Sean “Diddy” Combs has entered a plea of not guilty to a revised indictment that includes new accusations of forced labor. According to the amended indictment, it is claimed that the rap mogul compelled his employees to work long hours under threats of physical and reputational harm, compelling at least one worker to perform sexual acts with him.

Mr. Combs’s legal team denies that he has ever compelled anyone into performing sexual acts, insisting that the case is about his consensual relationships with girlfriends, as reported by the New York Times. Additionally, they have emphatically denied all allegations made against him in a federal case and multiple civil lawsuits filed in recent months.

“Weant to make it clear that he has never forced anyone to engage in sexual acts against their will,” commented his lawyer, Marc Agnifilo. Mr. Combs, one of the most successful rappers in the US, is set to stand trial in a federal sex trafficking and racketeering case, where the new allegations are included under the racketeering charge.

Apart from this, Mr. Combs is facing numerous lawsuits alleging rape and assault, which his lawyers dismiss as nothing more than attention-seeking publicity stunts.

Mr. Combs appeared in New York’s Southern District Federal Court wearing a prison jumpsuit, with a judge confirming he had read the indictment. His family, including his son, daughter, mother, and friends, were present to show their support.

A subject of considerable discussion in court was a video released by CNN last year that appears to show surveillance footage of Mr. Combs kicking his former girlfriend, Cassandra Ventura, in a hotel corridor in 2016. Mr. Combs’s lawyers claim that the video is misleading and that a visual expert found parts to be out of order, sped up, and with hidden timestamps.

Prosecutors, however, argue that the video provides crucial and direct evidence for their case, which they plan to enter as evidence. CNN and Ms. Ventura’s lawyer have dismissed the lawyers’ allegations about the video.

After the video’s release in 2024, Mr. Combs apologized for his behavior, stating he was disgusted by his actions then and remains so now.

The judge informed the court that jury selection is expected to begin on May 5, with opening statements set for May 12.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2jr619336o