The lawyer representing the woman who claims she was raped by rappers Jay-Z and Sean "Diddy" Combs has defended his client after inconsistencies emerged in her claims.
Jay-Z's lawyers are also arguing that the case is time-barred and should be thrown out of court.
Newsweek sought email comment on Thursday from attorneys representing Jay-Z and Combs.
Why It Matters
The woman says that she was raped by Jay-Z and fellow rapper Combs at a Video Music Awards after-show party in 2000, when she was 13 years old.
A series of sexual assault allegations against Combs add to a wider social debate about toxic masculinity and sexual assault, especially after the rise of the anti-sexual harassment #MeToo movement.
Jay-Z, who is married to the singer Beyonce, has completely rejected allegations that he had any involvement with Combs' alleged crimes, and has launched an extortion lawsuit against Tony Buzbee, his accuser's attorney.
What To Know
Buzbee told Newsweek on Thursday that he had screened his client before taking her case and strongly rejected criticism that he should have done more to uncover her inconsistencies.
"Opinions are like noses. Everyone has one and they all smell," Buzbee told Newsweek.
"This client was screened by at least five lawyers. She also underwent a background check and we had a seasoned investigator and ex-cop check key points of her claim," he said.
"She has a reasonable explanation for any alleged inconsistencies and remains adamant about her claim. Anyone who says she wasn't properly screened is either ignorant or has an agenda."
The plaintiff is one of over 200 people who have accused Combs of sexual abuse. Combs is being held in a New York jail awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution.
On December 13, NBC aired details of an interview with Jay-Z's accuser, in which she claimed she talked to musician Benji Madden and his brother at the VMA after-party where the alleged rape took place.
In her lawsuit, she also alleged that, after she was raped by Combs and Jay-Z at the same party, she ran to a gas station and called her father, who came to collect her.
Madden's representative told NBC that he was touring the Midwest during the VMAs in 2000 and could not have been at the after-show party.
In addition, the accuser's father told NBC he does not recall picking up his daughter after the alleged rape.
Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani said the NBC interview could create a big problem for the accuser, arguing that potentially inconsistent testimony could be used during cross-examination.
Rahmani, now president of the West Coast Trial Lawyers law firm in California, said jurors may "either believe the inconsistencies are innocent mistakes, or think the accuser is lying."
Separately, Jay-Z's lawyer, Alex Spiro, told the judge overseeing the lawsuit in a letter on December 30 that "any viable law claim is time-barred under New York's Child Victims Act (CVA)."
What People Are Saying
Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani told Newsweek: "Knowing that Jay-Z had already filed an extortion lawsuit and was going to strongly deny the allegations and call his client a liar, Buzbee made a mistake by not vetting the case better.
"Buzbee could have easily talked to the victim's father to verify that he picked her up, like the NBC reporter did. And Buzbee could have verified that Benji Madden was at the 2000 VMAs, which he was not.
"Now, the NBC interview is a problem to the extent that it's inconsistent with the allegations in the complaint, which had to be amended."
What Happens Next
On December 26, New York judge Analisa Torres refused Jay-Z's application to dismiss the rape lawsuit. His motion was based on the plaintiff's inconsistencies. However, she has yet to rule on Jay-Z's claim that the case is time barred.
Jay-Z is continuing his extortion lawsuit against Buzbee in California.
Buzbee has denied any wrongdoing.
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