Legal

8:36 AM PT -- Maui Police Chief John Pelletier tells TMZ ... "I have no connections whatsoever to any individuals named in the lawsuit. The allegations suggesting his involvement are entirely unfounded. I am confident that the evidence will demonstrate these claims to be false and will expose those who are deliberately trying to manipulate the legal system to spread misleading narratives."

In 2018, while serving as a Captain in Las Vegas, I was honored by the Rape Crisis Center for his exceptional leadership and commitment to community safety, specifically through [my] role as a champion of the Stay S.A.F.E. program dedicated to sexual assault prevention.

These baseless allegations not only are wrong but also show a lack of respect for victims of abuse, whose voices deserve to be heard and supported with compassion and integrity.

Diddy's alleged sexual assaults were aided by Maui's Chief of Police ... this according to an amended lawsuit that also named NFL wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and influencer Druski as co-conspirators.

The woman who sued Jay-Z for allegedly raping her when she was just 13 years old after the MTV Video Music Awards back in 2000 has been caught on an audio recording apparently admitting the alleged incident never happened.

The audio -- obtained by ABC News -- was recorded by a couple private investigators ... and, in it, the woman who filed the suit against Jay-Z walks back the claim she made in her lawsuit, filed by attorney Tony Buzbee back in December.

Listen to it for yourself ... the woman -- identified only as a Jane Doe -- can be heard telling the investigators that Jay-Z was at the party, but he never engaged in any sexual activity with her.

Big update in the Menendez Brothers case ... California governor Gavin Newsom just revealed when Erik and Lyle will appear before the parole board.

Gavin dropped the bombshell news Tuesday on his new podcast, announcing the convicted killers will go in front of the parole board June 13 for a hearing.

The Governor says after the hearing, the parole board will finalize their risk assessment and send it to his desk ... and he'll consider their findings as part of his decision on whether to grant clemency in their case, which would set them free.

Le'Veon Bell just went on a livestream to address his rape allegations head-on ... vowing to do everything in his power to clear his name.

The former Pittsburgh Steelers superstar sat in front of the camera for more than an hour to discuss the TMZ Sports story posted on Tuesday ... and the main takeaway is that he's vehemently denying he ever forced himself on anyone in his life -- let alone his cousin.

Bell said he was completely unaware of the March 2024 lawsuit until we reached out to him last week for comment ... and believes the signature indicating he was served was actually forged.

More legal issues for former "Big Brother" winner Mike 'Boogie' Malin ... he just got busted for the second time in three months ... and this one involved another 'BB' winner.

TMZ has learned ... Mike was arrested and thrown in jail Friday after a bench warrant was issued when he was a no-show at court.

We're told the hearing was in regards to Mike recently violating the terms of a restraining order his former 'BB' costar Will Kirby has against him ... with Boogie disobeying the order by directly contacting Will's wife.

A new bill proposed in Texas could charge transgender people with a state felony if they lie about their biological sex assigned at birth ... and two lawmakers are defending the harsh punishment.

Texas State Reps. Steve Toth and Nate Schatzline joined us on "TMZ Live" Tuesday and we asked them about the proposed bill that would add a new form of fraud related to gender identity.

As Toth and Schatzline explain, the bill -- Texas House Bill 3817 -- says a transgender Texan would commit "gender identity fraud" if they lie on state records or to employers about their biological sex ... and they would be charged with a state felony, which is punishable by up to two years behind bars.

Le'Veon Bell is vehemently denying a woman's claims he raped her for years when she was an adolescent ... with his attorney telling TMZ Sports the default judgment in the alleged victim's favor is completely "bogus."

Jada Bell said in a lawsuit filed in Franklin County, Ohio last year that she's Le'Veon's cousin ... and when she was just six or seven years old, Le'Veon began having nonconsensual, incestual relations with her.

According to the suit, Le'Veon -- who Jada says is eight years older than her -- would use "slang terms" to direct her when she was just a minor, which incestual acts he wished for her to perform upon him."

Infamous wife-killer Scott Peterson got an ass-whoopin' from another inmate in a California state prison -- in an altercation over pickleball ... TMZ has learned.

Multiple sources tell TMZ ... Peterson got into the heated confrontation Sunday in the yard near his housing unit at Mule Creek State Prison, about 40 miles southeast of Sacramento.

Our sources say Peterson hit the ball directly at the other inmate, triggering the assault. We're told Peterson got "beat up" by the other prisoner, but his injuries were not serious enough to land him in the hospital.

