Pleasure, as one of many alleged intercourse staff.
The lawsuit additionally alleges that Combs commonly hosted “sex-trafficking events” with underage girls and unlawful medicine, and implies file label executives who regarded the opposite means financially benefited from entry to celebrities and dignitaries, together with the British royal Prince Harry.
Prince Harry is just not accused of any wrongdoing or of attending events himself.
Combs’s lawyer instructed The Los Angeles Instances that the lawsuit accommodates “reckless name-dropping about occasions which are pure fiction and easily didn’t” happen.
Ryan Mendelsohn, 20, who used to dwell within the space the place Combs’ Los Angeles property was searched, instructed reporters he would see events on the residence and ladies exterior till 6am, which was not normal.
“I drive by quite a bit, and I see that — a whole lot of women, possibly 5 or 6 women exterior, some leaving, some not, some getting into,” he stated, based on NBC Information.
“I by no means thought something of it,” Mr Mendelsohn, who added that he didn’t know Combs lived there till Monday’s information broke. “However now, it’s loopy.”
Joie Dickerson-Neal
In November 2023, Joie Dickerson-Neal filed a lawsuit alleging that Combs drugged her, sexually assaulted her and secretly recorded the assault whereas she was a school pupil in 1991, NBC Information reported, citing the submitting.
She claimed that Combs pushed her to go to dinner with him and she or he agreed “reluctantly” on 3 January 1991, which is when she alleges she was drugged, “leading to her being in a bodily state the place she couldn’t independently stand or stroll,” the BBC reported.
The swimsuit additionally claims he recorded the assault and confirmed it to different folks.
She later filed police studies in New York and New Jersey, spoke to prosecutors, however was instructed by colleagues they had been “terrified that Combs would retaliate in opposition to them and that they might lose future enterprise and music alternatives in the event that they made an announcement in assist of” her, NBC Information reported, citing the lawsuit.
Extra girls come ahead
Since November, a number of extra girls have come ahead with lawsuits within the Southern District of New York alleging that they had been sexually assaulted by Combs.
Two of the ladies stated they had been youngsters on the time of the alleged assaults.
Nameless Plaintiff
In November, an nameless plaintiff accused Combs and singer-songwriter Aaron Corridor of raping her and a pal in 1990 or 1991 after assembly at an MCA Data occasion in New York, the place the singers “had been very flirtatious and handsy” and provided them drinks, Rolling Stone reported.
The swimsuit alleges that Combs and Corridor invited the ladies to Corridor’s condominium for an afterparty the place the plaintiff “was provided extra drinks and was coerced into having intercourse with Combs,” and was “shocked and traumatized” afterwards, earlier than “Corridor barged into the room, pinned her down and compelled Jane Doe to have intercourse with him,” based on Rolling Stone.
After she spoke to her pal, the plaintiff allegedly discovered she had additionally “been pressured to have intercourse with Combs and Corridor in one other room,” based on the swimsuit.
A number of days later, Combs allegedly visited the plaintiff and her pal at a house the place they had been staying, the place he grew to become “irate and started assaulting and choking Jane Doe to the purpose that she handed out,” the lawsuit alleges.
Unnamed Accuser ‘Jane Doe’
In December, Combs was hit with one other lawsuit which claimed he had drugged and gang-raped a 17-year-old woman in 2003.
The plaintiff, recognized as Jane Doe, accused Combs of plying her with medicine and alcohol at his New York studio after which raping her together with two associates.
The swimsuit accused Combs of a “intercourse trafficking scheme,” during which Jane Doe was flown by personal jet from her residence in Michigan to New York.
Diddy has denied all the allegations in opposition to him (Getty Photographs)
In Could, after the surprising CCTV footage of Combs attacking Enterprise was revealed, former mannequin Crystal McKinney filed a brand new lawsuit claiming the rapper sexually assaulted her at his recording studio in New York Metropolis in 2003.
McKinney stated she was a profitable 22-year-old mannequin when she met Combs at a restaurant throughout Males’s Style Week in Manhattan. Combs invited her to his recording studio later that evening, based on the federal grievance filed in New York Metropolis.
The lawsuit alleged that McKinney arrived to seek out Combs ingesting and smoking marijuana with a number of different males. She smoked some marijuana, which she “later got here to grasp” was laced with a narcotic or intoxicating substance, the lawsuit stated.
She alleged that Combs led her to the lavatory the place she was pressured to carry out oral intercourse on him.
Days after McKinney’s lawsuit was filed, April Lampros – who met Diddy whereas she was a pupil – claimed Diddy had sexually assaulted a number of occasions between 1995 and the early 2000s.
Lampros stated she met the rapper in 1994 whereas she was a school pupil on the Style Institue of Know-how in New York and interning at Arista, then the dad or mum firm of Diddy’s label Unhealthy Boy Leisure.
After assembly her at a bar in New York, she “succumbed to stress” to drink alcohol after “delusional and violent outbursts”, based on the federal grievance filed in New York Metropolis.
Lampros claimed she started to really feel just like the “partitions had been closing in on her” after sipping her drink and Combs escorted her again to a lodge. The lawsuit alleged Combs pressured himself on Lampros regardless of her protests. “Ms Lampros was being raped by Mr Combs, and she or he quickly handed out,” it stated.
The rapper allegedly then “love-bombed her” and his advances later “manifested into an aggressive, coercive and abusive relationship based mostly on intercourse”.
