Rapper Diddy pleads not guilty to sex trafficking, racketeering

Sean “Diddy” Combs appeared in a Manhattan court on Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking.

The indictment, unsealed Tuesday, accuses Diddy of abusing women for over a decade and operating a criminal empire of sexual misconduct, The Associated Press reports.

Federal prosecutors are seeking Combs’ detention without bail, arguing that the severity of the charges and the potential life sentence warrant it.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson stated, “Mr. Combs physically and sexually abused victims for decades.

“He used the vast resources of his company to facilitate his abuse and cover up his crimes. Simply put, he is a serial abuser and a serial obstructor.”

Diddy, who remained expressionless as U.S. Magistrate Judge Robyn F. Tarnofsky outlined the allegations, stood to enter his plea.

When asked if he wished to enter a plea, Combs responded, “Not guilty.”

His attorneys have requested a $50 million bond for his release, citing difficulties in securing a rental in New York City due to high-profile events and landlord concerns.

Since arriving on September 5, Combs has stayed at the Park Hyatt New York and is scheduled to move to the Carlyle Hotel.

According to AP, the indictment details allegations from 2009 onward, including: “physically abusing women, striking, punching, and dragging them; threatening and coercing victims; and enlisting staff to cover up the abuse.”

Combs was arrested late Monday in Manhattan, roughly six months after federal authorities conducting a sex trafficking investigation raided his luxurious homes in Los Angeles and Miami.

Over the past year, Combs has been sued by people who say he subjected them to physical or sexual abuse.

He has denied many of those allegations, and his lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, said outside the courthouse Tuesday morning that Combs would plead not guilty and that he would “fight like hell” to try to get his client released from custody.

Referring to his client, Agnifilo said, “His spirits are good. He’s confident.”

The indictment accuses Combs of striking, punching and dragging women on numerous occasions, throwing objects and kicking them — and enlisting his personal assistants, security and household staff to help hide it all.

The indictment describes Combs as the head of a criminal enterprise engaged in or attempting to engage in activities including sex trafficking, forced labor, interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution, drug offenses, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice.

In November 2023, his former girlfriend, the R&B singer Cassie, whose legal name is Casandra Ventura, filed a lawsuit saying he had beaten and raped her for years. She accused Combs of coercing her, and others, into unwanted sex in drug-fueled settings.

The suit was settled in one day but months later CNN aired hotel security footage showing Combs punching and kicking Cassie and throwing her on a floor. After the video aired, Combs apologized, saying, “I was disgusted when I did it.”

Combs and his attorneys, however, denied similar allegations made by others in a string of lawsuits.

The Diddy career file:

Born on November 4, 1969, in Harlem, New York, Combs’ rise to fame began with an internship at Uptown Records.

He later founded Bad Boy Records in 1993, releasing his debut album “No Way Out” in 1997, which went platinum. Combs’ music career spans over two decades, with multiple stage name changes (Puff Daddy, P. Diddy, Diddy) and collaborations with prominent artists.

His business ventures include Sean John clothing, Enyce clothing, DeLeón tequila, Cîroc vodka, and Revolt TV.

Combs’ achievements include three Grammy Awards, 11 Billboard Music Awards, and 14 BET Awards.

He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020. Philanthropically, Combs supports organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and has donated to Howard University.

However, his career has been marred by controversies, including a recent indictment on sex trafficking and racketeering charges, which he has pleaded not guilty to.

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