Sean 'Diddy' Combs abuse allegations: A timeline of key events

Hip-hop entrepreneur Sean "Diddy" Combs has been taken into custody in New York, nearly ten months after being accused in a civil lawsuit of serious offenses such as rape, sexual assault, and administering drugs against someone's will.

The 54-year-old rapper, who used to go by Puff Daddy and P Diddy, was arrested by police at the Park Hyatt hotel in Manhattan on Monday, though the specifics of the charges remain unknown.

Damian Williams, the US attorney for the Southern District of New York, mentioned that the arrest was made following a sealed indictment, which is a legal document that the public cannot access. He indicated that he plans to provide additional details once the document is made public.

Combs, a prominent figure in the hip-hop industry as a producer and executive, has been hit with multiple civil lawsuits since November of last year. These lawsuits allege serious crimes, including sex trafficking and the assault of a 17-year-old girl.

In this section, we will explore the major events that have occurred since the claims against Combs came to light.

The rapper's former partner, R&B artist Cassie, claims in a lawsuit that she was subjected to trafficking, assault, drugging, and brutal violence by Combs repeatedly during a decade-long relationship.

Cassandra Ventura, known as Cassie, joined Combs' record label in 2005, and she and Combs were involved in a romantic relationship on and off for over ten years, beginning in 2007.

She submitted her case according to New York's Adult Survivors Act.

The law provided victims of sexual violence with a year, from November 2022 to November 2023, during which they could submit civil lawsuits without being restricted by the usual time limits for filing such claims following an alleged incident.

Combs, via his attorney, strongly refutes all the allegations made in the lawsuit.

Combs resolves the lawsuit with Cassie just one day after it is submitted, with the details of the settlement remaining private.

"We have chosen to address this issue in a friendly manner," Combs states in an announcement.

Two additional women have come forward with allegations of sexual abuse against Combs, filing lawsuits just before the deadline of the Adult Survivors Act.

The legal actions, brought forward by Joi Dickerson and an unnamed woman, claim that Combs committed acts of sexual assault, physical violence, and non-consensual drugging in the early 1990s. At that time, he was a talent director and an emerging personality in the New York hip-hop community.

The rapper's legal team claims that the accusations are untrue.

In a separate legal complaint, a woman claims that in 2003, when she was just 17, Combs and two other individuals sexually assaulted her.

The legal action filed in a federal court in Manhattan alleges that she resided in a Detroit-area neighborhood and was transported to a studio in New York. There, she was administered substances and alcohol that left her unable to consent to sexual activity, after which several men assaulted her in turn.

On the same day, Combs shared a post on Instagram widely refuting all the claims made in the increasing number of lawsuits.

"I haven't committed any of the terrible acts that are being claimed," the post states. "I will stand up for my reputation, my loved ones, and for what is right."

Music producer Rodney "Lil Rod" Jones has filed a lawsuit alleging that Combs coerced him into arranging and participating in sexual activities with sex workers from September 2022 through November 2023.

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He also asserts that he has been a victim of unwanted touching and groping by Combs. Additionally, he alleges that he observed the music mogul distributing drinks that were tainted with drugs to guests at parties.

An attorney representing Combs describes the claims made in Jones' lawsuit as completely fictitious.

Federal agents searched two properties belonging to Combs as part of a continuing investigation into sex trafficking, according to officials who spoke with the Associated Press (AP).

Authorities haven't confirmed if the searches at Combs' residences in Miami and Los Angeles are related to the civil lawsuits. However, the music mogul's lawyers believe there is a connection.

The following day, Combs' attorney describes the raids as an excessive display of military-like force, asserting that his client is innocent and remains committed to proving his innocence.

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April Lampros, who is now 51 years old, claims that Combs sexually assaulted her over 20 years ago when she was studying fashion in New York City, as reported by NBC News, a partner network of Sky News US.

She alleges that the artist sexually attacked her four times from 1995 to the early 2000s. One incident reportedly involved her being coerced into taking ecstasy and engaging in sexual activity with Kim Porter, who was Combs' former partner.

Combs refutes the accusations and has also submitted a request to throw out the lawsuit.

A legal complaint claims that Christian "King" Combs, the son of Combs, sexually attacked a female employee on a yacht that was rented by his father.

Combs has been identified as a co-defendant in the lawsuit, which alleges that he played a role in setting up the situation that resulted in the attack and subsequently paid to conceal it.

A lawyer representing the two individuals describes the claims as "absurd."

Combs and his lawyers have submitted a request to reject various parts of Dickerson's lawsuit from November 2023, arguing that the actions in question were not against the law back in 1991 when they supposedly took place.

Though the legal challenges focus on procedural issues, the filing also criticizes the lawsuit for containing "many false, insulting, and sensational claims."

Combs is requesting that a federal judge throw out the lawsuit filed on December 6, 2023, which claims that he and two others sexually assaulted a 17-year-old girl from Michigan in a recording studio in New York.

Once more, the objections are related to legal procedures, arguing that the lawsuit was submitted after the deadline set by law. However, the court filings describe the allegations as "untrue and outrageous."

CNN has released footage that captures Combs assaulting Cassie in a hotel corridor back in 2016.

The video closely resembles an attack noted in her legal complaint, which stated that Combs had already hit her earlier that evening. She was attempting to exit the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles when he woke up and pursued her.

Representatives for Combs have not provided any comments at this time.

The Los Angeles District Attorney's Office has stated that it is unable to take legal action against Combs for the incident captured on video because too much time has passed since it occurred. Additionally, they mentioned that no case has been brought forward for them to review.

Combs shared a video on Instagram and Facebook expressing his regrets for the attack on Cassie.

He calls it "unforgivable" and expresses his feelings of "repulsion."

"I was in a really bad place—I had reached my lowest point—but I don’t want to make any excuses. My actions in that video are completely unacceptable. I fully own what I did. I felt ashamed then, and I still feel ashamed now," he said.

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In response to the various lawsuits filed against him, Combs is requesting that a federal judge dismiss the February 2024 case brought by music producer Jones.

Combs' attorneys claim that the lawsuit is filled with exaggerated stories, dramatic antics, baseless accusations, and outright lies, all aimed at creating buzz in the media and using it to secure a financial settlement.

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Dawn Richard has filed a lawsuit against Combs, alleging that she endured years of mental and physical mistreatment, including unwanted touching, during the time he assisted in advancing her career.

Combs' team is alleging that Richard is trying to change the narrative by creating a number of untrue statements, all in an effort to secure a payday that conveniently aligns with her album launch and promotional activities.

Combs was taken into custody in New York following an indictment by a grand jury.

The specifics of the charges haven't been revealed, but federal authorities plan to request that a judge make the indictment public the following day.

Combs' lawyer describes the case as an unfair attack on someone who may have flaws but is "not a criminal."