Rap star and music executive Sean “Diddy” Combs pleaded not guilty Tuesday to sex trafficking charges, and a judge denied him bail as he was taken into custody to await trial in an explosive case against one of music’s most influential figures.
Combs “abused, threatened, and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct” for decades, according to the unsealed indictment that led to his Sept. 16 arrest on three felony counts of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.
No victims were identified in the 14-page document, but the March 2016 incident in which Combs — also known as “Diddy” and “Puff Daddy” — was captured on surveillance video hitting, kicking and throwing a vase at then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura at a Los Angeles hotel was referenced. It’s alleged that the Bad Boy Entertainment founder attempted to bribe a member of hotel security who intervened to ensure silence.
His attorney Marc Agnifilo said outside that his client is innocent, adding that his “spirits are good” and “he’s confident” in his case.
On Monday day, Agnifilo said in a statement, “We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is a music icon, self-made entrepreneur, loving family man and proven philanthropist who has spent the last 30 years building an empire, adoring his children and working to uplift the Black community.”
It concluded: “He is an imperfect person, but he is not a criminal. To his credit Mr. Combs has been nothing but cooperative with this investigation and he voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of these charges. Please reserve your judgment until you have all the facts. These are the acts of an innocent man with nothing to hide, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court.
His team had been trying to negotiate his release from custody pending his trial on three federal counts, with Combs offering to post a $50 million bond using his Miami home as collateral, NBC News reported, with details from a proposed bail package filed by his defense team.
The rapper, whose career has been derailed over the past 10 months amid the allegations, also offered to wear a GPS monitor and limit travel to New York City and Miami. Agency reports
