Diddy Accuser Says Maurene Comey Silenced Him to Shield Cassie

Clayton Howard, an alleged victim featured in the Netflix docuseries Sean Combs: The Reckoning, has taken a new legal step that widens the scope of claims surrounding Sean “Diddy” Combs and his former partner, Cassie Ventura. In a recently filed motion, Howard contends that federal prosecutors prevented him from testifying about what he describes as Cassie’s involvement in criminal activity connected to Diddy. The story of Diddy is complex and multifaceted. He argues that the decision violated protections granted under the Crime Victims’ Rights Act. The filing arrives amid sustained public attention on the documentary and the legal disputes orbiting it.

At the center of Howard’s complaint is his account of interactions with former Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey. According to the motion, Howard says his efforts to testify were dismissed during those exchanges. “Assistant Prosecutor Maurene Comey became annoyed when I expressed my desire to reveal the truth about both of my offenders,” he wrote. “She stated I was too traumatized to testify, a claim I firmly disputed.” Howard had previously filed a civil lawsuit against Cassie earlier this year.

Howard further claims that his attempts to engage federal authorities extended beyond formal filings. While focusing on Diddy, he says he sent repeated correspondence and made an in-person visit to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan; without receiving a response he considered meaningful. “I have remained patient and resolved,” Howard wrote. “It appears the government utilized my cooperation when it aligned with their objectives, yet now, it feels as if I am invisible.” He also alleges that Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson dismissed his assertion that he qualifies as a victim.

Claims Raised in Sean Combs: The Reckoning

The dispute, Howard argues, has had broader implications for his ability to seek relief. He says the unresolved status of his claims has hindered his application to the Backpage Remission Program, a federal fund distributing $200 million to victims of trafficking. Central to his filing is his contention that Cassie should not be viewed solely as a victim but rather as an “active participant” in Diddy’s alleged trafficking operation. That characterization stands in contrast to prevailing public narratives surrounding the case.

In the documentary, Howard recounts attending private gatherings hosted by Diddy and Cassie, where he alleges he witnessed abuse directed at Cassie. He also claims that Cassie transmitted a sexually transmitted disease to him. Diddy’s representatives have strongly rejected the documentary’s framing, labeling it a “hit piece.” In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, his team said, “Netflix’s so-called ‘documentary’ is a shameful hit piece… [it] misappropriates footage collected by Mr. Combs to narrate his own vision.”