The lawsuit claimed Combs assaulted Lampros a second time by bodily forcing her to carry out oral intercourse in a storage close to his condominium in Manhattan. When the scholar tried to distance herself from the rapper following the assault he allegedly gave her “items and empty guarantees” earlier than turning “indignant, threatening and forceful” and claiming he would destroy her profession.
In 1996, Combs sexually assaulted Lampros for a 3rd time when he pressured her and his ex-girlfriend Kim Porter to take ecstasy and have intercourse collectively, the lawsuit alleged. Combs masturbated whereas he watched the ladies collectively earlier than assaulting Lampros, the submitting claimed.
Lampros says she ended her relationship with Combs two years later. Nonetheless, when she noticed him at an occasion on the Rockefeller Heart within the early 2000s he begged to see her once more and she or he allowed him to return to her condominium the place he kissed and touched her in opposition to her will, the lawsuit alleged.
In 2023, Lampros alleges an unidentified man approached her accomplice on the time and stated he had seen a sexual video of Lampros and Combs years earlier. Lampros was knowledgeable “Mr Combs apparently recorded them having intercourse with out her figuring out and confirmed it to a number of folks,” the submitting claimed.
Diddy issued an apology to Cassie (Diddy)
In September of this 12 months, Daybreak Richard, a former bandmate, accused the music mogul of finishing up years of bodily and sexual abuse in opposition to her and others whereas the 2 labored collectively, based on a lawsuit filed in New York federal court docket, describing allegations relationship again to 2009.
She accuses Combs of withholding cost for work on albums, groping her, making lewd coments, making an attempt to strike her, throwing home goods at her, internet hosting events the place inebriated younger women had been sexually violated, withholding meals and different fundamental requirements throughout recording, and making dying threats when Richard tried to intervene in alleged abuse in opposition to Combs’s longtime girlfriend, the singer Cassie.
“For practically a decade, Mr. Combs manipulated Ms. Richard with mantras that submission to his wicked calls for was obligatory for profession development, instilling in her the assumption that such abuse and exploitation had been required for feminine artists to achieve the music trade,” the grievance reads.
An lawyer for Combs instructedThe Impartial the swimsuit was “false” and an try and “rewrite historical past.”
On September 27, Combs was hit with a tenth lawsuit by an nameless lady who claims Combs abused her, bodily and sexually, for 4 straight years. In her swimsuit, “Jane Doe” says she greater than as soon as awakened in Combs’s mattress, badly injured, after blacking out the evening earlier than — with no reminiscence of what had occurred.
Doe says within the swimsuit that she met Combs within the fall of 2020 “at an abroad location.” He paid for her to journey there, and the 2 started seeing one another “commonly” after that, based on the swimsuit.
They met up roughly as soon as a month, and Combs would typically drug her in opposition to her will, then sexually abuse her, Doe claims, within the lawsuit.
“On one morning she awakened and her toes had been purple and bruised and she or he had a chunk mark on her heel,” it says. “Jane Doe didn’t know the way she sustained the accidents.”
Doe later realized she had been unwittingly dosed with ketamine, based on the lawsuit.
On October 14 after which once more on October 20, lawyer Tony Buzbee filed a complete of 13 lawsuits in opposition to Combs. The lawsuits signify women and men who declare Combs sexually assaulted them, with circumstances spanning from 2000 to 2022. Buzbee stated in an announcement that he would proceed to file lawsuits “weekly” as he gathers extra proof from alleged victims.
The plaintifss in these circumstances haven’t been named, however a minimum of one alleged sufferer stated she was 13-years-old when Combs allegedly raped her at an MTV VMA after-party.
One other plaintiff accused Combs of allegedly drugging him utilizing Rohypnol that had been blended into child oil.
Two new lawsuits filed on 28 October accused the rapper of drugging and sexually assaulting a 10-year-old boy in 2005 and a 17-year-old actuality present aspirant in 2008.
Combs’s response to allegations
Sean Combs has strongly denied all of the accusations in opposition to him and vowed to “combat for my identify, my household and for the reality.”
In an announcement in December, following the lawsuit introduced by Jane Doe, he referred to as the claims “sickening” and stated his accusers had been “searching for a fast payday”.
“Let me be completely clear: I didn’t do any of the terrible issues being alleged,” he stated in an announcement. “I’ll combat for my identify, my household and for the reality.”
Combs’ lawyer, Shawn Holley, branded the occasions described within the lawsuit as “pure fiction”.
Usher reveals what he noticed at Diddy’s residence when he was 13
“We’ve got overwhelming, indeniable proof that his claims are full lies,” he stated. “We’ll deal with these outlandish allegations in court docket and take all acceptable motion in opposition to those that make them.”
Following the settlement with Ventura, Ben Brafman, one other lawyer for Combs, instructed The Impartial: “Simply so we’re clear, a choice to settle a lawsuit, particularly in 2023, is on no account an admission of wrongdoing.
“Mr. Combs’ resolution to settle the lawsuit doesn’t in any means undermine his flat-out denial of the claims.
“He’s completely happy they obtained to a mutual settlement and needs Ms Ventura the very best.”
Within the clip, Combs refers back to the incident as “one of many darkest occasions in his life”, saying that he was “f***ed up” and is “disgusted by his actions”.
