• Smokey Robinson is under criminal investigation for multiple sexual assault allegations.
• A civil lawsuit claims he sexually assaulted four former housekeepers from 2007 to 2024.
• Robinson's lawyer dismisses the allegations as financially motivated and plans to contest them.
• The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has begun its inquiry, citing the investigation is in early stages.
• The plaintiffs, identified only as Jane Does, seek $50 million in damages.

Legendary soul artist Smokey Robinson is currently the subject of a criminal investigation initiated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department following serious allegations of sexual assault made in a civil lawsuit. The lawsuit, which was filed by four former housekeepers, accuses Robinson of *sexual battery, assault, and creating a hostile work environment* spanning from 2007 to 2024. The Sheriff’s Department stated that their Special Victims Bureau is "actively investigating" these claims, which they emphasize are in the early stages, and that no further details will be released at this time according to HuffPost, CBS News, and South China Morning Post.

The civil suit claims that Robinson assaulted the women, who are identified only as Jane Does, during their employment, often waiting until he was alone with them in his home. Allegations include Robinson texting employees to meet him in private areas without surveillance. His attorney, Christopher Frost, referred to the allegations as “a desperate attempt to prejudice public opinion” and characterized the lawsuit as a money grab after the plaintiffs filed a police report post-lawsuit. He stated that Robinson did nothing wrong, a sentiment echoed in statements made to BBC and Los Angeles Times.

The lawsuit seeks at least $50 million in damages and cites not just sexual misconduct but also issues such as *gender violence and labor violations*, including claims of wage theft. The plaintiffs allege they feared retaliation, public shame, and potential effects on their immigration status, which delayed their reports to law enforcement, a concern noted by their legal representatives according to India Times and NPR.

As pressures increase around high-profile figures, the investigation into Robinson serves as a crucial moment for the alleged victims who are seeking to bring justice to their experiences. With the involvement of the Sheriff’s Department, advocates assert that pursuing this matter through law enforcement could lead to broader implications about workplace safety and accountability although Robinson’s camp remains adamant that they will expose the allegations as unfounded according to HuffPost, CBS News, and BBC.