The music mogul pleaded not guilty to racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. He is accused of inducing female victims and male sex workers into drugged-up, sometimes days-long sexual performances dubbed “Freak Offs”. The indictment against him also refers obliquely to an attack on his former girlfriend, the R&B singer Cassie, that was captured on video.
Prosecutors wanted him jailed. His attorneys proposed that he be released on a 50 million dollars bond to home detention with electronic monitoring. US Magistrate Judge Robyn Tarnofsky sided with the government.
Combs, 54, was led out of court without being handcuffed. The Bad Boy Records founder is accused of striking, punching and dragging women, throwing objects and kicking them — and getting his personal assistants, security and household staff to help him hide it all. “Not guilty,” Combs told a court, standing to speak after listening to the allegations with his uncuffed hands folded in his lap.
Federal prosecutors called Combs dangerous. “Mr Combs physically and sexually abused victims for decades. He used the vast resources of his company to facilitate his abuse and cover up his crimes.
Simply put, he is a serial abuser and a serial obstructor,” Assistant US Attorney Emily Johnson told a court. She also said he had “extensive and exhaustive history of obstruction of justice,” including alleged bribery and witness intimidation. His lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, acknowledged Combs was “not a perfect per.