Legal Fees Towards Diddy
For practically a 12 months, Combs has confronted a collection of civil lawsuits that accuse him of sexual abuse, rape and misconduct. Now, federal prosecutors have introduced felony prices in opposition to him.
Combs has been charged with intercourse trafficking and transportation to have interaction in prostitution after a federal grand jury in New York selected to deliver an indictment in opposition to him.
He’s accused of working a felony enterprise that consisted of his associates, staff and the affect of his enterprise empire to coerce, management and abuse feminine victims. That features “intercourse trafficking, pressured labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice” based on the indictment.
In an indictment unsealed on Tuesday morning, federal prosecutors allege Combs and his associates threatened, abused and coerced girls and others round him “to satisfy his sexual wishes”.
That allegedly contains forcing victims into participating in recorded sexual exercise which he known as “Freak Offs.”
”Throughout Freak Offs, Combs distributed a wide range of managed substances to victims, partly to maintain the victims obedient and compliant,” prosecutors stated within the doc. “After Freak Offs, Combs and the victims sometimes obtained IV fluids to get better from the bodily exertion and drug use.”
Lawyer Marc Agnifilo arrives at United States Courtroom in Manhattan after music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested by federal brokers in New York Metropolis (REUTERS)
Comic Jeff Wittek claimed on an episode of his present Jeff FM that when he was 20 years outdated, he went to one in all Combs’ alleged “Freak Off” events the place he noticed folks having intercourse at a mansion in Miami, E! Information reported.
“It was like eight tales excessive and it simply stored going up,” Wittek stated. “And the upper you went, the weirder s–t was occurring.”
In 2010, he stated he went to a “lingerie intercourse occasion” after getting an invitation by means of an acquaintance, who had filmed a music video with Combs.
“She’s like, ‘Oh, he is having a Diddy occasion,’” he stated. “These Diddy events are f—ing loopy. They’re the very best events, like, folks wished to go to them.”
Whereas Wittek wore a polo shirt, anticipating a standard occasion, one other pal wore lingerie the place “their nipples are displaying by means of.”
“And I am like, ‘You guys are going like that?’” Wittek recalled. “They’re like, ‘You do not perceive about these events.’ And I didn’t perceive ‘trigger I noticed dwell intercourse occur that evening.”
“That is the primary time I noticed that occur ever in my life. And did I partake? No, however I obtained f—ing drunk there,” he added. “It is simply loopy. I used to be actually there. I lived by means of it.”
‘Diddy’ dealing with 120 further lawsuits
Combs was arrested at a Manhattan lodge on September 16 about six months after federal brokers raided two of the musician’s properties in Los Angeles and Miami as a part of the investigation.
The federal investigation coincides with a collection of civil lawsuits accusing him of sexual misconduct and sexual abuse over the past 12 months.
Marc Agnifilio, a lawyer for Combs, referred to as his shopper “an harmless man with nothing to cover.”
He stated the musician has been cooperating with federal authorities and voluntarily relocated to New York final week in anticipation of the arrest. “We’re dissatisfied with the choice to pursue what we consider is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace,” Agnifilo stated in an announcement.
“Please reserve your judgment till you could have all of the info,” Agnifilo instructed reporters exterior the courthouse on September 17. “He appears ahead to clearing his identify in court docket.”
Blackmail Accusations Behind Bars
Nonetheless, regardless of being incarcerated Metropolitan Detention Heart in Brooklyn since his arrest, Combs allegedly continued to misbehave.
In mid-November the mogul was accused by prosecutors of utilizing jailmates’ telephones from inside jail to blackmail potential witnesses, and calling up relations, urging them to succeed in out to potential victims and create “narratives.”
“The defendant has proven repeatedly — even whereas in custody — that he’ll flagrantly and repeatedly flout guidelines in an effort to improperly impression the end result of his case. The defendant has proven, in different phrases, that he can’t be trusted to abide by guidelines or circumstances,” prosecutors wrote in a submission that contained redactions.
Combs’ conduct was described as “relentless efforts” to “corruptly affect witness testimony,” the court docket paperwork claimed. The allegations as a part of a movement filed urging the choose to reject Combs’ newest $50 million bail proposal.
Prosecutors stated the mogul started breaking guidelines virtually as quickly as he was detained.
Jay-Z denied the allegation that he raped a 13-year-old woman together with Sean “Diddy” Combs in 2000 (Getty)
The federal lawsuit, which initially solely named Combs, was refiled by lawyer Tony Buzbee in federal court docket on Sunday (8 December). It cites the accuser, “Jane Doe”, who alleges she was assaulted on the home occasion by the 2 music moguls and that an unnamed feminine celeb was within the room on the time.
In an announcement shared to social media, Jay-Z, whose actual identify is Shawn Carter, branded the authorized motion as a “blackmail try”. Combs has denied the allegations.
The chief of the Metropolis of Edinburgh Council is dealing with calls to give up amid allegations of inappropriate behaviour in the direction of Ukrainian refugees.
Cammy Day is being investigated by Police Scotland following a criticism and has been administratively suspended by Scottish Labour pending the result of a probe.
Mr Day, who has led the native authority since Might 2022, is being urged to step down within the meantime.
The councillor was contacted for remark.
The Sunday Mail spoke to 2 Ukrainian refugees who stated they acquired messages from Mr Day by way of social media and courting websites.
The councillor was stated to have requested their sexual preferences, tried to fulfill up for dates, and despatched plenty of flirty emojis in response to their on-line posts.
