Diddy has claimed that federal prosecutors are hindering his ability to mount a defense by withholding the identities of his accusers in the criminal case against him. His legal team submitted new documents on Tuesday requesting that a federal judge compel the U.S. Attorney’s Office to reveal the names of the anonymous alleged victims mentioned in the indictment. This disclosure would allow Diddy to specifically address allegations that he “abused, threatened and coerced” women and others for his sexual gratification.
In the submitted documents, Diddy contends that once the names are made public, there would be substantial evidence indicating that his interactions with the alleged victims were consensual. He is seeking more clarity from prosecutors regarding who is alleging non-consensual acts.
The 14-page indictment references “Victim 1,” who is believed to be Cassie, Diddy’s ex-girlfriend, as identified by his attorneys. Diddy’s current request for the judge is not specifically focused on her name but rather on any other accusers being used by the prosecution to build the case against him.
Another motivation for Diddy’s plea for the names to be disclosed involves multiple civil lawsuits initiated by attorney Tony Buzbee, who represents around 120 clients. Diddy’s team asserts that the federal case has led to a surge of allegations from unidentified complainants, pointing out that six of Buzbee’s clients filed lawsuits just this past Monday.
Due to the “number and anonymity of accusers,” Diddy’s attorneys have requested that federal prosecutors disclose the identities of the alleged victims, but the prosecutors have declined to do so “at this stage.”
Diddy was arrested last month during a raid at a hotel in midtown Manhattan where he was staying. He has since been detained in Brooklyn, with the court having twice denied his attempts to secure bail. His trial is scheduled to start in May 2025, with Diddy remaining in custody until then. The Southern District of New York has not commented on the situation.