Jay-Z’s attorney demands sanctions against Tony Buzbee for unverified allegations

Jay-Z's lawyer claims Houston attorney Tony Buzbee failed to verify allegations in a 2024 rape lawsuit.

Jay-Z's lawyer, Alex Spiro, seeks sanctions against Houston attorney Tony Buzbee for allegedly filing a rape lawsuit without proper investigation.

The motion, submitted Wednesday, asserts that inaccuracies in the claims made by an anonymous Jane Doe undermine the allegations.

The lawsuit, filed by Buzbee in October 2024, accuses Jay-Z, born Shawn Carter, of raping Jane Doe at the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards when she was 13. Spiro’s motion highlights inconsistencies, including details about Doe’s presence at the event and interactions with others, which the lawyer argues cast doubt on the claims.

"Nearly every step in Plaintiff’s narrative…turns out to be false or highly unlikely," the motion states.

The case has seen sharp exchanges between the two sides. Spiro accuses Buzbee of violating federal rules by refusing to retract the lawsuit despite the evidence of inaccuracies. Buzbee, however, maintains his client’s claims are genuine, adding that Jane Doe has offered to take a polygraph test.

In response, Buzbee dismissed Spiro’s claims, accusing him of using "frantic" filings to intimidate counsel for victims. “We won’t be bullied or intimidated,” Buzbee said in a statement, emphasizing his commitment to his client’s case.

Last month, a federal judge criticized Spiro for “inflammatory” tactics and ad hominem attacks against Buzbee while denying a request to reveal Doe’s identity.

As the legal battle continues, both parties remain steadfast in their positions, leaving the outcome uncertain.