One of many Ukrainians, who fled the Russian invasion in 2022, advised the newspaper they felt “beneath strain” to reply given Mr Day’s standing and had been “afraid of his affect”.
It’s understood police are analyzing a report that was made to the council’s whistleblowing service.
A Police Scotland spokesperson stated: “On Tuesday 22 October 2024, we acquired a report of inappropriate behaviour.
“Inquiries are ongoing to ascertain the complete circumstances.”
Talking on BBC Scotland’s Sunday Present, Scottish Labour chief Anas Sarwar described the allegations as “deeply distressing” and stated his celebration took “rapid motion” when it grew to become conscious of the claims on Saturday.
A Scottish Labour spokesperson added: “The Labour Social gathering takes all complaints critically.
“They’re totally investigated consistent with our guidelines and procedures, and any acceptable motion is taken.”
Mr Day, who seems to have deleted his X account, is the councillor for Edinburgh’s Forth ward and is one in every of his celebration’s most distinguished native authority leaders.
Councillor Simita Kumar, who leads the SNP group, branded the allegations towards Mr Day “past surprising” and referred to as for him to resign “instantly”.
She has since written to the native authority’s chief govt, Paul Lawrence, urging him to “droop all council entry and privileges for Councillor Day efficient instantly” whereas the allegations are “totally investigated”.
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The Scottish Conservatives are additionally calling for Mr Day to step apart whereas investigations are beneath means.
Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, stated: “Cammy Day ought to step down as chief of the council whereas these allegations are investigated.
“There may be certainly no means he can command the assist of the native Labour group, and might be unable to hold out the important and necessary function as chief of the council.”
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Your briefing on the most recent headlines from throughout the US
Your briefing on the most recent headlines from throughout the US
Sean “Diddy” Combs, a rapper and music mogul credited with serving to launch the careers of among the greatest stars lately, could possibly be dealing with greater than 100 new lawsuits simply two weeks after he was arrested by federal brokers in New York.
The most recent wave of authorized filings was introduced on October 1, The Los Angeles Occasions reported, as greater than 100 folks have deliberate to file lawsuits towards Combs, alleging that he sexually abused and exploited them.
It got here simply weeks after Combs was arrested in September on intercourse trafficking and racketeering fees with federal prosecutors alleging that Combs and his associates threatened, abused and coerced girls and others round him “to meet his sexual wishes” – which allegedly contains forcing victims into participating in recorded sexual exercise which he known as “Freak Offs.”
Diddy (Getty Photographs)
A lawyer for the hip-hop artist referred to as Combs “an harmless man with nothing to cover.”
“We’re upset with the choice to pursue what we consider is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace,” his legal professional, Marc Agnifilo, instructed The Unbiased by way of e-mail within the wake of his arrest.
A brand new federal choose was later assigned to Combs’ case, based on court docket paperwork obtained by Enterprise Insider. US District Choose Arun Subramanian is similar choose at present overseeing the Division of Justice antitrust case towards Ticketmaster. A cause for the brand new choose was not supplied.
Since his arrest, Combs has twice been denied bail on the fees regardless of providing his Miami mansion as collateral for a $50 million bond. The judges cited what federal prosecutors described as a critical danger that Combs may intimidate witnesses.
Combs is already interesting these bail denials. With the brand new choose seated, his legal professionals can be argue for bail a 3rd time.
Nevertheless, on November 15, in a submission arguing for a 3rd denial of bail for the mogul, prosecutors alleged that Combs had spent his time behind bars trying to blackmail victims and witnesses, utilizing fellow inmates’ telephones to name relations and engineer “narratives” to assist him within the case.
Combs, previously often called Puff Daddy, P. Diddy and a bunch of different names, has undergone a myriad of reinventions because the begin of his profession – however has since entered a brand new and unwelcome “period”.
Federal brokers with US Homeland Safety raided two of the rapper’s homes in Los Angeles and Miami on March 25 as a part of an investigation into the allegations introduced towards him.
The music mogul was additionally not too long ago hit with a $100 million default judgment on September 9 over an alleged sexual assault from a 1997 occasion towards Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith.
Lenawee County Circuit Courtroom Choose granted the award to Cardello-Smith, an inmate who filed the lawsuit towards Combs, accusing him of drugging and sexually assaulting him at a celebration 30 years in the past.
Combs, 54, has strongly denied all the allegations towards him. His attorneys have branded the lawsuits and their accusations as cash grabs, “baseless” or “sickening.”
What are the most recent allegations towards Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs as he’s arrested in New York?
On Might 17, surveillence footage captured at a resort in Los Angeles in March 2016 confirmed Diddy chasing his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura down the hallway earlier than attacking her by the elevators. He then makes an attempt to tug her again to his resort room.
The next day, he shared an apology video to Instagram saying his behaviour was “inexcusable” and that he took “full accountability for his actions within the video”.
The slew of allegations in lawsuits towards Combs date way back to the Nineteen Nineties, when he based his personal document label, Dangerous Boy Data.
All of the allegations towards Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs:
Lawsuits towards the rapper started on 16 November 2023 when he was sued by singer and dancer Cassie, his former accomplice, who alleged years of abuse.
It was filed beneath the New York Grownup Survivors Act, simply earlier than it expired. This act supplied a one-year window for grownup victims of sexual assault to come back ahead with civil claims whatever the statute of limitations.
