This story discusses allegations of sexual assault and abuse. If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673.

(NewsNation) — Sean “Diddy” Combs has been indicted by a grand jury on several felony charges, ending monthslong speculation surrounding federal raids conducted on two of his properties in March.

Combs was arrested Monday in New York and faces federal charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and transportation to engage in prostitution.

He appeared in court Tuesday morning to hear the charges against him along with his attorney Marc Agnifilo.

“We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” Agnifilo said in a statement Monday.

Combs was denied bail during an initial court appearance Tuesday and then again Wednesday when he appealed. His lawyers will now ask a federal appeals court to overturn the District Court judge’s decision to deny bail.

Prosecutors allege Combs used the resources of his music empire to create “a criminal enterprise whose members and associates engaged in, and attempted to engage in, among other crimes, sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice.”

The indictment comes after a number of lawsuits filed against Combs.

Formerly known as “Puff Daddy,” Combs was once considered one of the most influential hip-hop producers and executives of the last three decades. The founder of Bad Boy Records has worked with artists such as Notorious B.I.G., Mary J. Blige, Usher, Lil Kim, Faith Evans and 112, and also created a fashion clothing line and a music-focused TV channel. 

Diddy arrested on felony charges and nightclub shooting

April 16, 1999

Combs, then 29 years old, is arrested on felony charges that he and two of his bodyguards assaulted Interscope Records executive Steve Stoute.

Stoute said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times that Combs “burst into his office” and attacked him.

“One minute I’m in the middle of a meeting,” he told The Times. “The next minute I’m down on the floor and Puffy and his guys are kicking and pounding me. One of them picks up a chair and throws it at me. Then Puffy throws my desk over and they just walk out like nothing happened.”

Combs would end up pleading guilty to a lesser charge and was sentenced to a court-designated anger management program, though Stoute would later sue him and the two would settle out of court for half a million dollars.

December 1999

While partying at Club New York in Midtown Manhattan with his then-girlfriend, Jennifer Lopez, “Combs’ crew exchanged words with another clubgoer,” a New York Post article from 2011 said. Gunshots were fired.

Combs and Lopez fled in a Lincoln Navigator, and a gun was found in the car. He was charged with gun possession but later acquitted.

Natania Reuben, who was at the club that night, said she saw Combs shoot her in the face. Reuben filed a $130 million lawsuit against Combs in 2008, which was settled in 2011.

“I watched him fire the gun,” Reuben said on social media in February 2024.

Sources told NewsNation’s Paula Froelich that Combs was very controlling of Lopez and put her in “uncomfortable situations.”

“He manhandled her, but it’s a little low to bring this all up now,” another person said.

Combs and Lopez broke up in 2001. A representative for Lopez declined to comment.

People start to speak out about Diddy

June 2004

Fashion Designer Kimora Lee Simmons said in a  New York Magazine interview that she “said something to Combs and he threatened to hit her” while she was pregnant. New York Magazine wrote, “Combs eventually got down on his knees in public to apologize.”

February 2012

Combs allegedly threatened to blow up rapper Kid Cudi’s car after he learned the rapper was romantically interested in his ex-girlfriend, R&B singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura. Kid Cudi’s car exploded in his driveway around the same time, according to a lawsuit later filed by Ventura.

Cudi told the New York Times the story was true.

June 2019

Gina Huynh said on a podcast that Combs abused her during their 5-year relationship.

“He stomped on my stomach really hard — like, took the wind out of my breath,” Huynh said on blogger Tasha K’s show, according to Page Six. “I couldn’t breathe. He kept hitting me. I was pleading to him, ‘Can you just stop? I can’t breathe.’” Huynh said in the interview he paid her $5,000 to abort their baby, which she turned down.

December 2022

Singer Aubrey O’Day, part of the girl group Danity Kane, said on an episode of the “Call Her Daddy” podcast Combs fired her from the band because she “wasn’t willing to do what was expected of (her) — not talent-wise, but in other areas.” Danity Kane had been founded on the show Combs executive produced called “Making the Band.” Eventually, they signed on to Bad Boy Records by Combs.

Rolling Stone wrote that O’Day said Combs would tell her “you’re not hot anymore” and that she didn’t “have any curves.”

“You know, I have such a love-hate with it all because I don’t think I would have been able to be so successful in so many other areas had I not been trained under Diddy,” she said on the podcast. “He was the hardest person that you can work for, and it was torture. And not the work part of it, but the other stuff — mind game. There was a lot of betrayal, there was a lot of lies.”

First lawsuit against Diddy by Cassie

Nov. 16, 2023

Ventura sued Combs, alleging in New York federal court that he brought her into his “ostentatious, fast-paced, and drug-fueled lifestyle” when she was just 19 and he was 37. In the lawsuit, Ventura detailed a yearslong relationship that included beatings and rapes, saying that a pattern of abuse began as soon as the relationship started.

