Smokey Robinson facing criminal investigation in LA County following rape and sexual assault allegations in civil lawsuit

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is currently investigating criminal allegations against Smokey Robinson, as stated by the agency on Thursday. This development comes shortly after four former housekeepers of the Motown icon filed a lawsuit accusing him of repeated sexual assault and rape during their employment.

“The investigation is in its initial phases, and the Sheriff’s Department has refrained from providing additional comments at this time,” shared the agency in a statement issued to ABC station KABC.

Robinson’s attorney Christopher Frost also issued a statement Thursday.

“We have been informed that the Plaintiffs in the civil suit have lodged a formal police report. The sequence of events appears evident,” the statement outlined. “Following the filing of a $50 million lawsuit, the Plaintiffs subsequently initiated a police report, prompting a mandatory investigation by the authorities.

“We welcome that investigation, which involves Plaintiffs who continue to hide their identities, because exposure to the truth is a powerful thing,” Frost said. “We feel confident that a determination will be made that Mr. Robinson did nothing wrong, and that this is a desperate attempt to prejudice public opinion and make even more of a media circus than the Plaintiffs were previously able to create.”

The lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court claims the alleged assaults occurred between 2007 and 2024, along with labor violations including a hostile work environment, illegally long hours and lack of pay.

“We believe that Mr. Robinson is a serial and sick rapist, and must be stopped,” the women’s attorney John Harris said at a news conference last week.

Many of the alleged acts occurred at Robinson’s Chatsworth home.

The four women each say that Robinson would wait until he was alone with them in his house, then sexually assault and rape them over their objections.

MORE | Smokey Robinson accused by 4 former housekeepers of sexual assault and rape, according to lawsuit

The singer’s wife, Frances, is also named in the lawsuit, which accuses her of knowing about the alleged misconduct. It also blames her for the hostile work environment, saying she berated them with language that included ethnic slurs.

“We believe she was aware of the misconduct by her husband, Smokey Robinson, and that she used their status as well as our clients’ reliance on their living wage in order to keep them in check,” plaintiffs’ attorney Herbert Hayden said regarding Frances’ alleged role.

The former housekeepers appeared at a May 6 news conference but attempted to conceal their identities and did not speak. Their lawyers say the women all made below minimum wage and weren’t paid overtime – all factors for why they didn’t speak up.

“They all feared missing a payday and not being able to pay their rent or buy food for their families,” Harris said.

Attorneys added that Robinson’s celebrity status intimidated the women and made them feel powerless. They said their clients have not reported the alleged misconduct to police but that that could change.

Robinson is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He rose to fame as a member of the Motown group the Miracles and as a solo artist.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.