Former escort Clayton Howard is pressing ahead with his sex-trafficking lawsuit against Cassie Ventura and Sean “Diddy” Combs, insisting that his claims focus largely on Ventura, whom he alleges was an active participant rather than solely a victim.
According to an AllHipHop report by Grouchy Greg Watkins, Howard’s latest filing in Manhattan federal court accuses federal prosecutors of exploiting his account to secure Combs’ arrest while denying him recognition as a victim and shielding Ventura, despite his repeated efforts to raise allegations of her involvement in court.
Howard’s complaint specifically targets former Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey, daughter of ex-FBI director James Comey, who was dismissed by President Donald Trump earlier this year.
In the broader case, Howard’s lawsuit against Ventura is moving forward after a judge approved alternative service, and she has since retained legal counsel, allowing proceedings to continue gradually.
In his most recent submission, Howard claims prosecutors relied on his testimony solely to charge Combs with transporting a prostitute across state lines, while allegedly denying him protections under the Crime Victims’ Rights Act and suppressing his claims against Ventura.
He alleges that Comey dismissed his attempts to testify fully, claiming he was too traumatised to do so—an assertion he disputes. Howard said authorities used his cooperation when it suited them but later ignored him, adding that he is seeking fairness, dignity and the same respect afforded to other victims.
Beyond detailing the alleged abuse by Combs and Ventura, Howard also outlined what he says were violations of his rights by federal prosecutors. He claims to have sent three unanswered letters, visited the Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s Office without response, and failed to receive support from a victim-witness advocate.
Howard further alleges that although Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson later replied, she denied his victim status. He said he only realised the government had listed him as a victim in its sentencing memo after the fact, prompting him to seek recognition to qualify for compensation under the Backpage Remission Program, which provides funds to trafficking victims.
