Trial Date Set for Diddy in Sex Trafficking Case Amid Potential New Charges
A federal judge has scheduled the start date for Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking trial, as prosecutors suggest more charges may be forthcoming. The trial is set to begin on May 5, 2025, following a hearing on Thursday in Manhattan’s federal court.
During the proceedings, presided over by Judge Arun Subramanian, Diddy made his first court appearance in the case. The rapper and music mogul was accompanied by his mother, Janice Combs, and his children. Subramanian will oversee the high-profile trial moving forward.
The legal debate during the hearing centred around whether footage of a 2016 incident involving Diddy and his former girlfriend, Cassie, should be allowed as evidence. Diddy’s defence team argued that the video, which shows the Bad Boy Records founder assaulting Cassie in a hotel corridor, was unlawfully leaked to the media by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. His lawyers claim that such leaks have created negative pretrial publicity that could influence potential jurors, thus denying Diddy his right to a fair trial.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson countered the defence’s claims, accusing them of attempting to exclude crucial evidence without a legitimate basis. She denied that the government was responsible for any leaks and dismissed the defence’s arguments as groundless.
While Judge Subramanian did not immediately rule on whether the video would be admissible, he instructed Diddy’s attorney, Marc Agnifilo, to draft an order prohibiting both legal teams from making public disclosures that could affect the jury. The judge signalled he would sign the order, reinforcing the need for impartiality as the trial approaches.
Adding to Diddy’s legal troubles, prosecutors revealed that the government is contemplating filing a superseding indictment, which could introduce additional charges or bring in more defendants. If such an indictment is pursued, it could delay the trial start date.
Diddy’s legal team has already filed motions accusing the government of engaging in “strategic” and “unlawful” leaks to damage his reputation. They point to the release of the 2016 video as a deliberate attempt to undermine his defence. Diddy’s attorneys have demanded an evidentiary hearing to investigate these claims.
The ongoing investigation and potential for further charges continue to cast uncertainty over the high-stakes case, as both sides prepare for a trial that could have significant ramifications for the hip-hop mogul.
