In a new indictment, Sean “Diddy” Combs, has been accused of forced labor in relation to a racketeering conspiracy. While the superseding indictment did not list any new charges, it outlined the details surrounding the forced labor accusations, including how the music mogul allegedly forced at least one employee to participate in sexual activities with him.
The 15-page document, which was filed Thursday in the New York’s Southern District Court and obtained by TheWrap, states Combs “maintained control over certain employees of the Combs Business, whom he forced to work long hours with little sleep,” and allegedly did so through the use of “physical force, psychological harm, financial harm and reputational harm and/or threats of the same.”
“In doing so, Combs, assisted by members and associates of the Enterprise, caused these employees to believe they would be harmed — including by losing their jobs — if they did not comply with his demands,” the legal document reads.
In addition, the document states Combs used the above mentioned abuse tactics to force at least one employee to “engage in sex acts with” him.
In a statement to TheWrap, Combs’ attorney Marc Agnifilo, says Combs “vehemently denies the accusations.
“Mr. Combs has said it before and will say it again: he vehemently denies the accusations made by the SDNY. He looks forward to his day in court when it will become clear that he has never forced anyone to engage in sexual acts against their will. Many former employees stand by his side, prepared to attest to the dedication, hard work, and inspiration they experienced while helping build groundbreaking, award-winning businesses.”
The rap mogul has previously stated that allegations made against him are untrue. Combs is set to be arraigned on the new indictment next week, per ABC News.
Combs was arrested and indicted in New York Court in September on racketeering and sex trafficking charges. He is currently being held in federal custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. His trial is set to begin on May 5. This is the latest update on the ongoing Combs’ scandal. Back February, one of Combs’ several attorneys, Anthony Ricco, withdrew himself from Combs’ legal team.
In both his declaration and motion, Ricco insisted that his withdrawal, if granted, would “not result in a delay of the present schedule for the commencement of jury selection and trial, or the present schedules for briefing of pre-trial legal issues.”
