Sean “Diddy” Combs appeared in a Manhattan courtroom on Friday for a pretrial hearing. He pleaded not guilty to charges of sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution, and racketeering conspiracy in a superseding indictment. The new indictment includes additional allegations related to racketeering conspiracy but no new charges.
Combs was accompanied in court by two of his children and his mother. He is currently being held at a federal detention center in New York City awaiting trial. Jury selection is set to begin on May 5, 2024, with opening statements expected on May 12.
Prosecutors accuse Combs and others of coercing at least three women to engage in sex acts, sometimes involving male prostitutes. The indictment describes occasions where women were allegedly drugged and forced to engage in sex for days, known as “Freak Offs.” Authorities claim Combs recorded some of these acts and controlled his victims by promising financial and career opportunities, as well as through threats of violence and other harm.
Diddy denies sex trafficking charges
The indictment further alleges that Combs reacted violently when his authority was threatened, including acts of kidnapping. On one occasion, Combs allegedly “dangled a victim over an apartment balcony.”
During Friday’s hearing, Combs’ attorneys argued against the admissibility of a video from last May, which allegedly shows Combs physically assaulting his former girlfriend Cassie Ventura. They claimed the video was “deceptive” and not an accurate representation of events.
The video had not been altered. The judge suggested finding a compromise, such as slowing down the video or providing additional context, to resolve the disagreement over its use as evidence. Ventura and Combs settled a civil lawsuit in November 2023, where she alleged years of abuse by Combs.
He has been accused of sexual assault in more than 40 civil lawsuits since then, all of which he denies. The next pretrial conference hearing is scheduled for April 25.
Image Credits: Photo by Tingey Injury Law Firm on Unsplash
