DeVante Swing has been removed from a lawsuit accusing him of “aiding and abetting” Sean “Diddy” Combs in the alleged sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl.
In a legal filing submitted by attorney Tyrone Blackburn, Liza Gardner, the victim of the alleged assault, has “voluntarily” dismissed all claims against Swing without prejudice.
This means that Gardner can still pursue her claims against the Jodeci singer and producer in the future, despite removing him from the current suit against Combs.
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According to Gardner’s original filing, Combs along with R&B star Aaron Hall took turns sexually assaulting her in Hall’s New York City apartment during the 1990s. The plaintiff also alleges that Swing, who worked with Combs during Jodeci’s time with Uptown Records, “trafficked” her from North Carolina to New York and New Jersey.
She also claims that Swing was acting as her legal “co-guardian” at the time and plied her with drugs and alcohol, all the while “prostituting” her to Combs. The Swing Mob leader is said to have been present during the sexual assault, but did not attempt to intervene, a claim that was corroborated by a witness.
Jodeci perform onstage during the Bad Boy Family Reunion Tour at The Forum on October 4, 2016 in Inglewood, California.
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“[DeVante was] leaning against the wall or furniture or something, watching whatever Puffy was doing to Liza,” read a witness statement from a friend of Gardner, who broke her silence regarding the alleged assault in 2024.
Swing has yet to release a statement reacting to Gardner’s claims, while Combs has vehemently denied the allegation, which serves as just one of over 100 complaints against him as he sits behind bars awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges.
Sean “Diddy” Combs attends the 2018 Fox Network Upfront at Wollman Rink, Central Park on May 14, 2018 in New York City.
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