Casandra ‘Cassie’ Ventura
R&B singer Cassie, whose full title is Casandra Ventura, filed a lawsuit in 2023 alleging that she was trafficked, raped and crushed by Combs on many events over 10 years.
Her lawsuit claimed that Combs introduced the singer into his “ostentatious, fast-paced, and drug-fueled life-style” not lengthy after she met him, and signed her to his label in 2005 when she was simply 19 and he was 37.
Ventura mentioned that the sample of abuse started as quickly as their relationship began and that, as she was attempting to finish it in 2018, he pressured himself into her Los Angeles dwelling and raped her.
On Might 17, surveillance footage obtained by CNN confirmed an incident which appeared to corroborate components of Ventura’s authentic grievance. The video from March 2016 confirmed Combs chasing her down the hall of a Los Angeles resort and continuing to punch and kick her outdoors a set of elevators.
In accordance with the grievance, which cited the altercation as occurring “round March 2016,” Combs grew to become “extraordinarily intoxicated and punched Ventura within the face, giving her a black eye.”
The surveillance footage confirmed Combs leaving Ventura then returning and shoving her right into a nook. He’s then seen hurling an object at her, which was additionally cited in her grievance.
Cassie (left) and Sean “Diddy” Combs on the 2017 Met Gala. Cassie filed a lawsuit in 2023 alleging that she was trafficked, raped and crushed by Combs on many events over the course of 10 years (Getty Photographs)
The lawsuit towards Combs was settled for an undisclosed sum of money a day after Ventura filed it.
Ventura instructed CNN she had chosen to “resolve this matter amicably,” whereas Combs’ legal professional mentioned the settlement was “by no means an admission of wrongdoing” and didn’t change his denial of the allegations.
Her accusations towards Combs had been introduced by way of the New York Grownup Survivors Act (ASA), which expired at midnight on November 23, 2023.
The act supplied survivors a one-year window to pursue civil litigation no matter when the abuse occurred, that means incidents from a long time had been lastly dropped at gentle.
Greater than 2,500 circumstances had been filed beneath the ASA earlier than its expiry at midnight on November 23, 2023, court docket information despatched to The Unbiased confirmed.
Survivors introduced lawsuits towards among the state’s strongest males, together with main gamers in leisure, corresponding to Invoice Cosby, Harvey Weinstein, Axl Rose, and Combs.
Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith
A lawsuit was filed by Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith, 51, an inmate who claims Combs drugged and sexually assaulted him at a celebration 30 years in the past, ccording to court docket paperwork obtained by Detroit’s Metro Occasions.
On September 9, Cardello-Smith was awarded a $100 million default judgment after Combs failed to seem for a digital listening to.
A Lenawee County Circuit Courtroom choose arrange a cost schedule of $10 million monthly for Combs, slated to begin on October 1.
The lawsuit claims that Cardello-Smith and Combs met whereas he was working at a Detroit-area restaurant in 1997. Throughout an evening of consuming and weed-smoking, they reportedly had intercourse with a bunch of ladies, based on the swimsuit. Cardello-Smith mentioned he felt a person’s hand, which he claims was Combs, touching him.
The swimsuit additionally alleges that Combs served him a spiked drink that brought on him to cross out. When he awakened, Combs was having intercourse with a lady and allegedly mentioned to him, “I did this to you too.”
Combs’ legal professional, Marc Agnifilo, disputed the judgment and Cardello-Smith’s account.
“This man is a convicted felon and sexual predator, who has been sentenced on 14 counts of sexual assault and kidnapping during the last 26 years,” he mentioned.
Combs has moved to dimiss the swimsuit.
Rodney ‘Lil Rod’ Jones
In the newest lawsuit towards Combs, filed on 26 February 2024 in New York, producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, alleged he was “subjected to undesirable advances by associates of Diddy at his route” and that he was pressured to interact in relations with the intercourse staff Combs had employed.
The producer, who labored for Combs between September 2022 and November 2023 claimed Combs sexually harassed, drugged and threatened him for greater than a yr.
He mentioned he has video and audio proof of Combs, his employees and others “participating in critical criminal activity.” The lawsuit recognized Rapper 50 Cent‘s former girlfriend and the mom of one in all his kids, Daphne Pleasure, as one of many alleged intercourse staff.
The lawsuit additionally alleges that Combs often hosted “sex-trafficking events” with underage girls and unlawful medication, and implies document label executives who seemed the opposite method financially benefited from entry to celebrities and dignitaries, together with the British royal Prince Harry.
Prince Harry will not be accused of any wrongdoing or of attending events himself.
Combs’s legal professional instructed The Los Angeles Occasions that the lawsuit comprises “reckless name-dropping about occasions which might be pure fiction and easily didn’t” happen.
Ryan Mendelsohn, 20, who used to reside within the space the place Combs’ Los Angeles property was searched, instructed reporters he would see events on the dwelling and ladies outdoors till 6am, which was not standard.
“I drive by loads, and I see that — plenty of ladies, possibly 5 or 6 ladies outdoors, some leaving, some not, some entering into,” he mentioned, based on NBC Information.
“I by no means thought something of it,” Mr Mendelsohn, who added that he didn’t know Combs lived there till Monday’s information broke. “However now, it’s loopy.”
Joie Dickerson-Neal
In November 2023, Joie Dickerson-Neal filed a lawsuit alleging that Combs drugged her, sexually assaulted her and secretly recorded the assault whereas she was a university scholar in 1991, NBC Information reported, citing the submitting.
