Even before law enforcement raided his homes, the rapper, producer and businessman Sean 鈥淒iddy鈥 Combs faced a host of legal issues.
Since November, he has faced five separate civil lawsuits accusing him of a range of sexual misconduct and other illegal activity. One of those cases has already been settled, but the others remain active.
Several of the lawsuits allege misconduct was captured on video. In addition, some were filed under the New York Adult Survivors Act, which created a one-year window for adult victims to file a lawsuit against their alleged abusers and the institutions that enabled them, regardless of statutes of limitations. This one-year window ended November 24, 2023.
Authorities searched Diddy鈥檚 homes on Monday because he is a target of a federal investigation carried out by a Department of Homeland Security team that handles human trafficking crimes, according to a senior federal law enforcement official briefed on the investigation. The investigation stems from many of the same sexual assault allegations put forth in the civil lawsuits, according to a second law enforcement source familiar with Monday鈥檚 searches.
The music mogul鈥檚 attorney, Aaron Dyer, issued a statement Tuesday, calling the searches a 鈥済ross overuse of military-level force.鈥
鈥淭his unprecedented ambush 鈥 paired with an advanced, coordinated media presence 鈥 leads to a premature rush to judgment of Mr. Combs and is nothing more than a witch hunt based on meritless accusations made in civil lawsuits,鈥 he said. 鈥淭here has been no finding of criminal or civil liability with any of these allegations. Mr. Combs is innocent and will continue to fight every single day to clear his name.鈥
Here鈥檚 a closer look at each of the lawsuits, what they allege and how Diddy has responded.
Ventura v. Combs
The basics: Casandra Ventura, the R&B singer known as Cassie who previously dated Diddy, filed a federal lawsuit in the Southern District of New York on November 16, 2023, against Diddy and the companies Bad Boy Records, Bad Boy Entertainment, Combs Enterprises, Epic Records and Doe Corps. 1-10.
The allegations: Ventura alleged she was raped and subjected to years of violent abuse by Diddy. The lawsuit specifically accuses him of sex trafficking, human trafficking, sexual assault and battery, gender-motivated violence, sexual harassment, gender discrimination and a hostile work environment.
Diddy鈥檚 response: Attorney Ben Brafman said in a statement emailed to CNN via Diddy鈥檚 publicist, 鈥淢r. Combs vehemently denies these offensive and outrageous allegations.鈥
The statement continued, 鈥淔or the past 6 months, Mr. Combs, has been subjected to Ms. Ventura鈥檚 persistent demand of US$30 million, under the threat of writing a damaging book about their relationship, which was unequivocally rejected as blatant blackmail. Despite withdrawing her initial threat, Ms. Ventura has now resorted to filing a lawsuit riddled with baseless and outrageous lies, aiming to tarnish Mr. Combs鈥 reputation and seeking a pay day.鈥
Where the case stands: The lawsuit was settled 鈥渁micably鈥 just a day afterward, both sides said. 鈥淎 decision to settle a lawsuit, especially in 2023, is in no way an admission of wrongdoing,鈥 Brafman said.
Dickerson-Neal v. Combs
The basics: Joi Dickerson-Neal filed a lawsuit in New York Supreme Court on November 23 against Diddy, Bad Boy Entertainment doing business as Bad Boy Records, and Combs Enterprises LLC.
The allegations: Dickerson-Neal accused Diddy of drugging and sexually assaulting her in 1991, when she was a Syracuse University student who had appeared with Combs in a music video. She also alleged she was a victim of 鈥渞evenge porn,鈥 saying he filmed the assault and showed it to others.
Diddy鈥檚 response: A spokesperson said the allegations are 鈥渕ade up and not credible,鈥 adding the move is 鈥減urely a money grab.鈥
鈥淭his last-minute lawsuit is an example of how a well-intentioned law can be turned on its head,鈥 the spokesperson said. 鈥淢r. Combs never assaulted her, and she implicates companies that did not exist.鈥
Where the case stands: Defendants鈥 response is due April 12.
Gardner v. Combs
The basics: In a lawsuit filed in New York Supreme Court on November 23 and in an amended complaint on March 12, Liza Gardner sued Diddy, Aaron Hall, MCA Inc., MCA Music Entertainment Group, Geffen Records, Universal Music Group NV, John and Jane Does 1-10 and ABC Corps. 1-10.
The allegations: Gardner accused Combs and Aaron Hall, a member of the R&B group Guy, of battery and sexual assault in 1990, when she was 16 years old.
She alleged that after they gave her alcoholic drinks, Diddy forced her into having sex and Hall pinned her down and forced her to have sex. The next day, Diddy assaulted her and choked her until she passed out, the lawsuit states.
