According to the aforementioned outlet, Combs, who appeared for his second hearing in two days since his arrest, dipped his head and looked down at the defense table when he heard the judge’s ruling.
In their 14-page indictment, prosecutors accuse Combs of coercing women to participate in “freak-offs” that sometimes lasted for days. Combs, per federal authorities, orchestrated, directed, and recorded these performances, often using the recordings as collateral to ensure the victims continued to obey him and remain silent. The rapper allegedly threatened their careers and livelihoods if they resisted participating in the “freak-offs,” the indictment details.
Besides manipulation, Combs allegedly also employed physical force, including hitting women, throwing objects at them, and dragging them by their hair to force compliance. The violence caused injuries to the victims that, according to the indictment, took several days or weeks to heal.
In court on Tuesday, Johnson likened the rapper’s case to that of Jeffrey Epstein, Keith Raniere, and R. Kelly, leading Combs’ lawyer to call the cases “night and day different,” telling the judge that, unlike the other three men, his client is not accused of sexually abusing minors.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him. After Wednesday’s verdict, Marc Agnifilo told reporters that the fight would continue.
If convicted on all three counts, the rapper faces a sentence of 15 years to life in prison.
If you need support or know someone who is struggling with domestic violence, assault, or abuse, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist, NGO, or speak to someone about it. There are several helplines available for the same.
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