A U.S. judge denied on Friday that Diddy Combs’ bid was delaying the upcoming sex trafficking trial by two months.
U.S. District Court Judge Arun Subramanian said the hip-hop tycoon’s request was too close to his trial. Jury selection is scheduled to begin on May 5 and statements are open on May 12.
Combs, 55, pleaded not guilty to five counts of crimes, including extortion and sexual trafficking. Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorneys in Manhattan said the comb used his business empire to sexually abuse women between 2004 and 2024.
Combs’ lawyers said the sexual activity described by prosecutors was consistent. He has been in jail in Brooklyn since September.
In court filings filed Wednesday, COMBS’s attorney Marc Agnifilo asked Subramanian to postpone the trial as he needed more time to prepare his defense for the new charges filed on April 4. Agnifilo also said the defense needs more time to review the emails and hopes that the alleged victims will be handed over.
Federal prosecutors opposed any delays and wrote in an application filed by the court on Thursday that the additional charges filed earlier this month were not quite large. They say the combs are not entitled to communications from the so-called victims.
During Thursday’s hearing, Subramanian also approved a motion from prosecutors to allow some alleged victims to testify under false names at trial to protect their privacy.
Also known as Puff Daddy and P. Diddy, Combs founded Bad Boy Records and helped rappers and R&B singers (such as Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans), the infamous Big and usher became stars in the 1990s and 2000s.
But prosecutors said his success covered the dark side. They say his so-called abuse involves having women attend recorded sex shows with male sex workers, called “freaks,” who sometimes travel across states.
After Friday’s hearing, the comb briefly turned to court audiences to speak with his mother and other supporters, one wearing a black sweatshirt that read “Free Puff.”
“I love you all,” Combs blew his kiss before being taken away by the American Marshal.