Combs’ attorney Ben Brafman said he “vehemently denies” the allegations.

Nov. 17, 2023

Combs and Ventura announced they settled the suit. A news release said the two reached a deal to their “mutual satisfaction,” though the agreement terms were not disclosed.

The deal was reached “amicably,” Ventura said in a statement in which she thanked her family, fans and lawyers.

In his own statement, Combs said he wished “Cassie and her family all the best.”

Two more women say Diddy victimized them

Nov. 23, 2023

Two lawsuits are filed a day before the expiration of a New York law that allowed victims of sexual abuse a one-year window to file civil action, regardless of the statute of limitations.

Both filings described sexual assault, beatings and forced drugging by Combs in the early 1990s, when he was a talent director and party promoter in New York City.

One of the women, Joi Dickerson, said she was a student at Syracuse University when, while on a date, Combs “intentionally drugged” her, then brought her home and sexually assaulted her. Dickerson alleges Combs videotaped the assault and shared it with friends in the music industry, an act that contributed to her “severe depression.”

The other lawsuit was brought by an unnamed woman who said Combs and an R&B singer sexually assaulted her and a friend, then beat her several days later in an attempt to stop them from speaking out. In the latter attack, the suit said, Combs choked the woman, identified as Jane Doe, until she passed out.

A spokesperson for Combs denied these allegations.

More lawsuits against Diddy 

Dec. 6, 2023 

Combs is accused of the 2003 rape of a woman when she was a 17-year-old high school junior in a lawsuit. The woman, who filed the suit under a “Jane Doe” pseudonym, stated that Combs, his producing partner and a third man “sex trafficked and gang raped” her, according to Business Insider. She said the producing partner met her in Detroit, Michigan, where she lived, and flew her to Combs’ studio in New York City on a private jet. Combs and his producing partner, the lawsuit alleged, “plied Ms. Doe with drugs and alcohol,” getting her inebriated to the point she could not consent “to having sex with anyone, much less someone twice her age,” Business Insider reported.

On Instagram, Combs put out a statement, saying he has “sat silently and watched people try to assassinate my character, destroy my reputation and my legacy.”

“Let me be absolutely clear,” he wrote. “I did not do any of the awful things being alleged. I will fight for my name, my family and for the truth.”

Feb. 26, 2024

A music producer filed a lawsuit in New York federal court saying Combs sexually assaulted him, and forced him to have sex with prostitutes.

The suit said there were repeated instances of unsolicited groping and sexual touching, and that the man had to work in a bathroom while Combs showered and walked around naked.

“We have overwhelming, indisputable proof that his claims are complete lies,” Combs’ attorney Shawn Holley said in a statement. “We will address these outlandish allegations in court and take all appropriate action against those who make them.”

March 4. 2024

The producer, Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, amended his lawsuit with more allegations.

Raid on Diddy’s properties

March 26, 2024

Federal Homeland Security agents and other law enforcement searched properties owned by Combs in California and Florida. NewsNation local affiliate WPIX confirms this is part of an ongoing sex trafficking investigation by New York federal authorities.

Aaron Dyer, Combs’ attorney, released a statement calling what happened a “gross overuse of military-level force.”

“Mr. Combs was never detained but spoke to and cooperated with authorities. Despite media speculation, neither Mr. Combs nor any of his family members have been arrested nor has their ability to travel been restricted in any way,” Dyer said. “There has been no finding of criminal or civil liability with any of these allegations. Mr. Combs is innocent and will continue to fight every single day to clear his name.”

March 28, 2024

Reuben said on “Elizabeth Vargas Reports” that learning about the raids has been “very cathartic.”

“I finally felt like justice will be done, justice will be mine and belong to all of his victims,” Reuben said.

Initially, Reuben said, she didn’t think she would be believed.

“In our society, we have respectability politics. There are people who want to be adjacent to power or a celebrity or money. There’s a hierarchy of respectability because (Combs) name was more motivated. He was believed, rather than a victim,” Reuben said.

March 30, 2024

A New York Post article came out saying the investigation into Combs could expand to include the 1999 nightclub shooting.

Reuben said on NewsNation that she is willing to have a doctor remove part of the 9 mm bullet in her face so it can be used as evidence if needed.

Diddy investigation expands

April 2, 2024

Sources say the federal investigation into Combs has expanded, including a reinvestigation of a 1999 shooting in New York.

April 5, 2024

Combs’ son is accused of sexual assault and battery in a lawsuit filed by a steward who worked on a yacht chartered by Combs. Combs is accused of aiding and abetting his behavior.

April 24, 2024

Brendan Paul, an assistant to Combs accused of being a drug mule in the lawsuit, pleads not guilty to a drug charge in a South Florida court.

