While various lawsuits detail alleged sexual assaults that occurred at parties held on Mr Combs’ property, so-called “Freak-off” parties held in hotel rooms appear to be the focus of federal authorities. The Justice Department charged him with racketeering conspiracy, prostitution and transportation for prostitution in a 14-page indictment last month.
Prosecutors accused Mr. Combs of recording sexual acts during “Freak Offs,” which federal authorities describe as multi-day sexual acts involving multiple sex workers.
The indictment alleged that Mr. Combs and his associates booked hotel rooms and stocked up on drugs such as ketamine, lubricant, extra linens and lights so they could record the orgies.
During the “Freak Offs,” Mr. Combs allegedly “hit, kicked, and threw objects at the victims,” causing injuries that sometimes took weeks to heal, court documents say.
According to the indictment, participants were allegedly coerced with drugs and threats to remain “obedient and compliant.” Those involved then administered IV fluids to help him recover, prosecutors alleged.
The lawsuit, filed in November 2023, nearly a year before Mr. Ventura was indicted in New York, contains graphic details of these “bizarre” allegations. The lawsuit states that Mr. Combs hosted these events weekly at hotels in New York and Los Angeles, transporting sex workers, supplying them with drugs including ecstasy, cocaine and ketamine, and coercing the singer into performing sexual acts.
During raids on Mr Combs’ Los Angeles and Miami mansions, law enforcement officers seized AR-15-style guns, high-capacity magazines and thousands of bottles of lubricant and baby oil.
Mr Combs’ arrest and the fallout surrounding his career have raised hopes among activists and survivors of sexual violence that his case could bring about meaningful change within the music industry.
Gloria Allred, a prominent women’s rights attorney who has represented numerous women throughout the #MeToo movement, believes the world is finally seeing a “reckoning” in the music industry.
She is the attorney for Thalia Graves, who claims she was drugged and violently raped by the rapper in 2001. She said she had received threats from Mr Combs and did not speak out because she feared he would “ruin her life”.
But Mr Allred told the BBC he believed the fallout from Didi’s arrest was far from over.
“Courage is contagious,” she said.
And prosecutors and lawyers for Mr Combs’ growing list of accusers have hinted there is more to come.
“Combs didn’t do this all on his own.” said Damian Williams, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. “He tried to use his business, its employees and other close associates to get his way.”
The investigation into the incident is still ongoing, authorities said.
During his most recent court appearance in a beige jumpsuit, Combs repeatedly said “I love you” to his family, repeatedly placed his hand over his heart and said a prayer.
As the hearing ended, a group of fans gathered in front of the courtroom door, tiptoeing to see him and support him.
For his former assistant, the media storm currently surrounding the rapper is not without a hint of irony.
“He wanted to make himself the most famous person in the world, and ironically, now he has,” Mr. Shooter said.
Christal Hayes contributed reporting to this story.
