SEXUAL VIOLENCE – He will soon face justice. Sean Combs, aka Diddy or Puff Daddy, was arrested on the night of Monday 16 to Tuesday 17 September by the police in Manhattan. The arrest follows months of investigation and multiple accusations filed against him since last November. The New York prosecutor revealed the charges against the rapper, producer and businessman on Tuesday.
Sean Combs has been charged with pimping and extortion. The very detailed indictment was released on Tuesday, listing numerous allegations up to the summer of 2023, some dating back several decades. Prosecutor Damian Williams gave a press conference late this morning in New York in which he returned to these various accusations.
The rapper is notably accused of having assaulted, forced and threatened several women over the years in the context of sexual relations. But also of having threatened reprisals against potential witnesses of these attacks by intimidating them with weapons. He is also accused of having organized « freak off »sessions during which his victims, often employees and “knowledge”were forced to engage in sexual activities with sex workers, while he himself filmed for ” cover his back “. Of the “events” which could last several days and during which prostitutes and victims were forced to consume drugs.
“Sex pawn”
In July, former porn actress Adria English accused Sean Combs of using her “as a sexual pawn for the pleasure and financial benefit of other people” during private parties between 2004 and 2009. His homes in Los Angeles and Miami were, in this context, searched by federal police investigators. Investigation actions described as “witch hunt” by the rapper’s defense. At Tuesday’s press conference, images of objects found during these searches were revealed, showing in particular assault weapons, drugs, as well as ” astronomical amounts of lubricant ».
Sean Combs is also accused by music producer Lil Rod of sexual harassment and touching. The rapper allegedly forced him in July 2023 to call on “ sex workers » and to “ to engage in sexual acts for (one’s) pleasure” when they were living together and working on the rapper’s new album.
The indictment also mentions the complaint filed by his former partner, singer Cassie, accusing him of sexual, physical and psychological violence over a period of ten years. In surveillance footage dating from 2016, the rapper hits her and pulls her by the hair to prevent her from leaving his hotel. However, the victim’s complaint had been settled out of court before the video was leaked.
Sean Combs nie les accusations
In total, nine separate complaints against the rapper have been filed since November 2023 and have led to this arrest. The indictment portrays the rapper as being at the head of a criminal enterprise, an empire that he used to “procuring and interstate movement of sex workers, forced labor, drug offenses, kidnapping, arson, corruption and obstruction of justice.” Crimes that the rapper did not commit alone, as the prosecutor recalled, but with the complicity and help of many people to ” cover up his attacks, intimidate victims and witnesses, clean up his crime scenes and exert pressure to prevent further testimony ».
This Tuesday, September 17, even before the charges were announced, his lawyer Marc Agnifilo explained in a press release sent to AFP that his client was “ voluntarily » in New York, precisely to go and ” cooperate with the investigation ” Marc Agnifilo also reaffirmed upon arriving at the Manhattan court that Puff Daddy “is not guilty, he is innocent of all these accusations.”
Sean Combs has always denied the charges against him. However, he admitted last May, after the release of the images of his assault on Cassie: “I’m disgusted. I was disgusted then when I did it, and I’m disgusted now. My behavior in that video is unconscionable.”
Concluding his press conference, prosecutor Damian Williams said the investigation was still ongoing and new testimonies were eagerly awaited. A year ago, Sean Combs was handed the keys to the city by the mayor. Now he’s on trial. No matter how famous or wealthy an accused is, these are very serious accusations that we cannot let go. “The prosecutor also specified that he had requested that the rapper remain in detention given the seriousness of his crimes.
Source: www.huffingtonpost.fr
