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Sean 'Diddy' Combs pleads not guilty ahead of May sex trafficking trial

Sean 'Diddy' Combs pleads not guilty ahead of May sex trafficking trial
UNSHELTERED. DEVELOPING NOW, AN OKLAHOMA WOMAN BECOMES ONE OF DOZENS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUED SEAN DIDDY COMBS ON SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS. THERE IS A NEW LAWSUIT. LATOYA GRAYSON CLAIMING THAT SHE WAS DRUGGED AND ASSAULTED AT A PARTY IN 2006 AFTER WINNING A RADIO CONTEST FOR AN ALL EXPENSES PAID TRIP TO NEW YORK CITY AND TO DIDDY鈥橲 PARTY. THE LAWSUIT CLAIMS THAT THERE WASN鈥橳 A BAR FOR PARTY ATTENDEES, BUT PRE-MADE DRINKS THAT WAITRESSES WERE WALKING AROUND WITH. GRAYSON SAYS AFTER TWO OF THOSE, SHE BEGAN TO FEEL SICK. AND THE NEXT THING THAT SHE REMEMBERS IS WAKING UP AT A HOSPITAL WITH NO MEMORY OF THE EVENTS PRIOR. GRAYSON SHIRT WAS RIPPED, UNDERWEAR WAS MISSING. SHE SAYS. SHE WAS SHOELESS. HER MONEY WAS GONE. GRAYSON CLAIMS THAT WHEN SHE ARRIVED TO THE SOONER STATE, SHE RECEIVED A CALL FROM AN ANONYMOUS WOMAN WHO THREATENED HER THAT IF SHE ATTEMPTED TO PURSUE CHARGES THAT SHE WAS THREATENING HER. NOW, SHE DID NOT SEEK ANY FURTHER MEDICAL TREATMENT OR REPORT ANYTHING BECAUSE, QUOTE, SHE WAS SCARED AND CONFUSED. GRAYSON IS DEMANDING A TRIAL BY JURY AMONG MULTIPLE OTHER VICTIMS WHO
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Sean 'Diddy' Combs pleads not guilty ahead of May sex trafficking trial
Sean 鈥楧iddy鈥� Combs returned to federal court in New York City on Friday, pleading not guilty to the latest version of an indictment charging him with two decades of sex trafficking crimes.The 55-year-old Combs, his beard noticeably grayer than even weeks ago, stood with his hands folded before him as he told Judge Arun Subramanian that he had read the indictment and understood the charges against him.Combs, who has been held without bail since his September arrest, hugged two of his lawyers as he entered the courtroom and he blew kisses to family members and waved as he was led out by U.S. marshals afterward.Subramanian told lawyers that questionnaires will be distributed to hundreds of prospective jurors at the end of April so that questioning of would-be jurors can begin on May 5, with opening statements expected to occur on May 12.According to the indictment, Combs used the 鈥減ower and prestige鈥� he wielded as a music mogul to intimidate, threaten and lure women into his orbit, often under the pretense of a romantic relationship.The indictment said he then used force, threats and coercion to cause victims, including three women specified in the court papers, to engage in commercial sex acts.It said he subjected his victims to violence, threats of violence, threats of financial and reputational harm and verbal abuse.鈥淥n multiple occasions, Combs threw both objects and people, as well as hit, dragged, choked and shoved others,鈥� it said. 鈥淥n one occasion, Combs dangled a victim over an apartment balcony.鈥滵efense lawyers have argued that prosecutors used the charges to try to demonize sex acts between consenting adults.Part of the discussion in court Friday revolved around what will be allowed at the trial regarding a video that aired on CNN last year that showed Combs punching his former protege and girlfriend, the R&B singer Cassie, and throwing her on the floor in a hotel hallway.Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitzi Steiner said the video was 鈥渃ritical to the case.鈥滵efense attorney Marc Agnifilo said the video was 鈥渄eceptive and not in accordance with the actions that took place.鈥滺e said certain actions were speeded up in the video by as much as 50 percent and others were taken out of order.鈥淔rom the defense standpoint, it鈥檚 a misleading piece of evidence, a deceptive piece of evidence, a piece of evidence that has been changed,鈥� he said.Steiner also said the government was reluctant to share information about accusers who may testify in the case with defense lawyers until deadlines arrive that require the information to be turned over.She said many of the 鈥渋ndividuals are incredibly frightened鈥� not only at having their names revealed publicly but having them disclosed to defense attorneys.

Sean 鈥楧iddy鈥� Combs returned to federal court in New York City on Friday, pleading not guilty to the latest version of an indictment charging him with two decades of sex trafficking crimes.

The 55-year-old Combs, his beard noticeably grayer than even weeks ago, stood with his hands folded before him as he told Judge Arun Subramanian that he had read the indictment and understood the charges against him.

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Combs, who has been held without bail since his September arrest, hugged two of his lawyers as he entered the courtroom and he blew kisses to family members and waved as he was led out by U.S. marshals afterward.

Subramanian told lawyers that questionnaires will be distributed to hundreds of prospective jurors at the end of April so that questioning of would-be jurors can begin on May 5, with opening statements expected to occur on May 12.

According to the indictment, Combs used the 鈥減ower and prestige鈥� he wielded as a music mogul to intimidate, threaten and lure women into his orbit, often under the pretense of a romantic relationship.

The indictment said he then used force, threats and coercion to cause victims, including three women specified in the court papers, to engage in commercial sex acts.

It said he subjected his victims to violence, threats of violence, threats of financial and reputational harm and verbal abuse.

鈥淥n multiple occasions, Combs threw both objects and people, as well as hit, dragged, choked and shoved others,鈥� it said. 鈥淥n one occasion, Combs dangled a victim over an apartment balcony.鈥�

Defense lawyers have argued that prosecutors used the charges to try to demonize sex acts between consenting adults.

Part of the discussion in court Friday revolved around what will be allowed at the trial regarding a video that aired on CNN last year that showed Combs punching his former protege and girlfriend, the R&B singer Cassie, and throwing her on the floor in a hotel hallway.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitzi Steiner said the video was 鈥渃ritical to the case.鈥�

Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo said the video was 鈥渄eceptive and not in accordance with the actions that took place.鈥�

He said certain actions were speeded up in the video by as much as 50 percent and others were taken out of order.

鈥淔rom the defense standpoint, it鈥檚 a misleading piece of evidence, a deceptive piece of evidence, a piece of evidence that has been changed,鈥� he said.

Steiner also said the government was reluctant to share information about accusers who may testify in the case with defense lawyers until deadlines arrive that require the information to be turned over.

She said many of the 鈥渋ndividuals are incredibly frightened鈥� not only at having their names revealed publicly but having them disclosed to defense attorneys.