Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has pleaded not guilty on Monday to an expanded federal indictment charging the hip-hop mogul with five cr!m!nal counts, including racketeering and s8x trafficking
The 55-year old entered his plea to the new charges at a hearing before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian in Manhattan. He had previously pleaded not guilty to an earlier three-count indictment.
In a statement earlier this month provided by Combs’ media representatives, his lawyers said, “These are not new allegations or new accusers. These are the same individuals, former long-term girlfriends, who were involved in consensual relationships.”
Jury selection for Combs’ trial remains scheduled for May 5, with opening statements due to begin on May 12.
Marc Agnifilo, one of Combs’ lawyers, said the defense may seek a two-week delay to opening statements to allow it to review emails it wants an alleged victim to turn over.
Subramanian said that if the defense wants a delay, it must submit a formal request within two days.
“We are a freight train moving towards trial,” the judge said.
Prosecutors with the Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s office say Combs used his business empire to s8xually abuse women between 2004 and 2024. The alleged abuse included having women take part in recorded s8xual performances called “freak offs” with male s8x workers, who were sometimes transported across state lines.
Combs has been jailed in Brooklyn since September. He also faces dozens of civil lawsuits by women and men who accused him of s8xual abuse.
Combs’ legal team has forcefully denied that he did anything wrong.
Agnifilo has said Combs never forced anyone to engage in s8xual acts against their will, and that the freak offs were consensual s8xual activity.
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