She claimed that Combs pushed her to go to dinner with him and she or he agreed “reluctantly” on 3 January 1991, which is when she alleges she was drugged, “leading to her being in a bodily state the place she couldn’t independently stand or stroll,” the BBC reported.
The swimsuit additionally claims he recorded the assault and confirmed it to different folks.
She later filed police reviews in New York and New Jersey, spoke to prosecutors, however was instructed by colleagues they had been “terrified that Combs would retaliate towards them and that they’d lose future enterprise and music alternatives in the event that they made an announcement in assist of” her, NBC Information reported, citing the lawsuit.
Extra girls come ahead
Since November, a number of extra girls have come ahead with lawsuits within the Southern District of New York alleging that they had been sexually assaulted by Combs.
Two of the ladies mentioned they had been youngsters on the time of the alleged assaults.
Nameless Plaintiff
In November, an nameless plaintiff accused Combs and singer-songwriter Aaron Corridor of raping her and a buddy in 1990 or 1991 after assembly at an MCA Data occasion in New York, the place the singers “had been very flirtatious and handsy” and supplied them drinks, Rolling Stone reported.
The swimsuit alleges that Combs and Corridor invited the ladies to Corridor’s condo for an afterparty the place the plaintiff “was supplied extra drinks and was coerced into having intercourse with Combs,” and was “shocked and traumatized” afterwards, earlier than “Corridor barged into the room, pinned her down and compelled Jane Doe to have intercourse with him,” based on Rolling Stone.
After she spoke to her buddy, the plaintiff allegedly came upon she had additionally “been pressured to have intercourse with Combs and Corridor in one other room,” based on the swimsuit.
A number of days later, Combs allegedly visited the plaintiff and her buddy at a house the place they had been staying, the place he grew to become “irate and started assaulting and choking Jane Doe to the purpose that she handed out,” the lawsuit alleges.
Unnamed Accuser ‘Jane Doe’
In December, Combs was hit with one other lawsuit which claimed he had drugged and gang-raped a 17-year-old lady in 2003.
The plaintiff, recognized as Jane Doe, accused Combs of plying her with medication and alcohol at his New York studio after which raping her together with two associates.
The swimsuit accused Combs of a “intercourse trafficking scheme,” through which Jane Doe was flown by personal jet from her dwelling in Michigan to New York.
Diddy has denied all the allegations towards him (Getty Photographs)
In Might, after the surprising CCTV footage of Combs attacking Enterprise was printed, former mannequin Crystal McKinney filed a brand new lawsuit claiming the rapper sexually assaulted her at his recording studio in New York Metropolis in 2003.
McKinney mentioned she was a profitable 22-year-old mannequin when she met Combs at a restaurant throughout Males’s Vogue Week in Manhattan. Combs invited her to his recording studio later that night time, based on the federal grievance filed in New York Metropolis.
The lawsuit alleged that McKinney arrived to seek out Combs consuming and smoking marijuana with a number of different males. She smoked some marijuana, which she “later got here to grasp” was laced with a narcotic or intoxicating substance, the lawsuit mentioned.
She alleged that Combs led her to the toilet the place she was pressured to carry out oral intercourse on him.
Days after McKinney’s lawsuit was filed, April Lampros – who met Diddy whereas she was a scholar – claimed Diddy had sexually assaulted a number of instances between 1995 and the early 2000s.
Lampros mentioned she met the rapper in 1994 whereas she was a university scholar on the Vogue Institue of Expertise in New York and interning at Arista, then the mum or dad firm of Diddy’s label Dangerous Boy Leisure.
After assembly her at a bar in New York, she “succumbed to stress” to drink alcohol after “delusional and violent outbursts”, based on the federal grievance filed in New York Metropolis.
Lampros claimed she started to really feel just like the “partitions had been closing in on her” after sipping her drink and Combs escorted her again to a resort. The lawsuit alleged Combs pressured himself on Lampros regardless of her protests. “Ms Lampros was being raped by Mr Combs, and she or he quickly handed out,” it mentioned.
The rapper allegedly then “love-bombed her” and his advances later “manifested into an aggressive, coercive and abusive relationship primarily based on intercourse”.
The lawsuit claimed Combs assaulted Lampros a second time by bodily forcing her to carry out oral intercourse in a storage close to his condo in Manhattan. When the coed tried to distance herself from the rapper following the assault he allegedly gave her “presents and empty guarantees” earlier than turning “indignant, threatening and forceful” and claiming he would destroy her profession.
In 1996, Combs sexually assaulted Lampros for a 3rd time when he pressured her and his ex-girlfriend Kim Porter to take ecstasy and have intercourse collectively, the lawsuit alleged. Combs masturbated whereas he watched the ladies collectively earlier than assaulting Lampros, the submitting claimed.
Lampros says she ended her relationship with Combs two years later. Nevertheless, when she noticed him at an occasion on the Rockefeller Heart within the early 2000s he begged to see her once more and she or he allowed him to come back to her condo the place he kissed and touched her towards her will, the lawsuit alleged.
In 2023, Lampros alleges an unidentified man approached her accomplice on the time and mentioned he had seen a sexual video of Lampros and Combs years earlier. Lampros was knowledgeable “Mr Combs apparently recorded them having intercourse with out her figuring out and confirmed it to a number of folks,” the submitting claimed.
