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Sean "Diddy" Combs has pleaded not guilty to fresh charges from a new superseding indictment.
The troubled mogul entered his plea in a New York City courtroom on Monday, April 15. Federal prosecutors hit Combs with two new charges in a third superseding indictment earlier this month. He was charged with one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and one count of transportation to engage in prostitution. He now faces five charges in total including two counts of sex trafficking, two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, and one count of racketeering. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
“These are not new allegations or new accusers,” Combs’ legal team in a statement after the third indictment was announced. “These are the same individuals, former long-term girlfriends, who were involved in consensual relationships. This was their private sex life, defined by consent, not coercion.”
According to courtroom sketches by Jane Rosenberg, Combs attended his arraignment in his prisoner clothing while sporting a short beard and white hair. TMZ reports prosecutors told a judge the new charges stem from allegations against Combs from 2021 to 2024. The allegations came from an individual only known as "Victim-2." The Bad Boy Records founder's attorneys previously indicated that two of the unnamed victims were two past girlfriends of Combs. Meanwhile, "Victim-1" is Cassandra "Cassie" Ventura, who plans to testify against her ex during his upcoming trial.
Combs has entered his plea just a few weeks before his sex trafficking trial begins. Jury selection will commence on May 5 while opening statements are expected to start on May 12.