In a surprising legal twist, Russell Simmons has successfully evaded a sexual assault lawsuit, thanks to his residency in Indonesia. A federal judge dismissed the case filed by Jane Doe, a former Def Jam executive, ruling that Simmons is a “stateless” American citizen, thus placing him beyond the court’s jurisdiction. The lawsuit accused Simmons of raping the plaintiff in the 1990s after luring her to his Manhattan apartment under the guise of reviewing a music video.
The ruling comes as part of a series of cases filed under New York’s Adult Survivors Act, which temporarily lifted the statute of limitations for adult victims of sexual abuse. Simmons’ legal team argued that the case should be dismissed because he has been residing in Indonesia since 2018. Judge John G. Koeltl sided with Simmons, determining that the plaintiff could not prove he was still domiciled in New York at the time of her complaint.
Key evidence highlighted in the ruling included Simmons selling his New York apartment in 2021 and holding an Indonesian driver’s license, along with his permanent retirement visa obtained in 2021. Although Jane Doe’s lawyers attempted to assert that Simmons’ social media presence and occasional trips to New York indicated he remained connected to the state, the court found that these factors did not establish legal residency.
During his deposition, Simmons made his position clear: “I don’t live in America. America’s not my home.” The Def Jam co-founder has consistently denied all allegations of sexual assault, maintaining that any past interactions were consensual. However, despite this legal victory, he is not entirely out of the woods. Simmons still faces ongoing allegations and is reportedly behind on nearly $9 million in settlements owed to six women who have accused him of sexual misconduct.
As Simmons navigates these legal challenges from a distance, the implications of this ruling raise questions about accountability and the complexities of jurisdiction in sexual assault cases. Stay tuned for further developments in this ongoing saga.
