The legal fight over a new lawsuit accusing rap star and entrepreneur Jay-Z of raping a 13-year-old girl in 2000 pits two high-powered, politically connected lawyers against each other.
To catch you up …
An anonymous accuser identified only as “Jane Doe” accused Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, of raping her when she was a minor at an MTV Video Music Awards after-party, according to the woman’s lawsuit filed Sunday. The woman also accuses hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs of raping her at the same party and says another celebrity — an unnamed woman — watched. Both Carter and Combs have vehemently denied the allegations. (Combs is being held in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center as he awaits trial on charges that include sex trafficking and racketeering.)
In a statement Sunday, Carter called the allegations “idiotic.” He accused Jane Doe’s attorney, Tony Buzbee, of trying to “blackmail” him, mentioning a letter Buzbee sent the rapper before filing the lawsuit. Buzbee said the letter did not include a demand for payment for his client and instead requested mediation.
“These allegations are so heinous in nature that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one!! Whomever would commit such a crime against a minor should be locked away, would you not agree?” Carter said in a statement to NBC News. “These alleged victims would deserve real justice if that were the case.”
A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York declined NBC News’ request for comment when asked if the office is pursuing the case.
Here’s what to know about the lawyers representing the parties:
Who is Tony Buzbee?
Buzbee, who represents the Jane Doe accuser, filed the lawsuit about her accusations against Combs in October. It was refiled Sunday to include Carter.
Carter has filed a lawsuit accusing Buzbee of extortion in seeking a pretrial settlement, a claim the lawyer denies. Buzbee did not respond to NBC News’ request for comment.
Buzbee is a Houston-based attorney known for securing large settlements for his clients, who in many cases have made allegations of sexual misconduct against wealthy public figures. Buzbee, for example, helped secure nearly two dozen settlements for women who made claims against NFL quarterback DeShaun Watson, and he’s already filed several suits on behalf of people accusing Combs of misconduct.
Buzbee is also knee-deep in the political game. He donated half a million dollars to Donald Trump’s first inauguration and has launched two failed political bids in Houston — one for a City Council seat last year and another for mayor in 2019, which he lost despite being endorsed by Donald Trump Jr. Buzbee also served as the defense attorney for far-right Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton during his impeachment trial last year.
Who is Alex Spiro?
Carter is being represented by attorney Alex Spiro, from the firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan (which is also representing Combs). The New Yorker describes Spiro as a “beguiling” attorney with a “common touch” who has “come to specialize in protecting the rich and famous from the consequences of their poorest decisions.”
Spiro has represented several high-profile clients in recent years, including New England Patriots owner Bob Kraft to rapper Bobby Shmurda.
Like Buzbee, he’s repped clients who are in the political arena. For example, he successfully defended Elon Musk in a defamation case after Musk called a heroic cave diver a “pedo guy.” Spiro has also been a key legal shepherd of Musk’s takeover of X, formerly Twitter, and he’s currently a defense attorney for New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who’s currently fighting federal bribery and fraud charges.
Ja’han Jones is an MS NOW opinion blogger. He previously wrote The ReidOut Blog.