Kenneth “Zoo” Petty, the husband of rapper Nicki Minaj, is trying to shut down Jennifer Hough’s lawsuit by turning to a document from more than 30 years ago.
Petty’s attorneys filed new papers on September 10 asking a federal judge to allow them to seek dismissal of Hough’s civil claims. Their argument centers on a notarized letter from 1994 that was submitted while Petty’s criminal case was still active.
The letter includes the line, “On the day that I said I was rape [sic] it is half true and half false.” It also contains a description of Petty allegedly refusing to let Hough leave after an argument unless she had sex with him.
“He told me if I would have sex with him, I can leave,” the letter reads in part, as seen by AllHipHop.
Hough has said she does not know who prepared or submitted the document. Petty’s attorneys say it clashes with the allegations she later made in court and supports his position that the sexual contact was consensual.
The new filing does not seek to undo Petty’s criminal conviction. He pleaded guilty in 1995 to attempted rape, assault, unlawful imprisonment and weapons possession and served four years in prison.
Hough brought her civil case in 2021, accusing Petty and others of pressuring her to recant her account. Minaj was originally named but was later voluntarily dismissed.