Diddy issued an apology to Cassie (Diddy)
In September of this yr, Daybreak Richard, a former bandmate, accused the music mogul of finishing up years of bodily and sexual abuse towards her and others whereas the 2 labored collectively, based on a lawsuit filed in New York federal court docket, describing allegations relationship again to 2009.
She accuses Combs of withholding cost for work on albums, groping her, making lewd coments, trying to strike her, throwing home goods at her, internet hosting events the place inebriated younger ladies had been sexually violated, withholding meals and different primary requirements throughout recording, and making demise threats when Richard tried to intervene in alleged abuse towards Combs’s longtime girlfriend, the singer Cassie.
“For almost a decade, Mr. Combs manipulated Ms. Richard with mantras that submission to his wicked calls for was mandatory for profession development, instilling in her the assumption that such abuse and exploitation had been required for feminine artists to reach the music trade,” the grievance reads.
An legal professional for Combs instructedThe Unbiased the swimsuit was “false” and an try to “rewrite historical past.”
On September 27, Combs was hit with a tenth lawsuit by an nameless girl who claims Combs abused her, bodily and sexually, for 4 straight years. In her swimsuit, “Jane Doe” says she greater than as soon as awakened in Combs’s mattress, badly injured, after blacking out the night time earlier than — with no reminiscence of what had occurred.
Doe says within the swimsuit that she met Combs within the fall of 2020 “at an abroad location.” He paid for her to journey there, and the 2 started seeing one another “often” after that, based on the swimsuit.
They met up roughly as soon as a month, and Combs would usually drug her towards her will, then sexually abuse her, Doe claims, within the lawsuit.
“On one morning she awakened and her toes had been purple and bruised and she or he had a chew mark on her heel,” it says. “Jane Doe didn’t understand how she sustained the accidents.”
Doe later realized she had been unwittingly dosed with ketamine, based on the lawsuit.
On October 14 after which once more on October 20, legal professional Tony Buzbee filed a complete of 13 lawsuits towards Combs. The lawsuits symbolize women and men who declare Combs sexually assaulted them, with circumstances spanning from 2000 to 2022. Buzbee mentioned in an announcement that he would proceed to file lawsuits “weekly” as he gathers extra proof from alleged victims.
The plaintifss in these circumstances haven’t been named, however a minimum of one alleged sufferer mentioned she was 13-years-old when Combs allegedly raped her at an MTV VMA after-party.
One other plaintiff accused Combs of allegedly drugging him utilizing Rohypnol that had been blended into child oil.
Two new lawsuits filed on 28 October accused the rapper of drugging and sexually assaulting a 10-year-old boy in 2005 and a 17-year-old actuality present aspirant in 2008.
Combs’s response to allegations
Sean Combs has strongly denied all of the accusations towards him and vowed to “struggle for my title, my household and for the reality.”
In an announcement in December, following the lawsuit introduced by Jane Doe, he referred to as the claims “sickening” and mentioned his accusers had been “searching for a fast payday”.
“Let me be completely clear: I didn’t do any of the terrible issues being alleged,” he mentioned in an announcement. “I’ll struggle for my title, my household and for the reality.”
Combs’ lawyer, Shawn Holley, branded the occasions described within the lawsuit as “pure fiction”.
Usher reveals what he noticed at Diddy’s dwelling when he was 13
“We now have overwhelming, indeniable proof that his claims are full lies,” he mentioned. “We are going to tackle these outlandish allegations in court docket and take all acceptable motion towards those that make them.”
Following the settlement with Ventura, Ben Brafman, one other legal professional for Combs, instructed The Unbiased: “Simply so we’re clear, a choice to settle a lawsuit, particularly in 2023, is by no means an admission of wrongdoing.
“Mr. Combs’ choice to settle the lawsuit doesn’t in any method undermine his flat-out denial of the claims.
“He’s blissful they acquired to a mutual settlement and needs Ms Ventura one of the best.”
Within the clip, Combs refers back to the incident as “one of many darkest instances in his life”, saying that he was “f***ed up” and is “disgusted by his actions”.
Legal Prices Towards Diddy
For almost a yr, Combs has confronted a sequence of civil lawsuits that accuse him of sexual abuse, rape and misconduct. Now, federal prosecutors have introduced prison fees towards him.
Combs has been charged with intercourse trafficking and transportation to interact in prostitution after a federal grand jury in New York selected to deliver an indictment towards him.
He’s accused of operating a prison enterprise that consisted of his associates, staff and the affect of his enterprise empire to coerce, management and abuse feminine victims. That features “intercourse trafficking, pressured labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice” based on the indictment.
In an indictment unsealed on Tuesday morning, federal prosecutors allege Combs and his associates threatened, abused and coerced girls and others round him “to meet his sexual wishes”.
That allegedly contains forcing victims into participating in recorded sexual exercise which he known as “Freak Offs.”
”Throughout Freak Offs, Combs distributed quite a lot of managed substances to victims, partly to maintain the victims obedient and compliant,” prosecutors mentioned within the doc. “After Freak Offs, Combs and the victims usually acquired IV fluids to get well from the bodily exertion and drug use.”
Legal professional Marc Agnifilo arrives at United States Courtroom in Manhattan after music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested by federal brokers in New York Metropolis (REUTERS)
Comic Jeff Wittek claimed on an episode of his present Jeff FM that when he was 20 years outdated, he went to one in all Combs’ alleged “Freak Off” events the place he noticed folks having intercourse at a mansion in Miami, E! Information reported.
