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Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has pleaded not responsible to newly expanded federal intercourse trafficking fees, sustaining his innocence in a high-profile case that continues to shake the leisure trade.
The 55-year-old rapper and producer entered his plea Monday earlier than U.S. District Decide Arun Subramanian in Manhattan federal court docket. The up to date indictment now contains 5 legal counts — up from the unique three — alleging that Combs used his music and style empire to sexually exploit ladies over a span of 20 years, from 2004 to 2024.
Diddy’s authorized group continues to claim that the accusations stem from former long-term relationships and contain no new claims or people. “These usually are not new allegations or new accusers,” his legal professionals stated in a current assertion. “They contain consensual relationships with ladies from his previous.”
Combs has persistently denied all fees, characterizing the case as stemming from former relationships and insisting that the allegations are being misrepresented. He’s presently being held at a Brooklyn detention middle pending trial.
Decide Subramanian introduced that jury choice will start on Could 5, with opening arguments scheduled for Could 12. Protection legal professional Marc Agnifilo indicated that the group may search a brief delay to assessment new e mail proof from one of many alleged victims. The decide, nevertheless, signaled the court docket’s intention to maneuver swiftly. “We’re a freight prepare shifting in the direction of trial,” Decide Subramanian stated, including that any delay request should be submitted inside two days.
Prosecutors allege that between 2004 and 2024, Combs used his enterprise empire to take advantage of ladies sexually, together with coercing them into taking part in so-called “freak offs”—recorded sexual encounters with male intercourse staff, usually transported throughout state traces.
The Unhealthy Boy Data founder additionally faces quite a few civil lawsuits filed by each men and women alleging sexual abuse.
A Profession Overshadowed by Authorized Battles
Combs, additionally identified by stage names Puff Daddy and P. Diddy, performed a serious position in shaping the careers of artists like Mary J. Blige, Religion Evans, and The Infamous B.I.G. within the Nineties and early 2000s. However federal prosecutors say that behind the celebrity was a troubling sample of abusive habits.
The indictment references an incident from 2016 wherein Combs was seen on surveillance video bodily attacking a lady in a Los Angeles resort. CNN additionally aired a 2023 video displaying Combs assaulting former girlfriend Cassie Ventura. Whereas Combs later apologized, his authorized group insists these incidents don’t show legal conduct.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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