
Judge orders Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ accuser to reveal identity
By Jack Aylmer (Anchor), Mirlie Larose (Producer), Jack Henry (Video Editor)
A federal judge ruled that a woman accusing Sean “Diddy” Combs of sexual assault couldn’t proceed with her lawsuit under the pseudonym “Jane Doe.” Instead, the woman must identify herself if she wishes to continue with her case.
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In her decision, Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil explained that Combs had the right to defend himself. That includes the opportunity to investigate his accuser’s claims.

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“Defendants have a right to defend themselves, and the people have a right to know who is using their courts,” Vyskocil wrote.
This lawsuit is one of more than a dozen filed against Combs since his September arrest on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. Vyskocil’s case was filed individually but could impact other cases involving the rapper.
The accuser, a Tennessee woman, claimed that Combs raped her in 2004 when she was 19 years old. Her legal team argued that she should be allowed to remain anonymous due to concerns that Combs might harm her.
However, Vyskocil rejected this argument. She noted that Combs has had no contact with the woman in nearly 20 years and is currently detained while awaiting trial.
The judge emphasized that “public humiliation” alone wasn’t sufficient grounds for keeping the woman’s identity secret. Vyskocil also highlighted that several other plaintiffs in similar cases had filed under their real names.
Combs has pleaded not guilty and denied any wrongdoing. His representatives issued a brief statement following the ruling, saying, “The ruling speaks for itself.”
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Vyskocil set a deadline of Nov. 13 for the woman to refile under her real name; otherwise, her lawsuit will be dismissed.
Jack Aylmer
A FEDERAL JUDGE HAS RULED THAT A WOMAN ACCUSING SEAN DIDDY COMBS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT CANNOT PROCEED WITH HER LAWSUIT UNDER THE NAME “JANE DOE.”
INSTEAD, SHE’LL NEED TO IDENTIFY HERSELF IF SHE WISHES TO CONTINUE.
JUDGE MARY KAY VYSKOCIL EXPLAINED IN HER DECISION THAT THE RAPPER HAS THE RIGHT TO DEFEND HIMSELF, INCLUDING THE OPPORTUNITY TO INVESTIGATE HIS ACCUSER’S CLAIMS.
SHE WROTE, “DEFENDANTS HAVE A RIGHT TO DEFEND THEMSELVES, AND THE PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW WHO IS USING THEIR COURTS.”
THIS LAWSUIT IS ONE OF OVER A DOZEN FILED SINCE COMBS WAS CHARGED WITH SEX TRAFFICKING AND RACKETEERING IN SEPTEMBER. EACH LAWSUIT IS FILED INDIVIDUALLY, BUT JUDGE VYSKOCIL’S RULING MAY IMPACT OTHER CASES INVOLVING HIM.
THIS PARTICULAR ACCUSER, A TENNESSEE WOMAN, CLAIMS COMBS RAPED HER IN 20-04, WHEN SHE WAS 19 YEARS OLD. HER LEGAL TEAM ARGUED HER IDENTITY SHOULD REMAIN PRIVATE, FEARING COMBS MIGHT HARM HER.
THE JUDGE DISMISSED THIS ARGUMENT, POINTING OUT THAT COMBS HAS HAD NO CONTACT WITH HER IN NEARLY 20 YEARS AND IS CURRENTLY IN DETENTION AWAITING TRIAL.
IN THE JUDGE’S OWN WORDS, “PUBLIC HUMILIATION” ALONE ISN’T ENOUGH TO JUSTIFY KEEPING THE WOMAN’S IDENTITY A SECRET. SHE ALSO NOTED THAT SEVERAL OTHER INDIVIDUALS HAVE FILED SIMILAR LAWSUITS UNDER THEIR REAL NAMES.
COMBS HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY AND HAS CONSISTENTLY DENIED ANY WRONGDOING. HIS REPRESENTATIVES RELEASED A BRIEF STATEMENT SAYING, “THE RULING SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.”
THE JUDGE SAID IF THE WOMAN DOES NOT FILE UNDER HER REAL NAME BY NOVEMBER 13, HER CASE WILL BE DISMISSED.
FOR SAN. I’M JACK AYLMER
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