NEW YORK − Federal prosecutors scored another win against Sean “Diddy” Combs on Friday.
U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian ruled against the Combs defense team’s request to push back the start of his federal sex-crimes trial two months after its scheduled May 5 start date.
Combs’ attorneys made the original request in a motion filed April 16 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, according to court documents obtained by USA TODAY.
Now, the Combs defense team will have limited time – less than three weeks – before the trial begins to prepare their arguments. The ruling comes as Combs now faces two new charges of sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution of the unnamed “Victim-2” filed earlier this month.
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In court documents filed April 17, the day before the court hearing, Combs’ legal team also presented their case for excluding from the trial footage of Combs attacking then-girlfriend Cassie.
The embattled music mogul was arrested in September and has been charged with racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to all five charges.
The federal indictment on criminal charges emerged amid a growing number of civil suits that allege Combs engaged in a pattern of abusive behavior over three decades including accusations of rape, sexual assault and physical violence.
Live updates from court:
Brian Steel, who represented rapper Young Thug in his own long-running legal battle and RICO trial, appeared at the federal court building as he joins Combs’ legal team ahead of the trial. –Anika Reed
Combs’ mother, Janice Combs, arrived at court April 18, donning sunglasses and sporting a bright blonde bob as she entered the courthouse to support her son. –Anika Reed
The Sean John founder’s lawyers have requested more time to prepare his defense in response to additional evidence and two new charges of sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution of “Victim-2.” Combs’ lawyers originally requested a two week, and later, a two-month delay, claiming in a April 16 motion that there is “substantially new conduct” alleged in the expanded April 3 indictment, and that the U.S. government is still producing evidence.
Combs’ lawyers said in the filing that the proposed two-month delay would allow Combs the “necessary time” to prepare his defense. –Taijuan Moorman and Edward Segarra
The court hearing was scheduled to start at 11 a.m. ET on April 18. –Anika Reed
When does Diddy’s trial start?
Combs’ trial, which will take place in downtown Manhattan, is currently set to begin May 5 with jury selection. –Anna Kaufman
Is Sean Combs 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 trial — a ruling his legal team has challenged in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. He’s been jailed since his arrest on Sept. 16. –Anna Kaufman
What is Diddy accused of?
Combs’ federal case involves a narrow number of alleged victims.
Using RICO law, which is aimed at targeting multi-person criminal organizations, prosecutors allege that Combs coerced victims, some whom were sex workers, through intimidation and narcotics to participate in “freak offs” – sometimes dayslong sex performances that lawyers claim they have video of.
Diddy news: Prosecutors add new charges to criminal case in indictment
Embattled music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs was hit with two additional sex crimes charges ahead of his May trial in New York City.
In March, 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. In a third superseding indictment, prosecutors added two additional charges – one count of sex trafficking and one count of transportation to engage in prostitution of “Victim-2” – to the previous three charges against him. –Anna Kaufman
What is a RICO charge?
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. –Anna Kaufman
How is Cassie involved?
Combs’ ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura filed a civil lawsuit in November 2023 that is widely viewed as the match that lit the flame for the mogul’s current predicament.
She accused her former partner of rape, sex trafficking and physical abuse, a series of allegations that opened the floodgates to dozens of damning civil complaints accusing the Bad Boy Records founder of various sexual assaults throughout his career.
Combs and Ventura settled for an undisclosed amount a day after she filed her suit. –Anna Kaufman
Contributing: KiMi Robinson, Edward Segarra, Anika Reed and Naledi Ushe, USA TODAY; Luc Cohen, Reuters
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