The federal trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs is scheduled to start out May 5, a decide in New York declared Thursday as he set deadlines within the intercourse trafficking case in opposition to the embattled hip-hop mogul.
Federal prosecutor Emily Johnson mentioned the federal government may take three weeks to current its case in opposition to Combs, 54, who pleaded not responsible final month to prices of intercourse trafficking, racketeering and transportation to have interaction in prostitution. The size of the trial, nevertheless, may change if a attainable superseding indictment is filed, she informed Judge Arun Subramanian in Manhattan.
Marc Agnifilo, a lawyer for Combs, mentioned the protection’s case may take a couple of week. Combs, sporting a beige shirt and pants, appeared anxious at occasions within the packed courtroom, turning to his supporters within the gallery, together with his mom, Janice Small Combs, and his youngsters.
Combs, the Grammy-winning artist and founding father of Bad Boy Records, has remained jailed in Brooklyn since his Sept. 16 arrest after two separate judges twice denied him bail. While one other bail attraction is pending in New York’s 2nd Circuit Court, Subramanian ordered Combs to stay in custody as a result of that software just isn’t earlier than him.
Manhattan federal prosecutors’ sprawling legal case in opposition to Combs is probably the most severe he faces amid a winding authorized saga that has included a brand new wave of lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault and misconduct over the a long time. A federal indictment alleged Combs orchestrated and recorded coerced intercourse acts throughout gatherings referred to as “freak offs.”
Combs faces life in jail if convicted.
Erica Wolff, a lawyer for Combs, has mentioned he “emphatically and categorically denies as false and defamatory any declare that he sexually abused anybody, together with minors.”
Many of the lawsuits have been filed in New York City, the place underneath the Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act, an individual can nonetheless convey forth a sexual abuse criticism even after the statute of limitation has handed. Combs settled one criticism final yr during which his former girlfriend, the singer Casandra ‘Cassie’ Ventura, accused him of rape and abuse. A lawyer mentioned Combs “vehemently denies” claims associated to that case.
Agnifilo has equally denied the legal allegations in opposition to him.
“He’s going to struggle this with all of his vitality and all of his would possibly, and the complete confidence of his attorneys,” Agnifilo informed reporters final month. “And I anticipate an extended battle with a superb end result for Mr. Combs.”
As a part of a joint letter this week from Combs’ attorneys and prosecutors to the trial decide, his protection staff mentioned it “continues to say his proper to a speedy trial and intends to request a trial date in April or May 2025, and as according to the Court’s trial schedule.”
However, prosecutors informed Subramanian there’s “voluminous” proof within the case, together with “a number of terabytes of digital materials,” which they’ve begun to show over to the protection.
The objects already submitted embody a whole set of search warrants within the case, a telephone belonging to Combs that was seized in March, and experiences on his iCloud accounts.
Johnson mentioned Thursday that prosecutors intend to finish discovery for the trial by the top of the yr. Ninety-six units associated to the case have been seized from Combs’ houses in Los Angeles and Miami and on Combs himself at a Miami airport, she added.
It might take longer to extract information, partly, as a result of a handful of them have been discovered smashed.
Another discovery convention listening to was scheduled for Dec. 18.
Meanwhile, Agnifilo requested for a gag order to be issued within the case, accusing federal brokers of leaking grand jury info and making prejudicial feedback to the media.
Johnson argued that the protection is solely making an attempt to exclude a “damning piece of proof” disguised as press statements that didn’t come from prosecutors.
The decide deferred ruling on the problem. Upon the listening to’s finish, Combs waved to his household, threw them a kiss and gave a prayer movement earlier than being led out.