Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, the hip-hop mogul, is requesting a trial in April or May on sex trafficking charges, according to a joint letter submitted by his lawyers and prosecutors in Manhattan federal court. Combs, 54, has been in jail since his arrest on charges alleging physical and sexual abuse of women. He has pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
The indictment against Combs accuses him of using blackmail, violent acts, and a network of associates to coerce and abuse women, preventing them from speaking out. His lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, has stated that prosecutors are trying to criminalize consensual sex that Combs engaged in and that he plans to clear his name at trial.
The letter submitted to Judge Arun Subramanian did not mention continued detention without bail for Combs, despite previous judges concluding that no bail conditions could ensure community protection if he was released. Combs' lawyers have asked the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse the detention orders and allow his release pending trial.
Prosecutors have begun turning over evidence to defense lawyers, including search warrants, Combs' seized phone, and reports on his iCloud accounts. They have also started copying over 40 devices and five other iCloud accounts belonging to Combs.
Judge Andrew L. Carter Jr., who recused himself from the case, had previously determined that Combs posed a danger to the community due to potential obstruction of the investigation or witness tampering. Combs' lawyers argued that Carter had rejected a proposed bail package for "purely speculative reasons" and that Combs, as a father, citizen, artist, businessman, and philanthropist, was not a flight risk.
The trial is expected to be a high-profile case, given Combs' celebrity status and the serious nature of the charges against him. The hearing on Thursday will likely address the trial timeline and any further legal proceedings in the case.