‘Diddy Will Face Justice Like R. Kelly,’ Victim’s Attorney Stresses After Sex Trafficking Charges

SEAN “Diddy” Combs is facing a period of “reckoning” similar to that of disgraced singer R. Kelly, the victims’ attorney said.

Lisa Bloom is representing Diddy’s latest accuser, Danity Kane singer Dawn Richard, who accuses the rap mogul of sexual abuse, death threats and exploitation.

5

5

5

Richards’ lawsuit was filed days before Diddy was arrested at a New York hotel and charged as part of a federal sex trafficking investigation.

A criminal complaint filed today alleges disturbing allegations that Diddy coerced female victims and male sex workers into drug-induced, sometimes days-long sex sessions, known as “freak offs.”

In allegations dating back to 2008, the star is accused of abusing, threatening and coercing his victims for years “to satisfy his sexual desires, protect his reputation and conceal his behavior.”

At a press conference, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams alleged that Diddy used his business empire to orchestrate criminal activities including “sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice.”

Bloom responded to the charges today, calling Combs’ arrest “long overdue” and saying it was a “great, emotional day for the victims.”

“Unfortunately, in my experience of decades of sexual harassment and abuse cases, the music industry is the worst industry for women, followed by the fashion industry. And Sean Combs is involved in both,” Lisa Bloom told The US Sun.

“There’s been a culture in those industries where women’s complaints of sexual abuse and assault have been ignored. Women are over-sexualized, they’re objectified, they’re just not taken seriously.

“And I hope that this case will bring about a reckoning in the music industry, which is long overdue.

“I think R. Kelly is actually a good comparison because he was accused of abusing women for years in the music industry, but it was ignored and covered up until there was finally a reckoning.

“And the same thing should happen, in my opinion, with Diddy. He’s going to fight hard. He’s going to use everything he’s got. He’s going to use his expensive legal team… I think there’s going to be justice for him and I hope to be a part of it.”

R. Kelly was sentenced to more than 30 years in prison for a series of crimes including sex trafficking, child pornography and kidnapping.

Bloom said her client would “certainly” be willing to cooperate with any legal investigation into Combs’ activities.

She described how “painful” it has been for her client to watch Diddy’s success in the music and fashion industries over the years, but she felt inspired to come forward after seeing how Diddy’s ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura had come forward and sued the rap mogul.

Cassie settled her lawsuit in November of last year, but months later, gruesome surveillance footage surfaced showing Diddy kicking and dragging her through a hotel hallway.

According to the lawsuit Richard filed last week in New York, she frequently witnessed Diddy abusing Cassie but was threatened with death when she tried to intervene.

“Mr. Combs would frequently throw objects, including cell phones, laptops, food and studio equipment, across the room or at people during his fits of rage,” the complaint states.

“Ms. Richard witnessed Mr. Combs brutally beating his girlfriend, Ms. Casandra Ventura, on numerous occasions…

“His continued abuse included strangling Ms. Ventura, striking her with his hands and objects, hitting her, slapping her, and throwing objects at her, including a red-hot pan.

“Ms. Richard attempted to intervene on many occasions and offered Ms. Ventura support and encouragement to leave Mr. Combs.

“Every time Mr. Combs learned of her attempts to help Ms. Ventura, he became enraged and threatened Ms. Richard’s life with statements such as ‘you want to die today,’ ‘I’m going to make n***** disappear,’ and ‘I’m going to kill people.’”

Richard also accuses Combs of “withholding her legitimate income,
by stealing her copyrighted works and subjecting her to years of inhumane working conditions, including groping, beatings and unlawful imprisonment.”

“I will tell you, I am very proud of Dawn. I think she is so brave, that she was willing to come forward and file this complaint with the many allegations. And she had the choice to do so as a Jane Doe,” Bloom added.

5

5

“We talked about it at length and she decided: why shouldn’t she hide her head out of shame?

“She has nothing to be ashamed of. She is proud that she came forward. She should be proud that she came forward and so she filed the case under her own name, Dawn Richard.

“But as for the specific allegations, we will prove them in court.

“As you can imagine, it is very, very difficult to come forward with such allegations against someone as powerful and wealthy as Sean Combs.

“He’s been one of the leading figures in the music industry and the fashion industry for years. And it’s just unbearable for Dawn.

“She had to think long and hard about whether she wanted to do this. It took years for her to come forward.

“Her allegations date back to 2004. But like many women, she has grown stronger over time. She has grown braver. And she has also been inspired by a number of others who have come forward, particularly Cassie Ventura, who very bravely filed her complaint last year…

“And Dawn was really moved by that and felt that she now had to come forward and make her voice heard and tell her own story.”

Diddy’s attorneys responded to Dawn’s lawsuit in a statement that said: “In an attempt to rewrite history, Dawn Richard has now concocted a series of false claims, all in the hopes of getting paid — conveniently timed to coincide with the release of her album and her press tour.”

‘ABSURD AND OFFENSIVE’

Bloom responded by saying it was “absurd” of Combs to attack his accuser.

“You know, it’s completely absurd and insulting that Diddy, through his expensive lawyers, has decided to attack Dawn Richard,” she said.

“This is the same tactic he used on Cassie Ventura and everyone else who came forward to attack, until that horrific video was released of him attacking Cassie Ventura.

“And only then did he release a video, I’m sure on the advice of his publicists, crisis managers and lawyers, feeling sorry for himself and apologizing. So we know that’s his playbook.

“Attacking his accusers until physical evidence surfaces and then apologizing, right? It’s very sad that he chose that against Dawn.”

Bloom argued that a woman “should never have to choose between her career and her dignity” and called it “absurd” to suggest Dawn would time her lawsuit to coincide with the launch of an album.

“Dawn Richard has released many albums. She’s toured and performed for decades. No one wants to talk about being a victim of abuse when an album comes out,” she said.

“That’s absurd. That doesn’t help the album sales. In fact, Dawn came to me a few months ago, and this is a very complicated legal complaint.

“It took us months to investigate her allegations, get the facts straight and make sure we had everything straight.

“We had to investigate some fairly complex legal issues. There were incidents in California and New York. We had to make a decision about which court to file the case in. Ultimately, we filed the case in federal court in New York.

“That all took time. And it wasn’t Dawn’s doing. It was my legal team doing their homework, doing our due diligence. And ultimately, when we got to the end of that process, we filed the case.”

So it had nothing to do with her career or her album. But we did tell her, yeah, go ahead and do your job. Go on tour, put out your album, do your thing. That’s what you do.

“And that’s what your fans want.”

Combs is charged with extortion, sex trafficking and transportation for the purpose of prostitution.

The indictment also alleges that Diddy used senior associates, personal assistants and security personnel to orchestrate his debauched sex sessions.

“They booked the hotel rooms and stocked them with necessary supplies, including medications, baby oil, lubricant, extra linens and lighting,” Williams said.

Diddy’s attorney Marc Agnifilo said today that the star plans to plead not guilty and “will fight this with all his energy.”

He expects a long legal battle, but is confident that the rapper will have a good outcome.

Agnifilo added that his client’s “spirit is good” and that he is “full of confidence.”