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By Joe Edwards
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Hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs was arrested in New York City on Monday following a grand jury indictment. The indictment against the rapper, unsealed on Tuesday, revealed he had been indicted on federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges.
Speaking to media outside of Manhattan federal court Tuesday, Marc Agnifilo, a lawyer for Combs, said: "He came to New York to basically engage the court system and start the case, and it will start today and he's going to plead not guilty. He's going to fight this with all of his energy and all of his might and the full confidence of his lawyers."
Agnifilo previously said that he was "disappointed" in federal authorities for what he called an "unjust prosecution" of Combs, who has also gone by "Puffy" and "Puff Daddy" professionally.
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"He is an imperfect person, but he is not a criminal," Agnifilo said in a statement emailed to Newsweek.
Combs, whose hits include "I'll Be Missing You" and "Victory," has recently faced a slew of civil lawsuits concerning sexual abuse, misconduct and sex trafficking.
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April Lampros
The most recent suit against the rapper was filed in May. It accused Combs of four instances of sexual assault, as well as assault, battery, negligent infliction of emotional distress and violation of the victims of gender-motivated violence protection law.
CNN reported that Lampros' suit claims: "What Mr. Combs displayed as kind gestures quickly manifested into an aggressive, coercive, and abusive relationship based on sex."
Cassie Ventura
Comb's former girlfriend Cassie Ventura settled her case against the rap mogul in November 2023. Ventura accused Combs of abuse and rape. Details of the settlement have not been disclosed.
Combs issued an apology after CNN released footage of him physically assaulting Ventura. The pair dated sporadically between 2007 and 2018.
Ventura spoke out regarding the footage, saying: "The outpouring of love has created a place for my younger self to settle and feel safe now, but this is only the beginning."
Joi Dickerson-Neal
Also in November last year, Joi Dickerson-Neal filed a lawsuit claiming Combs drugged and sexually assaulted her in 1991 while she was a college student.
She also alleged that Combs secretly recorded the assault.
This lawsuit was filed under New York's temporary window allowing older sexual assault claims that would typically be beyond the statute of limitations.
Anonymous Plaintiff
In another case from November 2023, an anonymous woman accused Combs and singer Aaron Hall of raping her and a friend in 1990 or 1991 after meeting at an MCA Records event.
This lawsuit was also filed under New York's temporary law for older claims. The plaintiff described a traumatic experience of being drugged and assaulted by the two men.
Additional Sexual Assault Allegations
Combs faced another lawsuit in December 2023, where an unnamed woman accused him of drugging and gang-raping her in 2003 when she was 17 years old.
Rodney Jones
In February 2024, producer Rodney "Lil Rod" Jones sued Combs, alleging that he was subjected to unwanted advances by Combs' associates at the rapper's direction.
Jones claimed he was forced into sexual activities with sex workers hired by Combs and that the rapper regularly hosted "sex-trafficking parties" with underage women and illegal drugs.
Combs' attorney dismissed these claims as "reckless name-dropping" and denied the allegations.
Diddy's Son Christian Accused of Sexual Assault
In April, a lawsuit naming "Diddy" and his son Christian Combs alleged that Christian sexually assaulted a woman working on a chartered boat in 2022.
The plaintiff's attorney said: "Like father, like son. It gives us no joy or pleasure in filing this suit against Christian Combs who has clearly adopted his father's pattern and practice of depravity," according to NBC.
Sean and Christian Combs' lawyers have denied the claim.
Crystal McKinney
In May, former model Crystal McKinney filed a lawsuit in Manhattan federal court accusing Combs of drugging and sexually assaulting her at his New York recording studio in 2003.
Federal Investigation
In addition to these lawsuits, federal agents searched Combs' homes in Los Angeles and Miami in March as part of a sex trafficking investigation.
While no charges have been filed, NBC News and the Associated Press reported that these raids were connected to a broader probe into alleged sex trafficking activities involving Combs.
Newsweek contacted Combs' legal team for comment.
Do you have a story we should be covering? Do you have any questions about the allegations against Combs? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com
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