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Russell Simmons Sued for Sexual Assault by Former Def Jam Executive

Russell Simmons has been sued by a former Def Jam label executive for rape in a new lawsuit.

A former Def Jam executive has sued Russell Simmons for sexual harassment and battery, claiming the embattled label founder pulled a “wrestling move” to pin her to the bed in his New York apartment and rape her in the 1990s, according to court documents obtained by Rolling Stone. She’d subsequently pick up other jobs in the entertainment industry, the suit said, but the previous incident with Simmons had traumatized her and made it difficult for her to handle work and stressful situations with male employers. The suit against Simmons is the latest from a wave of allegations in the music industry to surface after both California and New York passed legislation to waive the statutes of limitations on sexual abuse claims.

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