Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney with the Southern District of New York, detailed the indictment against Sean “Diddy” Combs during a press conference on Tuesday morning, accusing the rapper of having “abused, threatened and coerced victims to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation and conceal his conduct.”
The DOJ alleged that Combs planned and forced his “multiple” victims to engage in sex with male sex workers, which he called “freak offs.”
The sometimes dayslong sexual performances were said to be electronically recorded in an effort to coerce and control victims, according to law enforcement.
Williams claimed that ketamine, MDMA and the date rape drug GBH were used to keep victims “obedient and compliant.”
During the conference, Williams stood beside a poster with photographs of multiple AR-15-style firearms with “defaced serial numbers” and high-capacity ammunition drums, which were recovered during a pair of March raids on Combs’ residences in Miami and Los Angeles.
The DOJ also said that it seized more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and personal lubricant during the raids.
The indictment also alleges Combs used physical violence, kidnapping and arson, among other tactics, to intimidate his victims.
While Williams did not share details about the arson with reporters, a November 2023 lawsuit from his former girlfriend and accuser, Cassie Ventura, alleged that Combs arranged to have rapper Kid Cudi’s car blown up during a period Combs believed he was in a relationship with Ventura.
Ventura settled her suit against Combs out of court just one day after filing, but her allegations opened the door for a number of other victims to come forward with their own claims.
During the press conference, Williams also referred to a 2016 incident at a Los Angeles hotel where Combs was witnessed physically assaulting a victim in an attempt to keep her from running away.
Although Williams did not name the victim in that incident, the details align with the video of Combs assaulting Ventura, which emerged in May.
After the footage became public, Combs issued an apology, calling his behavior on the video “inexcusable.”
“I take full responsibility for my actions in that video,” he said in the statement posted on Instagram.
On Monday, the rap mogul was indicted on charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.
The indictment, which was unsealed on Tuesday, claims that Combs “engaged in a persistent and pervasive pattern of abuse toward women and other individuals.”
Speaking to the press outside the courtroom on Tuesday, Combs’ attorney Marc Agnifilo told reporters the rapper plans to issue a not guilty plea when arraigned later today.
“He’s going to fight this with all of his energy and all of his might and the full confidence of his lawyers and I expect a long battle with a good result for Mr. Combs,” he said, per People.
Agnifilo added he and his team plan to “fight like hell” to have the rapper released from custody.
“His spirits are good. He’s confident,” Agnifilo said.
During the press conference, Williams said that the DOJ had filed a letter requesting Combs be kept in pretrial detention, however.
The founder of Bad Boy Records is already facing lawsuits from several people who accuse him of physical or sexual abuse, allegations which he and his legal team have adamantly denied.
HuffPost has compiled a breakdown of the extensive list of allegations against Combs, which you can read here.
Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
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