Diddy Denies 1997 Sexual Assault Allegations, Claims Accuser's Story is "Implausible"

Diddy has responded to a lawsuit filed by a male prisoner, Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith, who claims the mogul sexually assaulted him in 1997. According to court documents obtained by In Touch, Diddy, 54, has demanded that all claims brought by Cardello-Smith be dismissed.

Cardello-Smith, who is currently serving time in prison, alleged that he met Diddy while working as a bartender in Detroit on June 14, 1997. He claimed that Diddy invited him to a sex party at a Holiday Inn, where he was allegedly sexually assaulted. Cardello-Smith stated that he was "frozen with fear" during the incident and that Diddy offered him a drink, saying he had "added a little something to it for you."

Diddy's lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, told TMZ that Cardello-Smith's allegations are "implausible on their face." Agnifilo also pointed out that Cardello-Smith is a "convicted felon and sexual predator" who has been sentenced on 14 counts of sexual assault and kidnapping over the last 26 years.

In his motion, Diddy's lawyer accused Cardello-Smith of making a "fantastical set of allegations" and argued that the claims are barred by the statute of limitations. "Because the assault allegedly occurred in June 1997, any claim [Cardello-Smith] might have had expired in June 2000—more than two decades before [Cardello-Smith] commenced this litigation," the filing read.

Diddy's team also claimed that Cardello-Smith did not properly serve Diddy with the lawsuit and that the allegations are inconsistent, with Cardello-Smith claiming the incident occurred in two different counties on the same day.