Diddy Pleads Not Guilty To New Trafficking Charges

Sean “Diddy” Combs” maintained his innocence as he faces additional charges. On Monday (April 14), the 55-year-old entered a not guilty plea to two new charges: one count of sex trafficking and one count of transportation to engage in prostitution of “Victim-2,”  before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian in Manhattan, according to Reuters.

The charges were added to the previous three-count indictment, to all of which the Bad Boy Records founder has pleaded not guilty.

In the previous indictment, Combs faced a single count of transportation to engage in prostitution with three alleged victims, which provided the opportunity for a jury to acquit if unsure on one victim. As noted by Reuters, now the Hip-Hop mogul is up against separate counts of transportation to engage in prostitution with two women, referred to as Victim-1 and Victim-2, and Victim-3, who is listed as a victim of Combs’ alleged racketeering conspiracy.

“These are not new allegations or new accusers. 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,” detailed Combs’ team in a statement to the outlet earlier this month regarding the expanded indictment.

Cassie Ventura, the ex-girlfriend of the disgraced Grammy-winner whose 2023 civil lawsuit triggered the criminal charges, is set to testify at trial using her legal name as “Victim-1.” Additional victims are set to testify under the condition of anonymity.

“This case has already received an exceptional amount of media coverage, which will presumably only increase as trial proceeds,” the prosecution detailed. “Permitting these measures will prevent unnecessary public disclosure of the victims’ identities, and the harassment from the media and others, undue embarrassment, and other adverse consequences that would almost certainly follow if these women were forced to reveal their true names publicly at trial.”

Combs’ criminal trial is scheduled for May 5, with opening statements due to begin on May 12. According to Reuters, Marc Agnifilo, one of Combs’ lawyers, explained the defense may seek a two-week delay to review emails it wants an alleged victim to turn over.