‘Gaslighting,’ Rent Payments and Barrages of Texts: How Prosecutors Say Diddy Intimidated Potential Witnesses

Sean “Diddy” Combs, who is accused of federal sex crimes in a recent indictment, allegedly tried “gaslighting” a woman into thinking she had consensual sexual encounters with him.

The allegation was put forth by a prosecutor at Combs’ arraignment on Tuesday, Sept. 19 in New York City, where he pleaded not guilty to charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and transportation to engage in prostitution.

The indictment centers around alleged “Freak Offs,” which prosecutors say were “highly orchestrated” sex performances arranged, organized and directed by Combs. Prosecutors allege that Combs would lure women under the pretense of a romantic relationship and would coerce them into partaking in the “Freak Offs” with male sex workers.

Combs’ who built a business empire after founding Bad Boy Records, one of the most successful labels in the history of hip hop, is accused of leveraging his power and financial support by threatening to withhold financial and career support for the women.

During his arraignment, prosecutors referenced an alleged phone call with a woman in which Combs made a “thinly-veiled reference” to continuing his financial support of the woman if she “continues to be on his side.”

Referencing the alleged “gaslighting,” prosecutors claimed in court that Combs “asked for the victim’s support and friendship, and attempts to convince the victim that she had willingly engaged in sex acts with him.”

On September 10, Dawn Richard Richard, who was part of Combs-organized groups Danity Kane and Dirty Money, sued the mogul, accusing him of abuse and claiming that she and fellow Dirty Money member Kalenna Harper witnessed him abusing Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, who became the first woman to sue Combs in November. In the aftermath of Richard’s suit, prosecutors allege that Combs’ called or texted her 58 times in four days.

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“This incident is just one way of making clear that this defendant has the ongoing ability to keep witnesses, even witnesses who might have been around for very distant-in-time abuse, in his pocket and at his disposal,” prosecutors argued.

Combs is also accused of using rent payments as a pay-off, with prosecutors claiming that he directed an associate to “make sure” an alleged victim’s rent was “paid on time.”

Two federal judges denied Combs’ request for bail, and he is currently incarcerated in a federal facility in Brooklyn.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.