Diddy鈥檚 response: In December, Diddy posted on Instagram denying the claims.
鈥淓nough is enough. For the last couple of weeks, I have sat silently and watched people try to assassinate my character, destroy my reputation and my legacy,鈥 he said. 鈥淪ickening allegations have been made against me by individuals looking for a quick payday. 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.鈥
CNN has reached out to Hall for comment. He has not yet publicly spoken about the allegations.
Where the case stands: Defendants鈥 response to the complaint is not yet due.
Jane Doe v. Combs
The basics: An anonymous woman using the name Jane Doe filed a federal lawsuit in the Southern District of New York on December 6 against Diddy, Harve Pierre, an unnamed third assailant, Daddy鈥檚 House Recordings Inc. and Bad Boy Entertainment Holdings Inc. Doe filed an amended complaint on March 29.
The allegations: Doe accused Diddy, Pierre and a third person of sex trafficking and gang rape in 2003, when she was a 17-year-old high school student.
Diddy鈥檚 response: In court filings, Diddy formally denied the allegations and told the court the lawsuit should be dismissed because the woman鈥檚 鈥渄ecision to wait more than two decades to file her complaint has prejudiced鈥 him because he has 鈥渓ost the ability to defend himself fully and fairly.鈥 He also argued the evidence may now be 鈥渦navailable, lost, or compromised鈥 and that 鈥渨itness identification, availability, and recollections are likely compromised due to the substantial passage of time.鈥
Pierre, the former president of Bad Boy Records, filed a 15-page response asking the court to dismiss the complaint. He said he 鈥渘ever participated in the sexual assault of the Plaintiff nor did he ever witness anyone else sexually assaulting the Plaintiff.鈥
Daddy鈥檚 House Recordings Inc. and Bad Boy Entertainment Holdings Inc. have also filed motions asking the court to dismiss the case.
Where the case stands: Defendants鈥 response to the amended complaint is not yet due.
Lil Rod v. Combs
The basics: Rodney Jones, a music producer and videographer who went by Lil Rod, filed a federal lawsuit in the Southern District of New York on February 26 against Diddy and a number of other defendants. The suit was refiled on March 4, and proposed amended complaints were filed on March 25 and March 27.
The allegations: The lawsuit specifically accuses Diddy of racketeering, sexual assault and sex trafficking in 2022 and 2023 as Jones worked on Diddy鈥檚 most recent album 鈥淟ove.鈥 Jones also alleges Combs did not compensate him for his music producing work.
In addition, the lawsuit accuses Cuba Gooding Jr. of sexual assault and makes reference to several other celebrities by name and by description.
Diddy鈥檚 response: Diddy鈥檚 attorney denied the allegations and called Jones鈥 claims 鈥渓ies.鈥
鈥淗is reckless name-dropping about events that are pure fiction and simply did not happen is nothing more than a transparent attempt to garner headlines. We have overwhelming, indisputable proof that his claims are complete lies,鈥 attorney Shawn Holley said.
An attorney for Gooding has not responded to CNN鈥檚 request for comment.
Where the case stands: Some of the defendants have moved to dismiss the case, and the deadline to respond to the allegations has not yet arrived.
O鈥橫arcaigh v. Christian and Sean Combs
The basics: Grace O鈥橫arcaigh, who worked as a crew member and bartender on a yacht leased by Diddy and his family in December 2022, names Sean Combs and his son Christian Combs in a lawsuit filed April 4 in Los Angeles Superior Court.
The allegations: Christian Combs is accused of sexual assault in the lawsuit. His father is accused of premises liability and aiding and abetting his son.
The lawsuit alleges the yacht experience was 鈥渟old as a wholesome family excursion鈥 but turned into a 鈥渉edonistic environment鈥 where suspected sex workers and other celebrities were often brought aboard.
In the early morning of December 28, Christian Combs pressured O鈥橫arcaigh to drink a shot of tequila and shortly thereafter he assaulted her, the lawsuit says. O鈥橫arcaigh believes the tequila, which she says Christian Combs brought aboard, may have been laced with drugs, according to the lawsuit.
On the yacht, Christian Combs 鈥渃ornered鈥 O鈥橫arcaigh in a room and 鈥渂ecame physical and extremely aggressive,鈥 the lawsuit states. The alleged sexual assault stopped only when another yacht employee entered the room.
Diddy鈥檚 response: Aaron Dyer, an attorney for Combs and his son, said in a statement the lawsuit contains 鈥渕anufactured lies and irrelevant facts.鈥
Where the case stands: Dyer said he will seek to 鈥渄ismiss this outrageous claim.鈥
