A federal judge has ruled that Sean “Diddy” Combs’ high-profile sex trafficking and racketeering trial will begin as planned in May, rejecting the music mogul’s request for a two-month delay. The decision came during a hearing in Manhattan federal court on Friday, April 18, where U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian found no justification for postponing the proceedings.
Combs’ legal team had argued that prosecutors were slow to turn over evidence following an April superseding indictment, leaving them insufficient time to prepare. However, Judge Subramanian remained unconvinced, stating it was “unclear why there isn’t sufficient time to prepare,” according to CNN.
The case took another dramatic turn as attorneys debated the admissibility of a 2016 surveillance video obtained by CNN that appears to show Combs physically assaulting his ex-girlfriend, singer Cassie Ventura, in a Los Angeles hotel. The footage depicts Combs – wearing only a towel and socks – chasing Ventura, striking her, kicking her while she’s on the ground, and hurling objects at her.
Combs’ defense team has moved to exclude the video, claiming CNN “altered, manipulated” and “sped up” the footage while allegedly destroying the original. The network has strongly denied these allegations, maintaining they preserved the original recording provided by their source.
The video’s authenticity carries significant weight as Ventura’s November 2023 lawsuit against Combs – settled just one day after filing – described an assault that closely matches the footage.
In a separate development, the court approved Combs’ request to add high-profile attorney Brian Steel to his defense team. Steel previously represented rapper Young Thug in his Georgia RICO case.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to all charges, which could result in a life sentence if convicted. Since his September arrest, he has been held without bail at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center.
Jury selection is scheduled to begin May 5, setting the stage for what promises to be one of the most closely watched celebrity trials in recent memory. The case has already drawn intense scrutiny, with Combs facing multiple civil lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct in addition to the criminal charges.
