Entertainment
Diddy accusers ‘set to testify before grand jury’ after sexual assault claims-Rishma Dosani-Entertainment – Metro
The rapper is facing a string of lawsuits.
![Diddy accusers ‘set to testify before grand jury’ after sexual assault claims-Rishma Dosani-Entertainment – Metro](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/SEI_201572113-0b95.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=1024)
Diddy’s accusers are reportedly set to appear in front of a grand jury (Picture: AP)
Accusers of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs could be set to appear in front of a federal grand jury – signaling possible criminal charges, it has been claimed.
Over the last few months, many have come forward with allegations against the rapper, 54, and he has been named in eight civil lawsuits – with seven of those accusing him of sexual assault.
He is also facing claims of sex trafficking, abuse and rape, and has fiercely denied all allegations against him.
While one suit filed by his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, was settled shortly after it was announced, others remain ongoing.
CNN reports that investigators have alerted possible witnesses that they could be brought in to testify in front of a jury in New York, marking a ‘significant escalation’ in the government’s probe.
Witnesses have reportedly not been prepped for any testimony, with Homeland Security Investigations agents (HSI) still gathering evidence and questioning those who could potentially hold necessary information.
Diddy has been accused of sexual assault from multiple people (Picture: Getty)
According to the outlet, a source said they are being as thorough as possible to ensure that any possible indictment against Combs is ‘bulletproof’.
A spokesperson for HSI also said that the investigation is ongoing, but declined to comment on the existence of a grand jury.
Last year, Ventura filed a lawsuit against Combs, accusing him of raping and physically abusing her over a period of 10 years – something he denied at the time.
The documents contain a trigger warning on the front due to the extreme nature of the allegations, and included claims of him ‘beating her, plying her with drugs and forcing her to have sex with male prostitutes as he filmed’.
Cassie launched a lawsuit against her ex last year (Picture: FilmMagic)
It was also claimed that the Me & U singer, who was 19 when they met, was raped ‘in her own home after she tried to leave him’ and ‘endured over a decade of his violent behavior and disturbed demands’.
After going public with her allegations, she later confirmed that she had decided to ‘resolve the matter amicably’, on terms that she had ‘some level of control’, while thanking those around her for their ‘unwavering support’.
Earlier this month, harrowing footage obtained by CNN showed Combs physically assaulting his former partner at a hotel in 2016 – he was filmed grabbing and shoving his former partner and dragging and kicking her on the floor.
As she left a hotel room and walked towards the elevators, he followed her, before grabbing her, throwing her to the floor and kicking her.
She issued a lengthy statement last week after a harrowing video came to light (Picture: Getty)
She later returned to the scene and picked up a hotel phone, before he reappeared and shoved her in a corner, throwing something towards her moments later.
Two days after the footage was first published, Combs issued a somber video, apologizing for his actions.
‘I hit rock bottom. But I make no excuses. My behavior in that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video,’ he said. ‘I’m disgusted. I was disgusted then when I did it, I’m disgusted now.
‘I’m not asking for forgiveness, I’m truly sorry.’
Ventura later issued a lengthy statement on her Instagram page, thanking those who had rallied around following a tough time.
‘Domestic violence is THE issue. It broke me down to someone I never thought I would become. With a lot of hard work, I am better today, but I will always be recovering from my past,’ she wrote.
‘Thank you to everyone that has taken the time to take this matter seriously. My only ask is that EVERYONE open your heart to believing victims the first time.
‘It takes a lot of heart to tell the truth out of a situation that you were powerless in.
‘This healing journey is never ending, but this support means everything to me. Thank you.’
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Diddy was hit with more lawsuits over the last two weeks (Picture: Getty)
In the wake of the shocking video coming to light, two women separately filed lawsuits against the businessman – April Lampros is suing him for sexual assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress, alleging that he plied her with alcohol at a bar in 1995 before raping her in a hotel room.
She also claimed that he forced ecstasy down her throat after meeting his then girlfriend, the late Kim Porter, and demanded that the two women have sex while he masturbated before he allegedly raped her again.
Crystal McKinney also came forward, accusing the Victory rapper of forcing her to perform a sex act on him after allegedly promising her a career boost, in 2003.
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