The assault in the surveillance video matches the description of an alleged March 2016 incident that Cassie, formerly known as Cassie Ventura and who now also uses her married name Casandra Bien, had detailed in a sexual abuse, sex trafficking and battery lawsuit she filed against Combs in November 2023 and settled a day later. At the time, the producer’s lawyer told E! News in a statement that Mr. Combs’ “decision to settle the lawsuit in no way compromises his categorical denial of the allegations.”
Combs still faces five other civil lawsuits filed in New York since last fall, accusing him of sexual assault, sex trafficking and other criminal activity. He has denied all allegations.
The Grammy winner is also under federal investigation following searches of his properties in California and Florida in March. A source close to the investigation told NBC News at the time that the investigation took place amid a wave of lawsuits against him and that federal officials had already questioned three people about allegations of sex trafficking, sexual assault and solicitation. and the distribution of narcotics and illegal firearms.
One of Combs’ attorneys told NBC News in a statement after the searches that the rapper “was never arrested but has spoken and cooperated with authorities” and that his client is innocent and “will continue to fight every day to clear his name.
(E! and NBC News are part of the NBCUniversal family.)
Read on to learn more about Combs’ legal troubles…
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