In an unusual development, Sean “Diddy” Combs has taken legal action while facing numerous sexual assault lawsuits and preparing for a trial regarding allegations of running a “criminal enterprise” linked to sex trafficking.

On Wednesday, Combs filed a lawsuit in a New York federal court, claiming defamation by a man who allegedly provided testimony to a grand jury concerning Combs’ federal criminal case.

The lawsuit identifies Courtney Burgess, his attorney Ariel Mitchell, and NewsNation, the network that aired an interview with the two in October, as defendants. Burgess has publicly claimed to have videos that supposedly depict Combs engaging in sexual assault, including against minors and celebrities.

“Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is standing up against the malicious fabrications spread by individuals looking to profit from his situation,” stated Erica Wolff, one of Combs’ attorneys, in a comment shared with YSL News.

“In their reckless disregard for the truth, these defendants have deliberately created and distributed outrageous falsehoods. Their claims have tainted public perception and affected the potential jury pool,” the statement added. “This lawsuit aims to send a clear message that such intentional lies, which compromise Mr. Combs’s right to a fair trial, will not be tolerated.”

TMZ was the first outlet to report this news. YSL News has sought comments from Mitchell and NewsNation.

Currently, Combs is in custody after being repeatedly denied bail and is scheduled for trial on May 5 for sex trafficking and racketeering charges. He has consistently asserted his innocence amid more than two dozen civil lawsuits filed in the past year accusing him of rape, trafficking, and sexual misconduct from the 1990s to 2024.

Diddy demands $50 million in defamation lawsuit

Combs’ lawsuit claims that “no such tapes” exist showing him engaging in sexual assault during his alleged “freak offs,” branding the defendants’ assertions as “false and defamatory.”

The hip-hop mogul is seeking $50 million in damages, arguing that Burgess and Mitchell’s claims regarding “freak off” footage have “tainted the minds” of potential jurors for his upcoming trial.

“The relentless wave of negative media attention and threatening social media messages stemming from the Defendants’ falsehoods have inflicted, and will continue to inflict, severe damage to Mr. Combs’s reputation,” the lawsuit states.

During his appearance on NewsNation’s “Banfield” in October, Burgess claimed he’d recently given testimony to a grand jury and mentioned receiving 11 flash drives that belonged to Combs’ late ex-girlfriend Kim Porter, which allegedly contained eight videos showing celebrities as victims of sex crimes. Although witnesses can discuss their testimony publicly, grand jury procedures must remain confidential by law.

Combs’ lawsuit also references the Peacock documentary “Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy,” released on January 14, noting that “Mitchell repeated these known lies” about the alleged “freak off” footage in the documentary.

“Defendants had no legitimate basis to state that Burgess had videos showing Mr. Combs involved in sexual assault. Burgess fabricated the existence of these videos and spread horrific lies about Mr. Combs, while Mitchell and NewsNation either knew that these claims were false or failed to check their accuracy,” the lawsuit argues.

Combs, who pleaded not guilty to federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges in September, “strongly and categorically denies” the accusations against him and is preparing to challenge the government’s evidence at trial, according to the lawsuit.

The filing concludes: “Mr. Combs trusts in the fairness of the judicial system and believes that the jury will deliver a verdict of not guilty.”

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline provides free, confidential support available 24/7 for survivors and their loved ones in both English and Spanish at: 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org, with services also available at RAINN.org/es en Español.