The judge rules that Diddy’s accuser must reveal his name or the rape case will be thrown out

A woman who sued anonymously Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs for rape earlier this month, she was told she had to reveal her name or her lawsuit would be dismissed.

On NBCthe woman’s complaint was filed under “Jane Doe” in the Southern District of New York and alleged that Combs raped her in 2004 at a Manhattan hotel when she was a 19-year-old college student.

Texas lawyer Tony Buzbee – who revealed that it is working with 120 people who have come forward with new claims against the disgraced rapper – filed the suit under the Gender-Based Violence Victims Protection Act, which allows victims to file older claims within a two-year window (ends March 2025).

The lawsuit in question was one of six Buzbees filed on October 14, all of which were anonymous.

The complaint alleged that Jane Doe was invited to one of Combs’ photo shoots in Brooklyn in 2004, after which she and her friend attended a party after which they were invited to a “more exclusive party” by Combs.

Her complaint said she and her friend agreed and were taken to a Marriott hotel in the Manhattan area by a member of Combs’ entourage. Doe and her friend were grabbed and taken to a separate bedroom, separate from the main party, and locked inside with the rap mogul.

According to the filing, Combs allegedly gave them drinks, ordered them to use cocaine, and forcibly touched them. He allegedly ordered Doe’s friend to perform oral sex “or he would have killed them both” and raped Doe.

A security guard opened the door at one point and Doe’s friend rushed in, but Doe was ordered to stay and waited about half an hour until another security guard came and told him he could leave, he said. says in the complaint.

In a ruling Wednesday (October 20), US District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil said that while the case is highly sensitive and likely to invite high levels of public scrutiny if Doe proceeds under her own name, her desire to remaining anonymous did not outweigh the interests of Combs and the public “in the ordinary and constitutionally embedded presumption of openness” in legal proceedings.

Judge Vyskocil went on to say that the woman’s complaint provided insufficient evidence that she would face “significant risk of harm” if publicly named and that her lawyers had provided “no support for that claim” — beyond the fact that in 20 years ago, Combs allegedly threatened Doe’s life if she fled during the alleged attack.

The complaint noted that Combs has had no contact with Doe in the years since the alleged incident and that Combs is currently in custody.

Combs was arrested in New York in September and later charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation for prostitution. He pleaded not guilty to all charges. He was later denied bail after offering a $50m (£38.4m) bond and being He has reportedly been placed on suicide watch while awaiting trial. The artist has since then appealed against the denial of bail. His the court date is scheduled for May 5, 2025.

He remains in federal custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York City. Combs is scheduled to appear in court on December 18. right Rolling Stonehe faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

The judge has now given Jane Doe until Nov. 13 to file a complaint on her own behalf “or this case will be dismissed.” She said Doe’s lawyers had not provided enough evidence that revealing her identity would cause psychological harm and said the prospect of “public humiliation” was not enough.

Buzbee, in a statement given to him CNNsaid: “We have great respect for the court and its rulings. Our job as counsel for these victims is to protect their safety as best we can, which is what we were trying to do by filing anonymously. Anonymous or not, this case will continue, period.”

Following the recent allegation that Diddy sexually assaulted and drugged a 10-year-old boyCombs’ attorneys denied the latest wave of allegations and blasted Buzbee in a statement (via Complex).

“As I have said before, Mr. Combs cannot respond to every new publicity stunt, even in response to claims that are ridiculous on their face or can be proven false,” it said.

“Mr. Combs and his legal team have complete confidence in the facts and the integrity of the judicial process. In court, the truth will prevail: that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone – male or female, adult or minor.”