International

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Pleads Not Guilty to Federal Charges

Published

1 month ago

Mar 15, 2025.

Dennis

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs pleads not guilty to an amended indictment with new forced labour allegations.
Prosecutors plan to use a 2016 CCTV video as evidence, while Combs’ lawyers claim it was manipulated.
Jury selection for the federal trial is set to begin on May 5, with opening statements on May 12.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has pleaded not guilty to an amended federal indictment that introduces new allegations of forced labor.

The revised indictment accuses the rap mogul of coercing employees into working excessive hours under the threat of physical and reputational harm. It also alleges that he forced at least one worker to engage in sex acts with him. Combs’ lawyers have strongly denied the accusations, insisting that his past relationships were consensual, according to The New York Times.

His legal team has also dismissed both the federal case and the numerous civil lawsuits filed against him in recent months, calling them baseless.

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“He looks forward to his day in court when it will become clear that he has never forced anyone to engage in sexual acts against their will,” said his attorney, Marc Agnifilo.

Combs, one of the most successful rappers in the U.S., is expected to stand trial on charges of federal sex trafficking and racketeering. The latest allegations fall under the racketeering charge. Meanwhile, he faces dozens of separate civil lawsuits alleging rape and assault, which his legal team has characterized as publicity stunts.

On Friday, Combs appeared in a New York federal courtroom wearing a greenish-tan prison jumpsuit, his grey hair and beard noticeably overgrown. He stood as he entered his not guilty plea, affirming to the judge that he had read the indictment.

In the public gallery, his family and close associates—including his son Christian, daughter Chance, mother Janice Combs (wearing dark sunglasses), and publicist Marvet Britto—were present to support him. Combs appeared in high spirits, smiling, waving, blowing kisses to his family, and hugging his lawyers.

Court proceedings also revisited a 2016 hotel surveillance video, published by CNN last year, allegedly showing Combs kicking his former girlfriend, Cassandra Ventura, while she was on the floor.

Combs’ legal team argued that the footage was “deceptive,” claiming that a forensic expert determined parts of it were altered, sped up, and missing timestamps. Prosecutors, however, labelled it as “critical” and “direct evidence,” intending to use it at trial. The judge urged both sides to reach an agreement on its admissibility.