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Friends and Collaborators of Sean “Diddy” Combs Distance Themselves From Him Amid Sex Trafficking Allegations
As federal prosecutors continue to build their case against Sean “Diddy” Combs for allegedly sex trafficking victims for his “freak off” parties, friends and collaborators are distancing themselves from the rap mogul. Attorney Lisa Bloom, who is representing former Danity Kane singer Dawn Richard against Combs, likened the situation to that of Jeffrey Epstein, saying there were many “complicit” enablers around Combs just as there were around the late billionaire.
Bloom, who represented 11 of Epstein’s victims in lawsuits, said that many people and companies were involved in Combs’ alleged sex trafficking operation and had tried to distance themselves from him. Richard is suing Combs and his associates for sexual assault, breach of contract, false imprisonment, forced labor, and battery.
Combs has denied all the charges against him, and his lawyers have maintained his innocence as he faces more than two dozen sexual assault cases in New York and California. However, Bloom said that many of those who have attempted to distance themselves from Combs have tried to make it seem like they are not associated with him.
“We’ve had a lot of back and forth with them,” Bloom said. “They don’t like being associated with Sean Combs. Many of them have come to us and said, ‘We shouldn’t be in the case. Here’s why you have to dismiss us.’ So, we’ve had a lot of back and forth with them. We’re willing to listen to evidence. I’ve always said just because somebody was at a party or did business with Sean Combs does not mean that they were complicit.”
As the case continues, former collaborator Jay-Z is also staying clear of Combs. Jay-Z and Combs were named in a civil suit accusing them of raping a then-13-year-old girl in 2000. However, Jay-Z’s lawyer, Alex Shapiro, insists that his client “doesn’t know anything” about the allegations against him or Combs.
Combs has been charged by federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York for sex trafficking and racketeering charges. He remains locked up at a Brooklyn jail awaiting trial.