In New York City, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs appeared in federal court on Friday and pleaded not guilty to a new indictment accusing him of sex trafficking crimes spanning two decades. The 55-year-old Combs, with a grayer beard than before, stood before Judge Arun Subramanian and acknowledged the charges against him. He has been in custody since his arrest in September and greeted his lawyers with hugs as he entered the courtroom. The judge announced that potential jurors would receive questionnaires at the end of April, with jury selection starting on May 5 and opening statements scheduled for May 12.
The indictment alleges that Combs abused his influence in the music industry to coerce women into his circle, using force and threats to compel them into commercial sex acts. It describes instances of violence, threats, and verbal abuse inflicted upon the victims. Defense attorneys argued that prosecutors were unfairly portraying consensual adult activities as criminal.
During the court proceedings, there was discussion about the admissibility of a video aired on CNN showing Combs involved in a physical altercation with his former protege and girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitzi Steiner emphasized the importance of the video as evidence, while defense attorney Marc Agnifilo raised concerns about its accuracy and portrayal of events.
As he left the courtroom, Combs acknowledged his family members with blown kisses and waves.
