Sean Diddy Combs pleads not guilty once again, this time to a fresh set of sex crime charges tied to a second alleged victim.
On April 4, federal prosecutors revealed a new indictment that added one count of sex trafficking and one count of transportation to engage in prostitution to his already heavy case file.
These new charges, tied to someone only identified as Victim-2, push the total to five criminal counts. This includes sex trafficking, racketeering, and more charges connected to alleged forced commercial sex acts. According to the new filing, the accusations involve Combs allegedly using coercion, fraud, and force in connection with prostitution.
He entered the not guilty plea in a Manhattan court on April 14. During the hearing, Judge Arun Subramanian kept things moving, stating, “We are a freight train moving toward trial.” But Combs’ legal team might request a short delay. His attorney, Marc Agnifilo, said discovery concerns are piling up, especially with one witness providing just a handpicked batch of emails – leaving out around 200,000 others. The defense believes that’s a problem.
Even with all this, jury selection is still on for May 5, unless the judge grants more time.
What’s really stirring up conversation now is the jury questionnaire. Agnifilo wants to ask potential jurors about some intense topics – like their personal experiences with domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse, how comfortable they are watching sexually explicit or violent videos, and what they think about people with multiple sexual partners.
His argument? The case deals with extremely private stuff. And it might be easier for jurors to open up through a questionnaire than in open court. He says it’s better to get honest answers upfront.
But prosecutors aren’t loving that idea. They’re pushing back, saying the questionnaire should only cover topics that directly affect a juror’s ability to serve fairly. They want it simple – no deep-dives into personal issues unless it’s absolutely necessary.
Meanwhile, Combs is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. The court scheduled the next pretrial conference for April 18. His lawyers are holding firm on their defense. They claim these aren’t new claims and the accusers were his exes in consensual relationships. “This was their private sex life, defined by consent, not coercion,” they said in a statement.
The new indictment paints a very different picture. It accuses Combs of recruiting and transporting Victim-2 for commercial sex acts, fully aware she was being coerced. While the racketeering charges haven’t changed, the prostitution-related count is a fresh addition that keeps raising the stakes.
This case is picking up steam fast, and all eyes are now on how jury selection and discovery shake out over the next few weeks.
This case is heating up fast, and it’s far from over. Keep checking back for real-time updates as jury selection nears.
