“More than 120 victims” accuse rapper P.Diddy of sexual assault – rts.ch

These revelations further undermine artist Sean “Diddy” Combs, 54, currently in pre-trial detention in New York awaiting his trial.

“The wall of silence has been broken and the victims are coming forward,” explained lawyer Tony Buzbee, saying he represents 120 new victims, including 25 minors at the time of the events, who intend to sue the rapper in civil court.

After the arrest of Sean Combs in New York in mid-September, his office set up a telephone crisis line.

The results are staggering: “more than 3,285 people” called saying they were victims or witnesses of an attack by the ex-hip hop mogul.

>> Read also: American rapper P. Diddy, accused of sexual assault, was arrested

If 120 victims have been identified, the teams involved continue to work “on more than 100 other cases” which could stand up to justice, explained lawyer Andrew Van Arsdale.

Testimonies that have been accumulating since last year

The revelations about the rapper started last year with a complaint from his ex-partner, singer Cassie. Since then, several alleged victims have come forward, which prompted the Manhattan federal prosecutor’s office to arrest the artist in mid-September.

Justice accuses him of having used his musical empire to rape or sexually assault his victims. The indictment describes him as a sexually violent predator, who used alcohol and drugs to obtain submission.

Wave of testimonies

His arrest and incarceration triggered a wave of testimony, spanning the past three decades, lawyers said at a news conference in Houston, Texas.

“I would say that in 90% of cases, these individuals were drugged” before being attacked, explained Mr. Buzbee.

At parties organized by the rapper and producer, also known by the nicknames Puff Daddy, P. Diddy, or Diddy, “when you were handed a drink (and…) if you refused to drink it, you were put to the door,” he explained, recounting the testimony of an alleged victim.

Sean Combs has established himself as a figure in East Coast hip-hop, on the microphone or on production. He has accumulated immense wealth over the decades, also thanks to his activities in the alcohol industry.

ats/ebz