Diddy seen assaulting Cassie in hotel surveillance video

May 17, 2024

Hotel surveillance video from 2016 obtained by CNN appeared to show Combs violently attacking, kicking and shoving Ventura at the now-closed InterContinental Hotel in Century City, Los Angeles.

In the video, Combs is seen running in a towel after Ventura who is seen standing in front of an elevator bank. He aggressively grabs and drags her down and then kicks her before picking up her luggage. He is then seen dragging her on the floor back to a hotel room as she braces her head.

The footage matches the description of a physical altercation Ventura detailed in her now-settled lawsuit against Combs. 

May 19, 2024

Combs posted an apology video to social media admitting that he beat Ventura in the hotel hallway in 2016.

Combs said he was “truly sorry” and his actions were “inexcusable” in the video posted to Instagram and Facebook.

“I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I was disgusted then when I did it. I’m disgusted now,” the music mogul said. “It’s so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, but sometimes you got to do that,” Combs said, adding “I went and I sought out professional help. I got into going to therapy, going to rehab. I had to ask God for his mercy and grace. I’m so sorry.”

He did not address any other allegations.

Diddy’s legal team notified of federal investigation

July 3, 2024

Two sources familiar with the situation confirmed to NBC News that federal investigators are presenting evidence against Combs to a grand jury in the Southern District of New York.

10th civil suit filed against Diddy

July 4, 2024

Combs is named in a 10th lawsuit accusing him of sexual misconduct.

In her suit, a woman accuses Combs of grooming her for sex trafficking at his “white parties” between 2004 and 2009.

Diddy hit with $100 million judgement for alleged sexual assault

Sept. 10, 2024

Combs was hit with a massive $100 million default judgment after failing to dispute sexual assault allegations made in lawsuit by a Michigan inmate.

Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith, 51, filed a lawsuit accusing Combs of drugging and sexually assaulting him at a party in Detroit in 1997.  

Combs was due to appear in Lenawee County Circuit Court for a virtual hearing Monday but when he failed to show up, a judge awarded Cardello-Smith a default judgment.

Diddy arrested in New York

Sept. 16, 2024

Combs was arrested in Manhattan following a grand jury indictment.

Agnifilo, his attorney, issued the following statement: “We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”

He called Combs an “imperfect person,” adding: “To his credit Mr. Combs has been nothing but cooperative with this investigation and he voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of these charges. Please reserve your judgment until you have all the facts.”

Diddy indicted on three felony charges

Sept. 17, 2024

Combs was indicted by a grand jury in New York on three counts of racketeering, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and transportation to engage in prostitution.

He appeared in court to hear the charges against him along with Agnifilo.

Prosecutors allege Combs used the resources of his music empire to create “a criminal enterprise whose members and associates engaged in, and attempted to engage in, among other crimes, sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice.”

They characterized Combs as having a pattern of abusing women and detailed allegations of assault, abuse and prostitution. They also accuse him as having used his employees to help him engage in these activities.

The indictment also says Combs will have to forfeit any and all assets acquired or maintained as a result of his alleged criminal acts, and that he forfeit any property and personal used to commit the crimes he is alleged to have participated in.

Combs is denied bail. His attorneys say they will appeal.

Sept. 18, 2024

In their appeal to a new judge after the first denial, his lawyers offer a $50 million bail package — using his mansion as collateral — in exchange for releasing him to home detention with GPS monitoring.

U.S. District Judge Andrew L. Carter ruled this was “insufficient” to ensure the safety of the community and the integrity of his case, however, and denies bail.

Combs’ attorneys say they will appeal the bail denial to the 2nd U.S. Circuit of Appeals.

11th suit filed against Diddy

Sept. 24, 2024

Diddy is named in a lawsuit by Thalia Graves, who says the music mogul, along with his bodyguard, Joseph “Big Joe” Sherman, “viciously raped her” at the Bad Boy Records studio in the summer of 2001, according to court documents obtained by NewsNation local affiliate KTLA.

Attorney Gloria Allred and Graves allege the assault was filmed and then shared without the victim’s consent — including selling it as pornography.

Diddy accused of sex trafficking woman

Sept. 27, 2024

Ariel Mitchell-Kidd, attorney for a new Combs accuser, revealed horrific details about an alleged rape that happened between the rap mogul and one of her new clients in 2018. According to Mitchell-Kidd, her client did file a police report at the time.

“She reached out to me a few weeks ago. She called me and told me about her assault and her escape,” Mitchell-Kidd said. “She was at a friend’s house who had industry ties, and Diddy decided to come to the house.”

Mitchell-Kidd said her client learned that Combs was planning on sex trafficking her once he arrived.

“It led to her being served a drink. She started to feel woozy. Combs sexually assaulted her with an inanimate object. … And then directed another gentleman to sexually assault her while he watched and pleasured himself,” Mitchell-Kidd said.

