In brief
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has confirmed a formal investigation is underway following a lawsuit filed by four anonymous housekeepers, accusing the 85-year-old artist of sexual battery, false imprisonment, negligence, and gender violence. While Robinson denies the accusations and claims they are financially motivated, his legal team asserts that they are eager to establish his innocence amidst the claims. The lawsuit contains allegations dating back to 2006, with the plaintiffs seeking $50 million in damages and a jury trial. Robinson, renowned for his classic hits and significant contributions to the music industry, is positioned defensively against these serious allegations, emphasizing the importance of due process.
The article text:Motown legend Smokey Robinson is under criminal investigation in Los Angeles over accusations of sexual assault. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department confirmed it had launched a formal inquiry into the allegations, stating the probe was in the "early stages." The investigation follows a lawsuit filed last week by four anonymous housekeepers against the 85-year-old singer-songwriter, alleging sexual battery, false imprisonment, negligence, and gender violence. Mr. Robinson has denied the allegations. His lawyer claims that those behind the accusations are pursuing the musician's money and welcomed the police investigation as an opportunity for the truth to emerge. Attorney Christopher Frost stated, "We feel confident that a determination will be made that Mr. Robinson did nothing wrong, and that this is a desperate attempt to prejudice public opinion and create even more of a media circus." He also argued that the police inquiry was initiated because the plaintiffs formally reported their allegations and described the claims as "manufactured" to "tarnish the good names" of the musician and his wife, who is also implicated in the lawsuit for allegedly fostering a hostile work environment.The sheriff's department expressed in a statement that its Special Victims Bureau is "actively investigating criminal allegations involving William Robinson AKA 'Smokey Robinson.' The investigation is in its early stages, and we have no further comment." The women filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court on May 6 under the pseudonyms Jane Doe 1, 2, 3, and 4. According to the 27-page legal action, several incidents between the plaintiffs and Mr. Robinson are alleged dating back to 2006, with claims of the musician pressuring them into sexual encounters. The four plaintiffs, all of Hispanic descent, reported that they remained silent until now due to fears of losing their jobs, familial reprisal, or embarrassment, with some fearing repercussions on their immigration status. They are seeking at least $50 million (£38 million) in damages and a jury trial. Mr. Robinson, known as Motown's first hitmaker for writing number one records like Mary Wells' "My Guy" and The Temptations' "My Girl," was a pivotal figure at the record label as both a talent scout and a prominent recording artist. He has been inducted into both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, boasting credits on over 4,000 songs. The lawyers for the women held a press conference last week following the lawsuit's filing, branding Mr. Robinson as a "serial and sick rapist" who must be stopped. In response, Robinson's legal team termed the event a "bizarre" effort to involve the public as part of a media spectacle. "We will have more to say in the coming days as we prepare our legal response," Mr. Frost remarked, emphasizing that Mr. Robinson will have his own opportunity to address these allegations. "We ask anyone following this case to reserve judgment as the evidence comes to light and all the actual facts of the case unfold."
