The NYPD has opened an investigation into allegations that Russell Simmons raped or sexually abused several women, officials told the New York Daily News.
According to Deputy Chief Timothy Trainor, the department's special victims unit is looking into at least seven claims of sexual misconduct against Simmons and are reaching out to his alleged victims.
"Our detectives are in the process of reviewing that information," Trainor said in a statement.
One of the accusors, Sherri Hines, told the newspaper that authorities tried to contact her Thursday morning. "They just let me know that they needed to talk to me about the Simmons allegations," Hines said.
The 60-year-old Simmons, who co-founded Def Jam, stepped down from his companies last month after two women - Jenny Lumet and model Keri Claussen Khalighi - accused him of raping them in the '90s.
Simmons has vehemently denied all allegations against him, addressing them in an Instagram post Thursday.
"Today, I begin to properly defend myself. I will prove without any doubt that I am innocent of all rape charges. Today, I will focus on “The Original Sin” (Keri Claussen), the claim that created this insane pile on of my #MeToo. Stay tuned! We’ll share information today... And tomorrow the case of Jenny Lumet. My intention is not to diminish the #MeToo movement in anyway, but instead hold my accusers accountable."
In a report published by the New York Post Thursday evening, "America's Next Top Model" judge Kelly Cutrone says Simmons tried to rape her after they left a party together in 1991.
Source: nydailynews.com
