Russell Simmons is being called out by one of his accusers who thinks he only relocated to Bali, Indonesia, to avoid accountability for his sexual assault lawsuit in the U.S.
In the Nov. 1 filing, she requests that a judge dismiss Simmons’ claim that he cannot be sued in New York due to his status as a “stateless” U.S. citizen, now “retired” in Indonesia on a retirement visa granted by Indonesian authorities.
“Defendant is running from the court’s jurisdiction to avoid taking accountability for his actions,” the new filing states.
“He testified that he is building a business empire and needs a partner for his current projects but is thwarted in his active efforts in Dubai and Singapore because of the morality clauses those countries require,” her new filing states.
She also highlights Simmons’ other U.S. business connections, including his ownership of the Gdas Bali Health and Wellness Resort in Indonesia, which he co-owns with American investors, as well as his role as a figurehead for the global media company Gushcloud. Jane Doe points to Simmons’ ongoing business activities as evidence suggesting he may be lying about his retirement claims.
“Actively building an empire means that defendant is ineligible for a retirement visa in Indonesia,” the filing states. “Any purported retirement visa requires recertification every few years that one is, in fact, retired. Building an empire and being retired are mutually exclusive.”
“People saying that I somehow can’t come home when I’m there all the time wears on you,” Simmons said in May. “It wears on me after a while to keep hearing the same narrative, which is false. I’m always in LA, I’m always in New York and Miami.”
Source: Black Enterprise