The Florida inmate who cops say was communicating with the wife of "Ghost Adventures" star Aaron Goodwin as part of her alleged murder-for-hire plot is a convicted killer himself ... TMZ has learned.

Police say Aaron's wife, Victoria Goodwin, hatched a plan to off her husband to get out of her marriage ... and she allegedly enlisted a prisoner named Grant Amato to help her see the diabolical plan through.

Well, we did some digging and discovered Amato is serving a life sentence for a triple murder involving his family. A former nurse, Amato was found guilty in 2019 of fatally shooting his father, mother and brother in their Florida home.

11:47 AM PT -- Ginalisa Monterroso joined us on today's episode of TMZ Live, where she spoke with Harvey Levin & Elex Michaelson. Ginalisa explained that there are more tests to come, but Wendy is currently in a safe environment where she is protected, and not confined.

Wendy Williams is spilling details on the police escort and her hospital trip that ended with her acing two psych exams Monday -- and she even dished on the unexpected perk of getting some exercise while going scooter-free.

On "The Breakfast Club," Wendy was joined by her caregiver, Ginalisa Monterroso, who said she requested police to show up at the former talk show host's assisted-living facility, where she explained her situation and insisted they couldn’t leave without her.

Ginalisa said she pushed Wendy to request an independent medical evaluation while at the hospital, explaining it was a long and tough road ... especially since her living facility had initially sent a nurse to keep an eye on her, which Ginalisa refused.

Emily Osment was soaking up some much-needed sibling love with her brother, Haley ... as she was spotted out for the first time since finalizing her speedy divorce from Jack Anthony.

The actress was looking all kinds of relaxed and happy as she joined her brother for a casual stroll with their dogs in L.A. Monday -- an evident escape from her recent personal woes.

Emily, who's starred in "Hannah Montana" and "Young Sheldon," just filed settlement docs yesterday. Haley Joel’s been in the Hollywood game for years, with iconic roles in "Forrest Gump" and "The Sixth Sense," and he definitely knows how to deal with personal stuff in the spotlight -- so, it's no wonder he’s by Emily’s side right now.

A former U.S. Dept. of Justice Pardon Attorney says she was fired last week from her position for refusing to reinstate Mel Gibson’s gun rights.

Elizabeth G. Oyer says two weeks ago she was put on a group tasked with restoring gun rights for convicted individuals. But, when asked to add Mel -- who lost his rights after his 2011 domestic violence conviction -- she said no.

The New York Times was the first to report Oyer’s termination. She told the outlet that Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche's office had compiled a list of nine people eligible for restored gun rights.

3/14 10:23 AM PT -- Emily Osment is officially a single woman ... a judge just signed off on the split.

Emily Osment is making a clean break from her estranged husband ... because she just filed docs settling their divorce in near record time.

Emily filed the settlement docs on Monday, after she beelined it to court Friday and filed to divorce her husband Jack after only 5 months of marriage.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Emily and Jack each gave up their rights to seek spousal support and they have signed a confidential marriage settlement agreement.

Attorney Mark Geragos says the new Los Angeles County District Attorney has no clue what he's talking about when it comes to the Menendez brothers ... telling us Nathan Hochman needs to brush up on the facts.

Mark, who is repping Erik and Lyle as they seek to get out from prison after three decades behind bars, joined us on "TMZ Live" Monday and offered a scathing reaction to Hochman's latest press conference.

For Mark, the whole thing was ridiculous and irrelevant ... and not just because Hochman was talking about a resentencing hearing that no longer holds weight due to California Governor Gavin Newsom circumventing the process.

Wendy Williams is at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City for an independent examination as to whether her cognitive functions are sufficiently intact to end her guardianship.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... a caregiver not associated with the guardianship -- Gina Monterroso -- ordered the trip and the test ... this after the NYPD paid a visit to Wendy Monday morning to determine if, as Wendy says, she's effectively being held prisoner.

The NYPD has asked about Wendy being confined to the memory unit of the assisted living facility, where she cannot leave the floor without permission. She rarely gets out.

Wendy Williams' guardianship is being investigated by Adult Protective Services in New York City, and TMZ has obtained the call for help that sparked the whole thing.

A caregiver not associated with the guardianship -- Ginalisa Monterroso -- sent a letter recently to APS formally requesting a probe into what she saw as "troubling circumstances" surrounding Wendy's treatment.

In the letter, obtained by TMZ, Ginalisa raises issues about Wendy's restrictions at a New York assisted-living facility, where she's confined to the 5th-floor memory unit and not allowed to leave without approval from staff.