Diddy pleads not guilty to federal sex trafficking, racketeering charges

Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to federal charges of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.

The indictment, unsealed in a New York court, alleges that Combs abused women and ran a criminal empire for over a decade, using his business resources to cover up his actions.

Combs, 54, showed no visible reaction as U.S. Magistrate Judge Robyn F. Tarnofsky read the charges. When asked for his plea, Combs responded, “Not guilty.”

Despite his legal team’s request for a $50 million bond and home detention, Tarnofsky ruled that Combs will be held without bail. Federal prosecutors called him a “serial abuser and a serial obstructor,” citing an alleged history of witness intimidation and obstruction of justice.

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Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson argued, “Mr. Combs physically and sexually abused victims for decades,” accusing him of using his influence to facilitate and hide his crimes.

Combs’s attorney, Marc Agnifilo, acknowledged his client’s past but insisted on his innocence. “He’s not a perfect person… There has been drug use, he’s been in toxic relationships,” Agnifilo said, adding that Combs is receiving treatment for personal issues.

The charges come after federal authorities raided Combs’s home earlier this year, seizing defaced firearms and disturbing evidence, including videos of forced sexual encounters. Prosecutors allege Combs led a racketeering conspiracy involving sex trafficking, forced labor, and other crimes.

“A year ago, Sean Combs was given a key to New York City. Today, he’s been indicted and will face justice,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams.

Combs’s legal troubles have intensified in recent years, including a high-profile lawsuit filed by his ex-girlfriend, singer Cassie, which was settled in one day. The case reignited public attention on Combs, once considered a major figure in hip-hop, but now facing mounting allegations of sexual abuse.