PM Prep-Segue
Published Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024 | noon
Updated Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024 | noon
NEW YORK (AP) – Sean “Diddy” Combs has pleaded not guilty to federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges. Combs appeared in a New York court today after his arrest late last night. An indictment unsealed this morning alleges Combs lured women with promises of romance or career help, then used force or threats to push them into what he called “Freak Offs”: drug-infused sessions with male sex workers that Combs filmed and used to coerce them into compliance. The indictment says Combs wielded weapons to intimidate his victims and witnesses. The indictment says as investigators closed in on Combs, he and his associates pressured victims and witnesses to stay silent. Combs’ attorney, Marc Agnifilo (ag-NIH’-fih-loh), says his client is innocent.
NEW YORK (AP) – Prosecutors say the evidence against Sean “Diddy” Combs includes three AR-15s with defaced serial numbers, two of which were broken into parts and found in his bedroom closet in Miami. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams says law enforcement agents searched Combs’ homes in Miami and Los Angeles this year and found narcotics, more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant, and videos of female victims and male sex workers in sessions dubbed “Freak Offs.” An indictment unsealed today says the sessions could last for days, with Combs and victims getting IV fluids to recover from exertion and drug use. Combs has pleaded not guilty.
NEW YORK (AP) – Prosecutors say that Sean “Diddy” Combs did not act alone in his alleged crimes that they say include racketeering and sex trafficking. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams says Combs’ security, household staff and associates booked sex sessions known as “Freak Offs” that involved paid sex workers and victims that Combs lured with promises of romance or financial gain. Williams says the associates paid the workers, cleaned up damage in hotel rooms and helped cover up the crimes. Williams says the investigation is ongoing, and he urges anyone with information to come forward quickly. Combs entered a plea of not guilty in a New York court today.
NEW YORK (AP) – Singer Cassie Ventura is declining comment about the federal case against her former boyfriend, Sean “Diddy” Combs. Ventura’s attorney, Douglas Wigdor, said in a statement issued before Combs’ court appearance in New York today that neither he nor his client have anything to say about the case. Earlier this year, CNN ran hotel security footage showing Combs punching and kicking Ventura. An indictment unsealed today refers to the attack without naming Ventura.
NEW YORK (AP) – David Letterman was called for jury duty yesterday in a criminal trial involving cryptocurrency fraud in New York City. He didn’t get chosen, but he made it past a general round of questioning that eliminated potential jurors for hardship reasons. Letterman, identified only as “Juror 16,” answered questions about his life that many people already know: he was born in Indianapolis, went to Ball State and is currently “working for a company called Netflix.” He also answered questions about following the Indianapolis Colts and that he likes to fish and ski.
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Ratings for the Emmy Awards are way up from last year, now that they’re back being broadcast in September. ABC says Sunday’s show reached nearly 7 million viewers. That’s a jump of more than 50 percent from the record low of the last Emmys, which were delayed four months to this past January because of the writers and actors strikes. That Emmy broadcast on Fox reached a record low of 4.3 million viewers. The Emmys broadcast rotates annually among the four broadcast networks.
MEXICO CITY (AP) - The Mexican pop-rock band Maná has removed a collaboration with Nicky Jam from online platforms after Jam expressed support for Donald Trump. Maná write on Instagram they removed the song “De pies a cabeza” from online platforms because “Maná does not work with racists.” Jam’s representative did not respond to requests for comment. Jam gave his support to Trump at a rally in Las Vegas last Friday. Trump seemed to mistake Jam for a woman, introducing him as “Latin music superstar Nicky Jam! Do you know Nicky? She’s hot. Where’s Nicky?”
NEW YORK (AP) – Lil Tecca has only one listed feature on his new “Plan A” album: Don Toliver. Lil Tecca says he prefers to collaborate with producers, but he acknowledges, “Don Toliver is fire.” Lil Tecca says the goal of his “Plan A” album is to inspire the people who have believed in him. “Plan A” is out Friday.
NEW YORK (AP) – There is a generation of Asian American girls who are named Connie because of Connie Chung. Chung herself did not know about that until a fellow journalist, Connie Wang, pointed it out to her five years ago. Chung says she is not a crybaby, but she “really bawled” learning that. Chung has written her life story in a new book called “Connie,” out today.
LONDON (AP) – Actor Joe Locke joins the “Wandavision” spinoff “Agatha All Along” as a mysterious character called Teen. That means he has to keep a lot of secrets, and he admits it’s giving him anxiety about saying the wrong thing. He says what makes it easier is knowing the secrets about the show will eventually come out. However, Locke’s pals are in the know. Locke says if he knows a secret, he tells best friends, “but they don’t really count.” “Agatha All Along” premieres tomorrow on Disney Plus.
NEW YORK (AP) – Producer and songwriter Édgar Barrera leads the nominations for the Latin Grammys with nine. Barrera is competing against himself in two categories. He’s nominated twice in the Regional Mexican song category and three times for song of the year. Karol G and Bad Bunny have eight nominations each, while Colombian songwriter Keityn has six. The Latin Grammys will be Nov. 14 in Miami.