Mitchell-Kidd said her client was able to escape, running to the streets. A neighbor reportedly witnessed the escape.

Diddy adds two more attorneys

Sept. 30, 2024

NewsNation learned Combs added two new additions to his legal team: powerhouse attorneys Anthony Ricco and Alexandra Shapiro.

Further, Combs’ legal team has filed an appeal contesting a federal judge’s decision to deny him bail, a third attempt to release the rapper from incarceration.

Lawyer says 120 more people will come forward

Oct. 1, 2024

Tony Buzbee, a lawyer from Houston, says he is representing 120 people who plan on filing lawsuits saying they have experienced sexual misconduct from Combs, including 25 minors.

Erica Wolff, Combs’ lawyer, said in a statement to NewsNation that the rap mogul “emphatically and categorically denies as false and defamatory any claim that he sexually abused anyone, including minors.”

Diddy accuser Adria English loses legal representation 

Oct. 2, 2024

Ariel Mitchell-Kidd, ex-attorney for Sean “Diddy” Combs accuser Adria English, explained on “Banfield” why she requested to withdraw from her client’s case.

“We agreed that she would stop undermining me,” Mitchell-Kidd said on “Banfield.” “Then she went behind my back and violated it again. So fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. That’s where we are.”

Former adult film actress Adria English alleged that from 2004 and 2009, the music mogul forced her to take drugs and have sex with guests at his New York and Miami mansions.

New judge assigned to federal case

Oct. 3, 2024

A new judge, U.S. District Court Judge Arun Subramanian, is now in charge of the case against Combs. Court documents show he was assigned the case Oct. 3.

While his legal team hasn’t commented, the assignment of a new judge potentially opens the door for a third bail hearing. For the moment, Combs’ lawyers have not asked for such a hearing.

The family of Tupac Shakur has hired an attorney to investigate a possible link between his 1996 murder and Combs. The man arrested last year for the killing in Las Vegas, Duane “Keffe D” Davis, has said that Combs was involved in planning Shakur’s shooting death. Combs has long denied any involvement, and police in Las Vegas say they have never considered Combs a suspect.

Sexually explicit videos at risk of being sold

Oct. 4, 2024

A young A-list celebrity who was secretly videoed having sex at one of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ “freakoffs” is “horrified” at the possibility that the video may become public, the New York Post first reported.

Two members of this male celebrity’s inner circle told the Post the footage is being shopped around to media outlets.

Ariel Mitchell-Kidd, an attorney who represents one of Combs’ accusers, told NewsNation’s “Banfield” on Oct. 4 that one or two major news networks are in a “bidding war” for the footage.

“We’re sooner rather than later finding out unless that person purchases the video themselves, which is really the goal of the people who have that video. If that person doesn’t want to purchase it, it’s going to go on the open market,” Mitchell-Kidd said.

The video appears to be Combs having sex with a younger male, the A-lister, whose faces are both visible, according to the Post.

Diddy’s mom: ‘My son is not the monster they have painted him to be’

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ mother, Janice Smalls Combs, condemned the allegations against her son, likening the investigation to a “public lynching” rooted in “lies” for “financial gain.”

Smalls Combs acknowledged a video showing her son assaulting his former girlfriend in a hotel in 2016. Combs admitted to the assault in May, calling his actions “inexcusable.”

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs files bail appeal again

Combs filed his third appeal, asking to be released on bond in his sex abuse case as he awaits trial.

In new legal documents, obtained by NewsNation, Combs’ legal team argues the music mogul poses “no conceivable flight risk.”

Diddy lawyers blame DHS for leaks

Oct. 9, 2024

In a filing late on Wednesday, Oct. 9, Combs attorneys accused the Department of Homeland Security of being behind “unlawful leaks that resulted in prejudicial pre-trial publicity” that will damage Combs’ ability to get a fair trial.

They say the “most egregious” leak is security footage from the Intercontinental Hotel in Los Angeles that shows Combs assaulting former girlfriend Ventura.

The lawyers are asking for a hearing so the judge hearing the case can assess the legal team’s allegations pointed at DHS, and not the U.S. Attorney’s Office, which is prosecuting the case. They also want a gag order to prevent any further releases.

Six more lawsuits filed

Oct. 14, 2024

The first six of 120 lawsuits Buzbee said would be coming are filed in New York federal court. Among the allegations detailed in the filings are one saying Combs sexually assaulted a 16-year-old.

Attorneys for Combs told NewsNation the rap mogul “has never sexually assaulted anyone—adult or minor, man or woman.”

“The press conference and 1-800 number that preceded today’s barrage of filings were clear attempts to garner publicity. Mr. Combs and his legal team have full confidence in the facts, their legal defenses, and the integrity of the judicial process.  In court, the truth will prevail,” they said.

NewsNation digital producers Liz Jassin and Rich Johnson, Senior Story Editor Paula Froelich, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.