NEW YORK — Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs entered a not guilty plea in New York City federal court on Friday regarding the latest iteration of federal sex trafficking charges against him.

Combs, 55, appearing with a visibly grayer beard, stood before Judge Arun Subramanian and confirmed that he had reviewed the indictment and understood the accusations.

Combs, who remains detained without bail since his arrest in September, embraced two of his lawyers upon entering the courtroom.

Judge Subramanian informed legal counsel that potential jurors would receive questionnaires in late April. Jury selection is scheduled to commence on May 5, with opening statements anticipated for May 12.

The indictment alleges that Combs exploited his influence as a prominent music executive to manipulate, intimidate, and entice women, frequently under the guise of romantic relationships.

The indictment further states that he employed force, threats, and coercion to compel victims, including the three women mentioned, into engaging in commercial sex acts.

It alleges that he subjected his victims to physical violence, threats of violence, threats to their financial stability and reputation, and verbal abuse.

The indictment details instances where “Combs threw objects and people, as well as hit, dragged, choked and shoved others,” and recounted an incident where “Combs dangled a victim over an apartment balcony.”

Defense attorneys have countered that prosecutors are attempting to portray consensual sexual activity between adults in a negative light.

A portion of Friday’s court proceedings addressed the admissibility of a CNN video from the previous year, depicting Combs assaulting his former protégé and girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie, by punching her and throwing her to the ground in a hotel corridor.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitzi Steiner asserted that the video is “critical to the case.”

Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo argued that the video is “deceptive and not in accordance with the actions that took place.”

He claimed that the video’s playback speed was altered, with certain actions accelerated by as much as 50 percent, and that some events were presented out of sequence.

“From the defense standpoint, it’s a misleading piece of evidence, a deceptive piece of evidence, a piece of evidence that has been changed,” he stated.

As marshals escorted Combs from the courtroom, he blew kisses and waved to family members present in the gallery.

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