Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, detailed the indictment against Sean “Diddy” Combs at a press conference Tuesday morning, accusing the rapper of “abusing, threatening and coercing victims to gratify his sexual desires, protect his reputation and conceal his conduct.”
The Justice Department alleged that Combs planned and forced his “multiple” victims to have sex with male sex workers, which he called “freak offs.”
According to law enforcement, the sexual performances, which sometimes lasted for days, were electronically recorded in an attempt to coerce and control the victims.
Williams claimed ketamine, MDMA and the date rape drug GBH were used to keep victims “obedient and compliant.”
At the conference, Williams stood next to a poster with photographs of several AR-15-style firearms with “defaced serial numbers” and high-capacity ammunition drums, which were recovered in two raids in March on Combs’ homes in Miami and Los Angeles.
The Justice Department also said it seized more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and personal lubricant during the raids.
The indictment also alleges that Combs used physical violence, kidnapping and arson, among other tactics, to intimidate his victims.
While Williams has not shared details of the arson with reporters, a November 2023 lawsuit filed by his former girlfriend and accuser, Cassie Ventura, alleged that Combs arranged for rapper Kid Cudi’s car to be blown up during a time when Combs believed he was in a relationship with Ventura.
Ventura settled his lawsuit against Combs out of court just a day after the complaint was filed, but his allegations opened the door for a number of other victims to come forward with their own claims.
During the press conference, Williams also referenced a 2016 incident at a Los Angeles hotel where Combs was seen physically assaulting a victim in an attempt to prevent her from fleeing.
Although Williams did not name the victim in that incident, the details match the video of Combs assaulting Ventura, which emerged in May.
After the video was made public, Combs apologized, calling his behavior in the video “inexcusable.”
“I take full responsibility for my actions in this video,” he said in the statement posted on Instagram.
On Monday, the rap mogul was charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation for the purpose of prostitution.
The indictment, which was unsealed Tuesday, alleges that Combs “engaged in a persistent and widespread pattern of violence against women and others.”
Speaking to reporters outside the courtroom Tuesday, Combs’ attorney Marc Agnifilo told reporters that the rapper plans to plead not guilty when he appears in court later in the day.
“He’s going to fight with all of his energy and all of his strength and with the full confidence of his attorneys and I expect a long battle with a good result for Mr. Combs,” he said, according to People.
Agnifilo added that he and his team plan to “fight like hell” to get the rapper released.
“His morale is good, he is confident,” Agnifilo said.
At the news conference, Williams said the Justice Department had filed a letter requesting that Combs be held in pretrial detention.
The Bad Boy Records founder is already facing lawsuits from multiple people accusing him of physical or sexual abuse, allegations he and his legal team have categorically denied.
HuffPost has compiled a detailed list of allegations against Combs, which you can read here.
Need help? In the United States, call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for assistance. National Domestic Violence Hotline.
