Sean “Diddy” Combs has faced a partial legal setback as his sex crimes trial moves closer. He was charged in September 2024 with sex trafficking, racketeering, and transporting people for prostitution. The trial is set to start on May 5, beginning with jury selection.
On April 25, Judge Arun Subramanian ruled that evidence related to sex-trafficking events known as “freak-offs” can be used in court. However, the judge decided that claims involving forced labor by one of Combs’ employees won’t be allowed.
Combs’ lawyers are pushing back against what they call “new” evidence and legal arguments presented too close to the trial date. They say they were flooded with new claims just two weeks before trial, which they haven’t had time to fully review or investigate.
The defense also argues that prosecutors had earlier said many of the acts were consensual, so they focused only on claims involving coercion. They want the court to either block the new evidence or delay the trial so they can prepare.
Prosecutors responded by saying that the defense has had enough time to deal with the evidence and accused Combs’ team of trying to weaken the case by any means possible.
Combs is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn while he waits for trial to begin.
