Sean 'Diddy' Combs loses bid to delay sex-crimes trial: Live updates
NEW YORK − Federal prosecutors scored another win against Sean "Diddy" Combs on Friday.
U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian ruled against the Combs defense team's request to push back the start of his federal sex-crimes trial two months after its scheduled May 5 start date.
Combs' attorneys made the original request in a motion filed April 16 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, according to court documents obtained by USA TODAY.
Now, the Combs defense team will have limited time – less than three weeks – before the trial begins to prepare their arguments. The ruling comes as Combs now faces two new charges of sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution of "Victim-2" filed earlier this month.
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The embattled music mogul was arrested in September and has been charged with racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to all five charges.
The federal indictment on criminal charges emerged amid a growing number of civil suits that allege Combs engaged in a pattern of abusive behavior over three decades including accusations of rape, sexual assault and physical violence.
Live updates from court:
Diddy's mother shows up to court
Combs' mother, Janice Combs, arrived at court April 18, donning sunglasses and sporting a bright blonde bob as she entered the courthouse to support her son. –Anika Reed
Why does Diddy want trial delayed?
The Sean John founder's lawyers have requested more time to prepare his defense in response to additional evidence and two new charges of sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution of "Victim-2." Combs' lawyers originally requested a two week, and later, a two-month delay, claiming in a April 16 motion that there is "substantially new conduct" alleged in the expanded April 3 indictment, and that the U.S. government is still producing evidence.
Combs' lawyers said in the filing that the proposed two-month delay would allow Combs the "necessary time" to prepare his defense. –Taijuan Moorman and Edward Segarra
What time does the Diddy court hearing begin?
The court hearing was scheduled to start at 11 a.m. ET on April 18. –Anika Reed
When does Diddy's trial start?
Combs' trial, which will take place in downtown Manhattan, is currently set to begin May 5 with jury selection. –Anna Kaufman
Is Diddy in jail?
Despite repeated attempts at bail, Combs was ordered to remain in custody at the Special Housing Unit in Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center ahead of trial — a ruling his legal team has challenged in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. He's been jailed since his arrest on Sept. 16. –Anna Kaufman
What is Diddy accused of?
Combs' federal case involves a narrow number of alleged victims.
Using RICO law, which is aimed at targeting multi-person criminal organizations, prosecutors allege that Combs coerced victims, some whom were sex workers, through intimidation and narcotics to participate in "freak offs" – sometimes dayslong sex performances that lawyers claim they have video of.
In March, prosecutors submitted a second superseding indictment, updating the amended indictment from January that added three unnamed women who were allegedly victims of his so-called sex trafficking enterprise, which claims Combs subjected employees to forced labor under inhumane circumstances. In a third superseding indictment, prosecutors added two additional charges – one count of sex trafficking and one count of transportation to engage in prostitution of "Victim-2" – to the previous three charges against him. –Anna Kaufman
What is a RICO charge?
Racketeering is the participation in an illegal scheme under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Statute, or RICO, as a way for the U.S. government to prosecute organizations contributing to criminal activity.
Per Combs' indictment, prosecutors say his racketeering activity included "multiple acts of kidnapping," arson, bribery, witness tampering, forced labor, sex trafficking, transportation for the purposes of prostitution and distribution of narcotics. –Anna Kaufman
