Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs to remain in jail until May 2025 trial
In a press conference, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York revealed shocking allegations against Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Sean “Diddy” Combs appeared in court Friday in one of the last hearings before his May trial is set to begin.
He shocked courtroom attendees with a new look at a pretrial conference. Prosecutors announced new claims in their case against Combs and, as he appeared and blew a kiss to his family, courtroom onlookers expressed shook at his new appearance with white hair and a graying beard.
Authorities arrested the embattled hip-hop mogul in September on federal charges of racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.
The hearing in Manhattan federal court allowed Combs’ legal team and prosecutors to dispute various aspects of the rapper’s trial, including jury selection, submitted evidence and the trial’s court timeline.
Combs was also arraigned in court on a new indictment, which added accusations that the hip-hop mogul forced employees to work long hours and threatened to punish those who did not assist in his two-decade sex-trafficking scheme.
The trial, now slated to start with jury selection beginning on May 5, comes more than a year after a civil lawsuit filed by Combs’ ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, alleging rape, sex trafficking and physical abuse, opened the flood gates to dozens of damning civil complaints accusing the Bad Boy Records founder of various sexual assaults over the course of his three-decade career.
Here’s everything you need to know about Combs’ criminal charges and upcoming trial.
Diddy’s charges, explained
The day after Combs was taken into custody in September, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York indicted Combs and announced federal criminal charges against the music mogul. He’s charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution; Combs previously pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Racketeering is the participation in an illegal scheme under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Statute, or RICO, as a way for the U.S. government to prosecute organizations contributing to criminal activity. Per Combs’ indictment, prosecutors say his racketeering activity included “multiple acts of kidnapping,” arson, bribery, witness tampering, forced labor, sex trafficking, transportation for the purposes of prostitution and distribution of narcotics.
Prosecutors say they have “dozens” of videos depicting Combs’ so-called “freak offs” – sometimes dayslong sex performances between sex workers and people he allegedly coerced into participating through narcotics and intimidation – that corroborate witness testimony.
Earlier this month, prosecutors submitted a second superseding indictment – updating the amended indictment from January that added three unnamed women who were allegedly victims of his so-called sex trafficking enterprise – which claims Combs subjected employees to forced labor under inhumane circumstances.
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Why was Diddy arrested?
The music mogul was taken into custody on Sept. 16 “based on a sealed indictment” filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
The 14-page federal grand jury indictment, which was unsealed Sept. 17, revealed an extensive and ongoing federal investigation into the hip-hop icon.
At the time, Combs’ attorney Marc Agnifilo confirmed the rapper’s arrest to USA TODAY in a statement, saying, “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.”
Is Diddy in jail?
Despite repeated attempts at bail, Combs was ordered to remain in custody at the Special Housing Unit in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center ahead of his May 5 trial — a ruling his legal team has challenged in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. He’s been in jail since his arrest on Sept. 16.
What happened at Diddy court hearing?
U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian asked Combs for his plea to the revised indictment.
While interacting with the judge, Combs chose to stand and spoke briefly. He said he was “fine” and answered that he was pleading “not guilty” to the new indictment.
Ahead of Friday’s pretrial conference, Combs’ attorneys and prosecutors outlined a series of trial logistics for Subramanian’s review, according to a letter obtained Thursday by USA TODAY. The legal items range from the jury selection process to discovery obligations.
Regarding jury selection, the prosecution requested the selection process begin April 21 to avoid extending the trial’s run beyond July 4, which could create “unnecessary additional challenges in seating a jury.” Combs’ legal team requested a two-part start date of May 5 and May 6, arguing an earlier date would “substantially prejudice the defense.”
Subramanian determined that both sides would review 300 jurors per day on April 28 and 29, though this could extend to April 30. The judge also suggested a sequestered voir dire (jury selection process) on May 5. Opening statements are scheduled to begin May 12. Attorneys for both sides agreed with this scheduling decision.
When it comes to the discovery process, during which various facts and documents in the case are disclosed by all parties, prosecutors argue that Combs and his legal team have failed to produce any discovery materials and should be ordered by the court to comply.
However, the defense said it plans on submitting some case evidence during the pretrial conference, noting an alleged subpoena response from CNN that details its publication of hotel surveillance footage of Combs and Ventura from a 2016 incident.
The scheduling of the case’s final pretrial conference, previously under dispute from both sides, will now take place April 25, the judge ruled.
Why were Diddy’s homes raided before arrest?
On March 25, 2024, Homeland Security Investigations agents raided Combs’ Los Angeles home. Agents also searched Combs’ Miami residence at that time, Rolling Stone, NBC News and The Associated Press reported.
A Homeland Security Investigations spokesperson said in a statement to USA TODAY at the time that “Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York executed law enforcement actions as part of an ongoing investigation.” The searches were part of an ongoing sex-trafficking investigation in New York, authorities have since confirmed.
Multiple AR-15 guns, large-capacity magazines, “evidence” of the crimes in the indictment and over 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant used during “freak off” parties — “elaborate and produced sex performances” — were discovered during federal raids of Combs’ homes, said Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, at a press conference the same day authorities announced the indictment against Combs.
Why did Cassie sue Diddy?
Combs’ legal woes began in November 2023 when ex-girlfriend Ventura accused the rapper of rape, sex trafficking and physical abuse in a civil suit. Combs and Ventura settled for an undisclosed amount a day later.
Ventura, who began dating Combs when she was 19 and he was her boss at his Bad Boy label, alleged in the lawsuit that Combs plied her with drugs and alcohol, physically abused her and “took control” of her life — ranging from her healthcare to her career opportunities.
Combs also allegedly raped her in 2018 and forced Ventura into “repeated unwanted sexual encounters” with male prostitutes who he hired and recorded their encounters.
Contributing: Patrick Ryan, KiMi Robinson, Jay Stahl, Taijuan Moorman, Naledi Ushe, USA TODAY; Luc Cohen, Reuters
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