Diddy Calls Gang Rape Lawsuit 'Fictional' And 'Unconstitutional' (original) (raw)
Diddy and his legal team believe he is being unfairly held accountable for the lawsuit stemming from an alleged gang rape that took place in 2003. The Bad Boy founder called the lawsuit “fictional” and “unconstitutional” in his first legal response.
“He never participated in, witnessed, or was or is presently aware of any misconduct, sexual or otherwise, relating to plaintiff in any circumstance whatsoever,” his attorneys told a federal court on Tuesday (Feb. 20). They also claimed that the lawsuit has come too late and limits the 54-year-old mogul’s ability to properly defend himself.
“For example, some or all evidence that otherwise would have been available if the action had been promptly commenced may be unavailable, lost, or compromised,” his attorney Shawn Holley said. “The absence of evidence materially impacts defendant’s ability to defend against essential aspects of plaintiff’s claims. Witness identification, availability, and recollections are likely compromised due to the substantial passage of time since the alleged incident.”
In the lawsuit, the plaintiff cites New York City’s Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Law, but Diddy and his team claim the statute is unconstitutional “on its face.” They also believe that the unnamed woman filed the lawsuit in bad faith, saying that the alleged situation simply never occurred.
The gang rape accusations state that both he and Harve Pierre drugged and raped a woman while she was just a junior in high school. This came after a string of accusations that began with his ex-girlfriend Cassie filing a lawsuit in November. They eventually settled outside of court for an undisclosed amount of money, but Cassie speaking out encouraged other women to come forward and detail their experiences with Diddy.
He released a statement on social media in December, claiming that “enough was enough” and he wasn’t happy with the character assassination. “SICKENING ACCUSATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE AGAINST ME BY INDIVIDUALS LOOKING FOR A QUICK PAYDAY,” he wrote. “LET ME BE ABSOLUTELY CLEAR: I DID NOT DO ANY OF THE AWFUL THINGS BEING ALLEGED. I WILL FIGHT FOR MY NAME, MY FAMILY AND FOR THE TRUTH. SEAN DIDDY COMBS.”