Team Diddy Disputes Expert's Rape Testimony, Draws Controversial Comparisons

In a recent filing, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs' attorneys have dismissed the proposed expert testimony of Dr. Dawn Hughes, asserting that arguments surrounding the underreporting of rape are irrelevant and flawed, which has sparked criticism of their approach.

On April 25, 2025, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and his legal team filed an opposition (Filing #271) against the government’s expert witness, Dr. Dawn Hughes, in a federal case concerning Sean 'Diddy' Combs. This dramatic legal maneuver, executed by Combs' attorneys, who have been dubbed “the lame brains,” includes notable names such as Teny Geragos, Marc Agnifilo, Alexandra Shapiro, Jason Driscoll, and Anna Estevao. Critics have labeled the arguments presented as lacking substance and rationale.

Among the more convoluted assertions made by Team Diddy is the claim that rape is not actually underreported. They argue that because crimes like drunk driving and tax evasion are not included in certain crime surveys, these offenses could be even less reported than rape. They stated, “Hughes seeks to testify that rape is ‘underreported,’ yet the NCVS does not encompass crimes like tax evasion and drunk driving, which likely have much lower report rates.”

In a broader critique of Dr. Hughes’ claims about sexual violence, Team Diddy characterized her comments as “extreme.” They asserted, “Once she gets on the stand, she makes even more extreme claims, such as: ‘sex crimes and crimes against women are the most underreported crimes that we have.’”

The filing further discredited all sexual assault and battered women’s advocates serving as expert witnesses, arguing that Hughes’ testimony, similar to others, is filled with “conceptual, evidential, and other general problems.” The legal team's stance has led many observers to claim that Team Diddy is becoming increasingly desperate with each new filing as the legal battle unfolds.