Russell Simmons says the ‘full truth’ surrounding rape allegations will be revealed in court
“I look forward to having my day in court — where, unlike the court of public opinion, I will have the ability to make use of fair processes that ensure that justice will be done..."
“My intention is not to diminish the #MeToo movement in anyway, but instead hold my accusers accountable,” Russell Simmons explained.
In the wake of a new $5 million lawsuit, Russell Simmons is now looking ahead to his “day in court.”
According to the Los Angeles Times, Jennifer Jarosik claimed that Simmons propositioned her for sex in 2016 after inviting her to his house. When she refused, he allegedly pushed her onto the bed. When she fought back, she claimed that he knocked her off the bed and hit her in the head before forcing himself on her.
Jarosik, who claimed to have met Russell Simmons in 2006, said that she was in “shock and fear” when Simmons raped her. She also claimed that she was “sick, sore, lame, disabled and disordered, both internally and externally and suffered from extreme emotional distress.”
-Russell Simmons pens lengthy response to sexual assault allegations-
Now, according to TMZ, she is suing for punitive damages as well as unspecified actual damages.
“I look forward to having my day in court”
According to the Associated Press, Simmons has called the suit’s claims “absolutely untrue.”
What’s more, Simmons said that he was ready and willing to fight to clear his name.
-Russell Simmons takes exit from companies amid sexual assault scandal-
“I look forward to having my day in court — where, unlike the court of public opinion, I will have the ability to make use of fair processes that ensure that justice will be done and that the full truth will be known,” Simmons said in a statement.
He went on to say that he wouldn’t get into specifics, because, “I will not litigate this matter in the media.”
Multiple accusers file police reports
Earlier this month, two accusers filed police reports with the NYPD claiming that Russell Simmons raped them.
One of the women, Sherri Hines, told the Los Angeles Times last year that Simmons had raped her in his New York office when she was part of the Mercedes Ladies hip-hop group.
Hines later recalled on Megyn Kelly’s daytime talk show how she was only 17 or 18 when Simmons invited her into his office. She said that she went because she thought he wanted to talk about a record deal.
-Amanda Seales says Russell Simmons asked her this very inappropriate question-
Instead, she said, she was “pinned down” on his couch and raped.
“The way I felt at the time was…I can’t believe this man just violated me like I was nothing,” she told Kelly.
The second woman has chosen to remain anonymous. According to TMZ, who reported on the police reports, the alleged rape took place in 1991 after the woman and Russell Simmons had gone out on a date.
TMZ reported that the woman said she was 32 when they went back to his Manhattan home together. She claimed that he tried to take off her dress while they were seated on the couch, but she rejected his advances. He then pushed her down and forcibly raped her.
The site also reported that, of the 14 women accusing Simmons of rape, 7 of them are working with the NYPD. Since there is no statute of limitations in New York for rape, even older assaults can still be investigated.
Simmons denies the allegations
Russell Simmons has stepped down from his company. He continues to maintain his innocence and has denied that he ever raped anyone.
He even used the hashtag #NotMe in a social media post claiming he was using it to clear his name. The post received massive backlash for appearing to co-opt the #MeToo movement.
“My intention is not to diminish the #MeToo movement in anyway, but instead hold my accusers accountable,” Russell Simmons explained.
