LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office announced on Thursday that it has initiated a criminal investigation into allegations of rape and sexual assault involving Smokey Robinson.
The department stated that its special victims unit is “actively investigating criminal claims” against Robinson. At this point, the inquiry is still in its early phases, and no additional details will be shared.
Last week, four former housekeepers filed a lawsuit claiming the Motown legend repeatedly assaulted and raped them during their employment.
The lawsuit, lodged in Los Angeles Superior Court, is seeking at least $50 million in damages for incidents the women allege took place between 2007 and 2024.
Robinson’s attorneys have not responded to requests regarding the ongoing investigation but have previously labeled the allegations as “vile” and “false,” characterizing the lawsuit as a manipulative attempt to extract money from the 85-year-old star.
The lawyers representing the women, John Harris and Herbert Hayden, expressed satisfaction that law enforcement is looking into the claims.
“Our clients will fully cooperate with the LASD’s investigation, seeking justice for themselves and for others who may have suffered similar attacks,” said one attorney.
Robinson’s lawyer, Chris Frost, argued last week that the allegations are “ignoring credibility” and filled with inconsistencies.
The four women, whose identities remain confidential, assert that they were attacked and raped by Robinson when he was alone at his Los Angeles home, sometimes multiple times over the years. One woman claimed she was assaulted at least 20 times while working for him from 2012 to 2024. Another stated that during her employment from 2014 to 2020, she was assaulted at least 23 times.
Harris has characterized Robinson as a “sequential, sick rapist.”
When asked if the women had reported the incidents to the police during a May 6 press conference, Hayden replied that they had not but felt the allegations warranted law enforcement attention.
All the women eventually ended the assaults but reported feelings of fear regarding potential retaliation, public humiliation, and concerns about the effects on their immigrant status.
Robinson is celebrated as one of the leading artists from the Motown Records era in the 1960s, with hits from both his group, The Miracles, and as a solo artist, including “Tears of a Clown” and “The Tracks of My Tears.” He is a member of both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
