Sean “Diddy” Combs pleaded not responsible Friday to a brand new indictment that added accusations to his US federal intercourse trafficking and racketeering case, reported AFP.
The superceding indictment says that because the hip hop magnate sexually abused folks and coerced them into drug-fuelled intercourse events utilizing threats and violence, he pressured staff to work lengthy hours whereas demanding their silence.
The 55-year-old wore a tan shirt and pants within the Manhattan courtroom to enter the plea within the felony case scheduled to go to trial this spring, with in-person jury choice to tentatively start Might 5 and opening statements anticipated Might 12. Combs has denied all costs.
Public allegations have been constructing in opposition to the Grammy winner since late 2023, when singer Cassie, whose actual title is Casandra Ventura, alleged Combs subjected her to greater than a decade of coercion by bodily drive and medicines in addition to a 2018 rape.
Together with the federal felony case, Combs faces a mountain of civil fits, complaints that allege harrowing abuse by the artist with help from a loyal community of staff and associates.
The one-time rap celebrity has been incarcerated since September, throughout which era he is began to look noticeably aged, with a crop of salt-and-pepper hair.
Throughout Friday’s listening to he smiled, waved and blew kisses to a row of supporters together with two of his kids and his mom.
Over the previous yr, a spate of lurid civil lawsuits have painted an image of Combs as a violent man who used his superstar standing to prey on girls. The explosion of allegations in opposition to Combs has highlighted a tradition within the music business that many individuals contend permits for a wider sample of rampant sexual misconduct.
