Sean 'Diddy' Combs pleads not guilty to latest charges

In the latest news surrounding Sean Diddy Combs’ on-going legal battle, the 55-year-old rapper pleaded not guilty to the most recent sex crime charges that have been levied against him. A new indictment made public by federal prosecutors on April 4 accuses Combs of one more count each of sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution, as per court documents obtained by PEOPLE.

The new charges are related to a plaintiff referred to as 'Victim-2', according to the same indictment. Combs is now facing a total of 5 criminal counts in all, stemming from the indictment brought on by federal authorities in New York City in September of 2024.

Sean Combs’ Legal Situation - Latest Updates

Combs pleaded not guilty to the expanded indictment on April 14 during a hearing held in a Manhattan court house according to reports from PEOPLE via the Associated Press. Now, Combs’ legal team has until April 16 to ask for additional time for discovery in light of the newfound allegations, which could subsequently delay his pending trial. Marc Agnifilo, Combs’ attorney, told members of the press that the defense will likely request a “very short” two-week pause in light of the new developments.

The newest indictment claims that Combs:

“recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, provided, obtained, advertised, maintained, patronized and solicited [Victim-2], and attempted, aided and abetted, and willfully caused [Victim-2], to engage in commercial sex acts, knowing and in reckless disregard of the fact that Victim-2 was engaging in commercial sex acts as a result of force, fraud, and coercion.”

A pre-trial conference is scheduled for April 18, and as of this report, jury selection is scheduled to begin on May 5. The selection process has been a focal point of the discussions surrounding the case for its potential impact on the trial’s outcome.

On April 11, Agnifilo asked the court for permission to question potential jurors about:

"central issues at the heart of the case," such as their "connection to drug and alcohol abuse, their connection to domestic violence, their willingness to watch videos with physical assault and videos that are sexually explicit, and their views towards people with multiple sexual partners," per a document obtained by PEOPLE.

Agnifolo asserted that potential jurors may be more "candid" if asked about the issues in a questionnaire.

Judge Arun Subramanian, who is presiding over the case, said during the hearing:

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“We are a freight train moving toward trial,” likely showing a willingness to get the proceedings underway without a host of further delays.

Combs is currently lodged in Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center.

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