Sean “Diddy” Combs has pleaded not responsible to extra costs of intercourse trafficking and transportation to have interaction in prostitution, which had been added to the indictment towards him earlier in April.
The brand new allegations take the full variety of prison costs towards the rap mogul to 5 – following the three authentic counts, which additionally included racketeering conspiracy, filed in September.
Combs, 55, has already pleaded not responsible to the unique costs and strenuously denied all allegations towards him.
He appeared in courtroom on Monday to enter his extra plea earlier than US District Decide Arun Subramanian in Manhattan, New York.
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Combs sketched at at this time’s listening to. Pic: Reuters
Combs, with gray hair and a goatee, and sporting tan jail clothes over a white thermal shirt, was extra subdued than in earlier hearings.
At this time’s listening to additionally noticed Combs’ legal professionals recommend they might request a two-week adjournment for his trial, scheduled for Could, if they don’t obtain sure vital proof from prosecutors.
Assistant US legal professional Christie Slavik stated prosecutors oppose any delay and accused Combs’ legal professionals of utilizing “gamesmanship” to delay the trial.
Decide Subramanian admonished the defence, saying: “We are on a freight train speeding towards trial, if you want an adjournment, you need to make that application within the next forty-eight hours.”
Each side will likely be again in courtroom for one more listening to on Friday.
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Combs on the Billboard Music Awards in Could 2022. Pic: AP
Addressing the extra costs in an announcement, legal professionals for Combs beforehand stated: “These are not new allegations or new accusers. These are the same individuals… who were involved in consensual relationships.”
Prosecutors declare the rapper and producer used his enterprise empire to sexually abuse ladies between 2004 and 2024.
He has been accused of organising “freak offs” – allegedly inducing ladies and male intercourse staff into drug-fuelled sexual performances.
Combs has denied allegations of wrongdoing, saying all relationships and sexual encounters had been consensual.
His trial is because of begin on 5 Could, with jury choice anticipated to take a few week earlier than the opening statements, that are scheduled to start on 12 Could.
Combs has been jailed in Brooklyn because the costs had been introduced in September, having been denied bail.
He additionally faces dozens of civil lawsuits by ladies and men who’ve accused him of sexual abuse.
