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By Erin Keller
Reporter (Live News)
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Marc Kasowitz, President Donald Trump's former personal attorney, has joined lawyer Tony Buzbee and his firm in representing the Jane Doe who has accused rappers Sean "Diddy" Combs and Jay-Z of rape at a 2000 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) afterparty.
Newsweek has contacted representatives for Kasowitz and Buzbee by email for comment on Monday.
Why It Matters
Combs, 55, is facing at least 30 civil lawsuits from people accusing him of sex crimes. The "Bad Boy For Life" rapper has been incarcerated in Brooklyn since being arrested last year on sex trafficking and racketeering charges.
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What To Know
Kasowitz appeared on behalf of Buzbee in a January 22 court filing, refuting Jay-Z's lawyers' motions for the lawsuit against him to be dropped. Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, strongly denies the allegations.
Lawyers for Jay-Z have been trying for months to get the lawsuit against him dismissed, citing inconsistencies between allegations in Doe's lawsuit compared to an NBC News interview. Doe was 13 years old when the alleged rape occurred.
Kasowitz's filing again asked the court not to throw out the case for previously filed reasons, including Doe's allegations are well-grounded in fact and supported by a thorough pre-filing investigation.
Jay-Z's attorney, Alex Spiro, previously argued that Doe's claims have proven to be false. Doe said she watched the VMAs outside on a jumbotron, but Spiro noted that New York City denied MTV a permit for a jumbotron that year. She also said she spoke to Good Charlotte band member Benji Madden at the alleged afterparty, but he had a concert in Chicago that night.
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Who Is Marc Kasowitz?
Kasowitz is a prominent attorney and founding partner of the law firm Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP, which is based in New York City. He is well-known for his work as a high-profile litigator, specializing in complex commercial litigation, corporate disputes, antitrust cases, and securities litigation. Kasowitz has represented a wide range of corporate clients, including major corporations in industries such as banking, energy, and pharmaceuticals.
Kasowitz gained significant attention as a personal attorney for Trump. He represented Trump in various legal matters, including cases related to the Russia investigation conducted by special counsel Robert Mueller and other legal disputes during Trump's first term of presidency.
He also defended Trump in earlier legal battles, such as those involving his real estate ventures and allegations related to Trump University.
Kasowitz played a key role in tobacco industry litigation, including representing companies against lawsuits brought by state governments.
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Who Is Tony Buzbee?
Tony Buzbee is a New York-based attorney representing 120 alleged victims of Combs.
In 2013, The New York Times reprinted a profile from The Texas Tribune which described Buzbee, not meant as a compliment, as "a big, mean, ambitious, tenacious, fire-breathing Texas trial lawyer. Really big. Poster boy big."
What People Are Saying
Sean Combs' legal team in a statement to Newsweek about the documentaries being made about his legal issues: "These documentaries are rushing to cash in on the media circus surrounding Mr. Combs. The producers failed to provide sufficient time or details for his representatives to address unsubstantiated claims, many from unidentified participants whose allegations lack context. By withholding this information, they made it impossible for Mr. Combs to present facts to counter these fabricated accusations."
"... As we've said before, Mr. Combs cannot respond to every publicity stunt or facially ridiculous claim. He has full confidence in the facts and the judicial process, where the truth will prevail: the accusations against him are pure fiction."
Kat Pasion, Combs' former girlfriend in The Fall of Diddy docuseries: "He [Combs] came into the room to watch a little bit. He's walking out of the room, and he says, 'There's a little bit of R. Kelly in all of us,' and then walks out the door."
What Happens Next
The final two episodes The Fall of Diddy air Tuesday on ID and stream on Max and Discovery+.
Combs' sex trafficking trial is set to begin in New York on May 5.
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