Trigger warning: This article contains references to sexual abuse, sex trafficking, and drugs
Sean “Diddy” Combs, who was arrested by federal authorities at a Manhattan hotel on the evening of Monday, September 16, is charged with racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution, according to his indictment paper on Tuesday. At a hearing in Manhattan on September 17, Combs, who pleaded not guilty to the charges against him, was denied bail, according to People.
He will remain in custody until his next hearing on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m., where his lawyers plan to again appeal for his release.
Also read: Sean Diddy Combs: Rapper loses all his jobs amid ongoing assault allegations and cases
During Tuesday’s hearing, prosecutors accused Combs of influencing witnesses, claiming the rap mogul’s staff tried to ensure that his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, and hotel employees kept quiet about the 2016 assault at an L.A. hotel. Prosecutors detailed that video of the assault, which showed Combs kicking and trampling Ventura in the lobby of the InterContinental Hotel eight years ago, disappeared from the hotel’s servers. The footage is now public, courtesy of CNN, which obtained the video and published it.
Diddy apologized for the incident, which was part of Cassie’s lawsuit last year, calling his behavior in the video “inexcusable.” However, she settled the case out of court the next day after speaking with Diddy’s team.
Prosecutors said Tuesday that they have a recording of the musician telling a bandmate, another woman who has accused him of sexual assault in a lawsuit, that she didn’t have to worry about anything if she agreed to stay by his side.
In addition, prosecutors said they found bags of pink powder in Combs’ hotel room, where he was staying on the advice of his attorney to await arrest. The substance was not tested, but prosecutors said it appeared to be drugs, as similar bags had been seized from Diddy’s properties before and tested positive for drugs at the time.
According to a CNN report on the hearing, authorities said they interviewed more than 50 witnesses and seized dozens of mobile phones, laptops and hard drives. They also seized videos they claim show the forced sex acts Combs is accused of committing.
Meanwhile, the music legend’s lawyer argued that his client should not be compared to some of the country’s most notorious sex offenders, including Keith Raniere, R. Kelly or Jeffrey Epstein. “This is different,” he told the court. “These were consenting adults acting in a civil suit.”
“Mr. Combs is a warrior. He will fight this battle to the end. He is innocent. He came to New York to prove his innocence,” Combs’ attorney, Marc Agnifilo, said outside court. “He is not afraid of the charges.”
The defence lawyer said his client was ready to surrender to authorities even before his arrest on Tuesday night.
If you need help or know someone who is struggling with substance abuse, domestic violence, assault or abuse, please contact your nearest mental health specialist, NGO or talk to someone about it. There are many helplines available for this.
Also read: Who is Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ lawyer Marc Agnifilo? What we know about him amid the rapper’s arrest
