Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested by federal agents at a Manhattan hotel on September 16 and charged with racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution, the federal indictment said.
The hip-hop mogul appeared in federal court in Manhattan on Tuesday and entered a not guilty plea after Judge Robyn Tarnofsky read out the charges.
Lawyers for Combs, who was not shackled for the appearance, had suggested he be released pending the outcome of his trial on $50 million bond, secured by his Miami home. But the judge denied bail, and he was remanded in custody to await trial.
The 14-page indictment, filed on Sept. 12, alleged that Combs “abused, threatened, and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct.” The charges stem from a number of alleged incidents, including one with then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in March 2016, which was captured on hotel surveillance footage and came to light in May. The indictment alleges that Combs, through his company, operated a “criminal enterprise” to attempt to engage in, among other crimes, “sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice.”
Outside federal court in Manhattan, Combs’ attorney Marc Agnifilo told reporters Tuesday that Combs’ “spirits are good” and that “he is confident” the case will have a positive outcome.
In a statement released Monday night, Combs’ attorney said he “is not a criminal” and expressed disappointment “with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution.”
Over the past 10 months, the Bad Boy Entertainment founder has faced allegations of sexual and physical abuse — including by Ventura — that have derailed his career. In March, two of his homes were raided by federal investigators as part of a sex trafficking investigation.
What happened?
Combs, 54, was arrested Monday night in New York City, where his attorney said in a statement that his client “voluntarily relocated … last week in anticipation of these charges.”
In a statement released Monday night, Agnifilo said: “We are disappointed with the decision to prosecute Mr. Combs, which we believe is an unjust prosecution by the United States Attorney’s Office. Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is a music icon, self-made entrepreneur, loving family man and proven philanthropist who has spent the past 30 years building an empire, adoring his children and working to improve the black community. He is an imperfect person, but he is not a criminal.”
“It must be said that Mr. Combs has been nothing but cooperative with this investigation and voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of these charges,” Agnifilo continued. “Please reserve judgment until you have all the facts. These are the actions of an innocent man with nothing to hide and he looks forward to clearing his name in court.”
TMZ has obtained video footage of Combs reportedly speaking to fans at the Park Hyatt Hotel about 30 minutes before his arrest. Earlier in the day, he and his son, Christian “King” Combs, took photos with fans as they walked around town.
What are the allegations against Combs?
Combs has faced numerous allegations and lawsuits over the past year.
November 16: Singer Cassie, who had an on-again, off-again relationship with Combs from 2007 to 2018, sued him for rape, assault and sex trafficking. The lawsuit was settled the next day, with Combs admitting no wrongdoing.
November 23: Joi Dickerson-Neal filed a lawsuit accusing Combs of drugging and raping her in New York City in 1991, when she was a college student.
That same day, Liza Gardner sued Combs, alleging that he and R&B singer Aaron Hall took turns raping her and a friend after they met at an event at the MCA Records offices in New York in 1990, when she was 16.
December 6: A fourth civil lawsuit was filed against Combs by a Jane Doe, who claims she was sex-trafficked and gang-raped in a bathroom at Combs’ studio when she was 17.
Combs spoke out and denied all the allegations, saying he had “watched people try to assassinate my character, destroy my reputation, destroy my legacy,” but that “enough is enough.”
February 26: Combs was sued by Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, a producer on his 2023 album, for sexual harassment and assault. Jones alleged that he was drugged and woke up naked and disoriented in bed with Combs and two sex workers.
March 25: Combs’ homes in Los Angeles and Miami were searched in what was called a sex trafficking investigation. His attorney said Combs was innocent and that he would “fight … to clear his name.”
Be able to: Surveillance footage surfaced of Combs attacking Ventura in a hotel hallway. He released a statement saying, in part, “My behavior on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions on that video.”
May 21: Crystal McKinney filed a lawsuit alleging that Combs drugged and sexually assaulted her in his New York City studio in 2003, when she was 22 and a model.
May 23: April Lampros sued Combs over what she described as four “terrifying sexual encounters,” including one in which he forced her to take ecstasy and have sex with his then-girlfriend Kim Porter.
September 10: Former Danity Kane singer Dawn Richard has filed a sexual assault lawsuit against Combs, alleging he groped her multiple times and locked her in a car for two hours.
September 16: Combs was arrested.
Updated September 17, 2024 at 3:30 PM ET:- This story has been updated to say that Combs has pleaded not guilty.
