Sean 'Diddy' Combs denied bail after pleading not guilty

Music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to three charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York charged Combs with all three counts earlier Tuesday, after he was arrested on in Manhattan on Monday night. The indictment comes after a months-long investigation, that included raids on his homes in Miami and Los Angeles.

Prosecutors in the case attempted to argue in court on Tuesday that Combs is violent and a flight risk, and should remain in federal custody pending his official trial. But defense lawyers have maintained that the musician came to New York voluntarily in anticipation of the charges, which prove he is not a flight risk, and should be on a home detention in Miami.

“He has never run from a challenge, and he will not run from this one. Instead, he takes these challenges head on, he moves toward them confidently and with the assurances that right is on his side,” his lawyer said, per CNN.

The judge later denied bail for the rapper, who could face up to life in prison if convicted, and ordered that he be sent to jail pending the trial, NBC News reported.

The unsealed indictment alleges that Combs “engaged in a persistent and pervasive pattern of abuse toward women and other individuals," which lasted more than a decade. It also accused Combs of overseeing a underworld of sexual crimes, according to the Associated Press. 

Combs has denied many of the allegations, but apologized for assaulting his former girlfriend, Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura, after video surveillance was obtained and released by CNN earlier this year. The assault occurred in a Los Angeles hotel in 2016. 

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.