55-year-old American singer and producer Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has pleaded not guilty to five federal criminal charges.
The hip-hop mogul entered his plea on Monday before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian in a Manhattan courtroom.
The charges in the expanded indictment include racketeering and sex trafficking. He had earlier pleaded not guilty to an initial three-count indictment, News York Times reports.
“These are not new allegations or new accusers. These are the same individuals, former long-term girlfriends, who were involved in consensual relationships,” his lawyers said in a statement earlier this month.
Jury selection for the trial is scheduled to begin on 5 May, with opening statements due on 12 May.
His lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, told the court that the defence may request a two-week delay to review emails they are asking an alleged victim to produce.
“We are a freight train moving towards trial,” Judge Subramanian said, instructing the defence to file any delay application within two days.
Prosecutors accuse Combs of using his music empire to abuse women from 2004 to 2024, including organising events known as “freak offs” involving male sex workers transported across state lines.
Combs has been detained in a Brooklyn jail since September and faces several civil lawsuits from men and women alleging sexual abuse.
Agnifilo maintains that Combs “never forced anyone to engage in sexual acts against their will,” and insists the “freak offs” were consensual.
Despite his success with artists like Notorious B.I.G., Faith Evans, and Usher, prosecutors allege Combs hid a violent history—including a 2016 hotel assault and a video aired by CNN showing him dragging singer Cassie.
Combs apologised after the footage was made public. Agnifilo described their relationship as “a toxic, loving 11-year relationship.”
