Sean “Diddy” Combs presided over a sordid empire of sexual crimes, coercing and abusing women for years while using blackmail and shocking acts of violence to keep his victims in line, according to an indictment unsealed Tuesday. The music mogul pleaded not guilty, standing to speak, after listening to the allegations while showing little reaction, his uncuffed hands folded in his lap. Federal prosecutors called Combs dangerous and urged that he be jailed without bail.
“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 U.S. 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 lawyers, meanwhile, proposed that he be released on a $50 million bond to home detention with electronic monitoring. "He is not a perfect person.
There has been drug use. He has been in toxic relationships,” attorney Marc Agnifilo told the court. The lawyer said Combs was receiving “treatment and therapy for things that he needs treatment and therapy for.
” Agnifilo had said outside court earlier that Combs is innocent and came to New York voluntarily to “engage the court system and start the case.” The racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking indictment described Combs inducing female vict.