“It was like eight tales excessive and it simply saved going up,” Wittek mentioned. “And the upper you went, the weirder s–t was happening.”
In 2010, he mentioned he went to a “lingerie intercourse occasion” after getting an invitation by way of an acquaintance, who had filmed a music video with Combs.
“She’s like, ‘Oh, he is having a Diddy occasion,’” he mentioned. “These Diddy events are f—ing loopy. They’re one of the best events, like, folks needed to go to them.”
Whereas Wittek wore a polo shirt, anticipating a standard occasion, one other buddy wore lingerie the place “their nipples are exhibiting by way of.”
“And I am like, ‘You guys are going like that?’” Wittek recalled. “They’re like, ‘You do not perceive about these events.’ And I didn’t perceive ‘trigger I noticed reside intercourse occur that night time.”
“That is the primary time I noticed that occur ever in my life. And did I partake? No, however I acquired f—ing drunk there,” he added. “It is simply loopy. I used to be actually there. I lived by way of it.”
‘Diddy’ dealing with 120 extra lawsuits
Combs was arrested at a Manhattan resort on September 16 about six months after federal brokers raided two of the musician’s properties in Los Angeles and Miami as a part of the investigation.
The federal investigation coincides with a sequence of civil lawsuits accusing him of sexual misconduct and sexual abuse during the last yr.
Marc Agnifilio, a lawyer for Combs, referred to as his consumer “an harmless man with nothing to cover.”
He mentioned the musician has been cooperating with federal authorities and voluntarily relocated to New York final week in anticipation of the arrest. “We’re upset with the choice to pursue what we consider is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace,” Agnifilo mentioned in an announcement.
“Please reserve your judgment till you’ve all of the details,” Agnifilo instructed reporters outdoors the courthouse on September 17. “He appears to be like ahead to clearing his title in court docket.”
Blackmail Accusations Behind Bars
Nevertheless, regardless of being incarcerated Metropolitan Detention Heart in Brooklyn since his arrest, Combs allegedly continued to misbehave.
In mid-November the mogul was accused by prosecutors of utilizing jailmates’ telephones from inside jail to blackmail potential witnesses, and calling up relations, urging them to succeed in out to potential victims and create “narratives.”
“The defendant has proven repeatedly — even whereas in custody — that he’ll flagrantly and repeatedly flout guidelines so as to improperly affect the end result of his case. The defendant has proven, in different phrases, that he can’t be trusted to abide by guidelines or situations,” prosecutors wrote in a submission that contained redactions.
Combs’ conduct was described as “relentless efforts” to “corruptly affect witness testimony,” the court docket paperwork claimed. The allegations as a part of a movement filed urging the choose to reject Combs’ newest $50 million bail proposal.
Prosecutors mentioned the mogul started breaking guidelines nearly as quickly as he was detained.
Jay-Z denied the allegation that he raped a 13-year-old lady together with Sean “Diddy” Combs in 2000 (Getty)
The federal lawsuit, which initially solely named Combs, was refiled by legal professional Tony Buzbee in federal court docket on Sunday (8 December). It cites the accuser, “Jane Doe”, who alleges she was assaulted on the home occasion by the 2 music moguls and that an unnamed feminine movie star was within the room on the time.
In an announcement shared to social media, Jay-Z, whose actual title is Shawn Carter, branded the authorized motion as a “blackmail try”. Combs has denied the allegations.
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The NFL has closed an investigation into sexual assault allegations towards Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, who’s ending the season on injured reserve for the second 12 months in a row.
“The matter is closed,” league spokesman Brian McCarthy stated Friday in an e mail to The Related Press. “There was inadequate proof to help a discovering of a violation of the private conduct coverage.”
Watson, who served an 11-game suspension in 2022, was accused of assault in Texas by a lady in September. She was looking for greater than $1 million in damages earlier than the perimeters reached a confidential settlement.
Watson strongly denied the allegations via his lawyer, Rusty Hardin. The 29-year-old Watson suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon rupture in October. He is been rehabbing the harm in hopes of returning subsequent season.
The Browns nonetheless owe Watson $46 million in every of the following two seasons after they traded three first-round picks to Houston and signed him to a five-year, absolutely assured $230 million contract that has backfired.
Watson has solely performed in 19 video games over three seasons because of the suspension and accidents. He was acquired by the Browns, who had been comfy along with his character regardless of Watson being accused of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct throughout therapeutic massage remedy classes whereas he performed for the Texans.
Whereas he is within the clear with the league, Watson’s future with Cleveland is not so sure.
His large contract — and its salary-cap ramifications — has put the Browns in a bind by way of attempting to enhance their roster. Cleveland has had a disappointing season after making the playoffs a 12 months in the past and will transfer on from Watson, however the price can be exorbitant if the staff simply releases him.
The Browns signed Jameis Winston for one season to be Watson’s backup. Winston has gone 2-3 as a starter since taking up and he is put some life into Cleveland’s offense, which did not rating 20 factors or achieve 300 yards with Watson earlier than his harm. His 2023 season was ended by a damaged bone in his shoulder, requiring surgical procedure.
Winston has indicated he would come again, and he may very well be a viable choice as a starter even when the Browns draft a younger QB.
