Rapper faces fresh criminal charges just weeks before trial; combs pleads not guilty to all accusations.
Sean “Diddy” Combs is back in the legal spotlight, now facing two fresh criminal charges mere weeks before his already high-profile trial begins on 5 May. The music mogul, 55, has been accused of sex trafficking and prostitution—allegations that stretch back over a three-year period from 2021 to 2024.
Court documents unsealed on Friday allege that Combs, the founder of Bad Boy Records, “recruited, transported, and coerced” one of his former partners into repeated sexual encounters and acts of prostitution. Prosecutors claim the woman was exploited across state lines, painting a grim portrait of systematic abuse cloaked in celebrity power and wealth.
The charges deepen an already sprawling legal crisis for Combs, who was arrested on federal counts of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transporting individuals for prostitution. He remains in pretrial custody at a Brooklyn detention facility.
Combs entered a plea of not guilty in Manhattan court, where his lawyers dismissed the latest charges as an extension of what they describe as a “smear campaign.” His legal team was quick to defend the rapper, stating: “These are not new accusers or new claims. They involve the same former girlfriends with whom Mr Combs had consensual relationships. This was their private life, defined by mutual consent—not coercion.”
The defence argues that the prosecution is repackaging past allegations to fuel public outrage ahead of the trial. “It’s the same narrative, reheated, and meant to prejudice a jury,” a spokesperson for Combs said. “We will fight every count in court.”
But federal prosecutors seem undeterred, maintaining that the fresh charges stem from newly corroborated evidence and a widening probe into Combs’s inner circle. Sources familiar with the investigation say digital records and witness testimonies have been instrumental in strengthening the government’s case.
Friday’s announcement has sent fresh shockwaves through the entertainment industry, where Diddy’s influence has loomed large for decades. Once hailed as a pioneer of hip hop entrepreneurship, Combs now finds himself facing the possibility of life-altering consequences.
In addition to his criminal case, the rapper is also battling multiple civil lawsuits. Several men and women have accused him of sexual misconduct, harassment, and assault. These claims span back over a decade and paint a picture of a star whose alleged abuse of power went unchecked for years.
Legal analysts say the piling accusations and charges reflect a trend seen in other recent celebrity downfall cases—where civil complaints eventually feed into criminal investigations. “The civil cases opened the door, but the criminal case could seal it shut,” one attorney remarked.
With just one month until trial, pressure is mounting on both sides. Prosecutors are expected to present a voluminous array of digital communications, financial records, and testimony from former associates. The defence, meanwhile, will attempt to frame the entire affair as consensual and exaggerated by fame and personal vendettas.
As the trial date approaches, all eyes will be on the Brooklyn courtroom where Combs’ fate will begin to take shape. For now, the man once known for chart-topping hits and champagne-soaked parties remains behind bars—his music empire hanging in the balance.
