Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs accused of trafficking two more women
Sean ‘Diddy‘ Combs has been accused of coercing two other women into sex acts and dangling a woman over a balcony in an updated list of charges filed by federal prosecutors. According to documents filed in Federal District Court in Manhattan on January 30th, the new allegations are part of a superseding indictment.
An anti-sex-trafficking law known as the Mann Act is mentioned in the filing, prohibiting the transportation of people for prostitution or criminal sexual activity. The Bad Boy rapper’s lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, pointed out that the new indictment has no new charges, although it does include new claims of criminal behaviour.
“The prosecution’s theory remains flawed,” he said, according to The New York Times. “The government has added the ridiculous theory that two of Mr. Combs’s former girlfriends were not girlfriends at all, but were prostitutes. Mr. Combs is as committed as ever to fighting these charges and winning at trial.”
The amended indictment comes shortly after US District Judge Arun Subramanian denied Combs access to the freak-off tapes in the case, siding with the prosecutors’ argument that providing the footage could create risks to the privacy and safety of his alleged victims.
While the original indictment only referred to “Victim-1,” it now includes “Victim-2” and “Victim-3.” Combs is alleged to have given drugs to victims to keep them “obedient and compliant” and recorded the sexual encounters. However, his lawyers have claimed that the sexual encounters were consensual.
“In connection with the commercial sex acts, Combs provided the victims with, among other things, monetary payments, career opportunities, and payment of rent and housing expenses,” the indictment said.
The indictment also extends the alleged racketeering conspiracy surrounding a “criminal organisation” responsible for kidnapping and bribery, now dating back to 2004. Another allegation of kidnapping in New York claims that Combs was carrying and displaying a firearm.
As for the dangling allegations, a woman named Bryana Bongolan filed a lawsuit last year that aligns with the claims. Combs said he “firmly denies these serious allegations and remains confident they will ultimately be proven baseless.”
Combs’ trial is set to begin on May 5th. He’s currently detained at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center after being charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and violating the Mann Act in September.