An unnamed celebrity, referred to as "John Doe" in court filings, has filed a lawsuit accusing Houston attorney Tony Buzbee of attempted extortion. The lawsuit alleges that Buzbee, who represents 120 alleged victims of Sean "Diddy" Combs, threatened to publicize false and malicious claims of sexual assault involving minors unless the celebrity agreed to a mediated settlement.
The lawsuit, filed on Monday, claims that Buzbee made "wildly false horrific allegations," including accusations of rape at parties hosted by Combs. Doe's attorneys assert that the claims were fabricated to coerce their client into compliance. According to the lawsuit, Buzbee attached a ticking clock image to a demand letter, signaling urgency for a settlement.
"These baseless accusations are nothing more than a weapon in a calculated plot to destroy Plaintiff's high-profile reputation for profit, despite the complete absence of any factual basis for such claims," the lawsuit states. The celebrity, who remains anonymous to protect his reputation, alleges that the attorney's actions were aimed at exploiting his public image.
Buzbee, who has filed multiple civil lawsuits against Combs since the mogul's arrest in September, dismissed the lawsuit as a tactic to intimidate him and his clients. In a statement to Newsweek, Buzbee said, "Sunlight is the best disinfectant. I have confidence that with full public disclosure all of this will sort itself out." He also emphasized that the demand letters were a standard legal practice intended for confidential mediation before filing a lawsuit.
The lawsuit represents the latest twist in an ongoing legal drama surrounding Combs, who faces federal charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. Combs has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Federal prosecutors allege that Combs orchestrated events known as "freak-offs" and used his influence to coerce victims into participation. His legal team has denied all allegations of sexual misconduct.
In response to the lawsuit, Buzbee said, "The demand letters sent are no different than the ones routinely sent by lawyers across the country in all types of cases. No threats were made, and no amount of money was specified." He added that he would release the letters as part of his defense if necessary.
The allegations against Combs have also implicated other unnamed celebrities. Buzbee has previously stated that additional lawsuits would reveal shocking details about individuals allegedly involved in assaults at Combs-hosted events. Earlier lawsuits have accused unidentified celebrities of participating in sexual assaults, including one case where a woman claimed she was raped by Combs and another male celebrity while a female celebrity watched.
Combs' attorneys have denied the claims, stating, "Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted anyone-adult or minor, man or woman."
The anonymous plaintiff's legal team argues that Buzbee's approach capitalizes on the bravery of actual victims to extort payments from high-profile figures. "Defendants devised a scheme to obtain payments through the use of coercive threats from anyone with any ties to Combs-no matter how remote," the lawsuit claims.
Meanwhile, Combs remains at the center of multiple legal battles. Federal prosecutors have accused him of attempting to influence witnesses from his jail cell, alleging he used intermediaries to contact potential witnesses, including victims. Combs' lawyers have countered, arguing that the government's seizure of materials from his jail cell violated his constitutional rights.
