A federal judge presiding over the trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs, who faces serious charges including sex trafficking, has rejected the music mogul’s request to postpone the trial by two months. The judge emphasized that Mr. Combs had more than enough time to prepare for the proceedings.
On Monday, the acclaimed rapper and record producer entered a not guilty plea to two additional charges added to his existing cases of criminal racketeering and sex trafficking. These new charges include sex trafficking as well as transportation for the purpose of engaging in prostitution.
Judge Arun Subramanian firmly stated that the highly publicized trial against the 55-year-old Mr. Combs, who is accused by multiple women of trafficking and sexual exploitation, will proceed as scheduled on May 5. Expect the trial to unfold over an estimated duration of eight to ten weeks.
During the courtroom proceedings, Mr. Combs displayed a visible affirmation of the legal principles at play, nodding vigorously as the judge reminded everyone present, “Mr. Combs is innocent until proven guilty.”
Addressing the request for an extension, Judge Subramanian questioned the urgency, noting, “It’s unclear why there isn’t sufficient time, especially given the now four law firms Mr. Combs has representing him.” This comment came during a pretrial hearing held in a Manhattan courthouse.
Mr. Combs’s lead attorney, Marc Agnifilo, argued that additional time was necessary to review new evidence. In response to this claim, Judge Subramanian countered, “The new conduct alleged is not new.”
Throughout the proceedings, Mr. Combs, dressed in standard prison attire and showing signs of aging—his hair and beard sprinkled with grey—was seen shifting in his seat and, at one moment, blowing a kiss to his mother, Janice, who was present in the courtroom.
Also attending the hearing was attorney Brian Steele, who recently made headlines for securing a favorable plea deal for artist Young Thug, who was facing decades behind bars. However, Mr. Steele chose not to make any comments during the proceedings.
Public allegations against the Grammy-winning artist have amassed since late 2023, when singer and actress Cassie, whose full name is Casandra Ventura, accused him of more than a decade of coercive behavior involving physical force and drugs, alongside allegations of a 2018 rape.
In addition to the federal charges, Mr. Combs is contending with a multitude of civil lawsuits alleging severe abuse, purportedly facilitated by a network of loyal employees and associates.
Since his incarceration in September, the rap superstar—also known as Puff Daddy and P Diddy—has begun to visibly age. Renowned for founding Bad Boy Records, he is credited with launching the careers of numerous artists, including Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans, Notorious B.I.G., and Usher, during the 1990s and 2000s.
However, prosecutors underscore that the allegations against him include coercing women into recorded sexual encounters labeled “freak offs,” which involved male sex workers sometimes transported across state lines.
Currently, Mr. Combs remains incarcerated in Brooklyn since September.
Source: Reuters/AFP
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring
