Prosecutors in New York have broadened their case against rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs. They have now accused him of pressuring two more women into engaging in commercial sex acts and of allegedly threatening someone by hanging them over an apartment balcony.
Combs has been in custody since September following an initial indictment that charged him with racketeering, sex trafficking by force, and transportation for prostitution.
The indictment was updated on Thursday to include two additional victims, though no new charges were brought forth.
The 55-year-old musician has vehemently denied all allegations against him, spanning from the federal criminal case to over 30 separate civil lawsuits.
Responding to the revised indictment, his lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, stated that the prosecution's case "remains flawed" and criticized the new claim labeling two of Combs's former girlfriends as prostitutes instead of romantic partners.
The prosecution alleges that Combs exerted force, threats, and coercion to compel victims, including three females, into performing commercial sex acts.
In a graphic video, Combs is depicted kicking, dragging, and throwing a vase at Ms. Ventura at a hotel in Los Angeles in 2016.
Additionally, prosecutors stated that Combs, aided by several close associates, supposedly paid $100,000 (£80,000) to hotel security for the video footage.
The updated indictment indicates a broadening of the federal prosecutors' case against Combs leading up to his trial scheduled for May. It also mentions that the investigation is ongoing, with further updates to be submitted promptly before the trial.
New developments include shifting the purported start date of Combs' sex trafficking offenses back to 2004, as well as expanding the alleged narcotics he used to keep victims compliant and silent to include methamphetamine and psychedelic mushrooms alongside previously mentioned substances.
Furthermore, prosecutors now claim that Combs not only assaulted women but also his employees, witnesses to his actions, and others.
Combs's legal team has previously denounced the charges as baseless and criticized the government for what they perceive as a witch hunt.