Diddy bags legal win as $100M defamation suit survives dismissal

Sean "Diddy" Combs has won an important round in court after a federal judge refused to dismiss his defamation lawsuit against attorney Ariel Mitchell.

US District Judge John Cronan ruled that Mitchell must continue defending herself against claims tied to televised accusations she made about the embattled music mogul. 

The lawsuit centers on claims made by Mitchell and a man named Burgess. He also sued NewsNation's parent company.

Combs claims Burgess falsely said he had flash drives showing him assaulting celebrities and minors. He says Mitchell backed up that story. Combs also says Mitchell made up claims about a police report, secret recordings, drugs hidden in baby oil, and that Combs victimised "hundreds, maybe thousands" of people.

Mitchell argued she was just repeating what Burgess told her, or sharing her opinion. But the judge, John Cronan, said that repeating someone else's false claim can still count as defamation. 

He also said claims about a police report or a sex tape can be proven true or false, so they're not just opinions.

The judge said Combs gave enough proof that Mitchell claimed to have personal knowledge of evidence that didn't actually exist.

The case against NewsNation's parent company got a mixed result. Some claims were dropped, but the baby oil claim can continue.

The lawsuit started by asking for $50 million, but that amount was later raised to at least $100 million.

Burgess never showed up to defend himself in court, so a default was entered against him. But the judge hasn't decided yet how much money, if any, Combs will receive.

Combs is currently serving a 50-month prison sentence. A court hearing about next steps is set for September 17, 2026.