Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs pleaded not responsible on Friday to a brand new indictment, which added accusations that the hip-hop mogul compelled staff to work lengthy hours and threatened to punish those that didn’t help in his two-decade intercourse trafficking scheme.
Combs, 55, entered his plea to the brand new indictment earlier than the US district choose Arun Subramanian at a listening to in Manhattan federal courtroom. A trial stays scheduled for five Might.
With a number of of his relations trying on from the courtroom viewers, Combs was led in to the courtroom sporting gray hair, a gray beard, and a dishevelled, tan jail outfit.
Combs beforehand pleaded not responsible to prices of racketeering conspiracy, intercourse trafficking and transportation to have interaction in prostitution. Whereas the brand new indictment added no new prices, it described what prosecutors known as the “compelled labor” that Combs demanded in reference to the 20-year alleged racketeering conspiracy.
It stated Combs and his associates “maintained management” over some staff by forcing them to work lengthy hours with little sleep, by using or threats to make use of bodily drive, monetary hurt, psychological hurt and reputational hurt.
Combs’s protection lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, has stated his consumer by no means compelled anybody to have interaction in sexual acts towards their will.
Prosecutors with the Manhattan US lawyer’s workplace stated Combs used his enterprise empire, together with his document label, Unhealthy Boy Leisure, to sexually abuse ladies between 2004 and 2024.
Combs’s alleged abuse included having ladies participate in recorded sexual performances known as “freak offs” with male intercourse staff, who have been typically transported throughout state strains.
Agnifilo has stated the freak offs have been consensual sexual exercise.
Combs additionally faces dozens of civil lawsuits by men and women who accused him of sexual assault and different misconduct. He has denied all wrongdoing.
At Friday’s listening to, Subramanian stated potential jurors would start filling out questionnaires on 28 April. In-person questioning of jurors will begin on 5 Might, with opening statements on 12 Might, the choose stated. Combs has been held in a Brooklyn jail awaiting trial since his September 2024 arrest.
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