Diddy Faces Trial: Ruling Against Delay in Sex Trafficking Case

Get the latest updates on Sean Diddy Combs' legal troubles, including the upcoming sex trafficking trial.

Overview of Diddy's Legal Challenges

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has been denied his request to postpone his upcoming sex trafficking and racketeering trial by two months. On April 18, the ruling was made by U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, who stated that the request was filed too close to the trial's start date, which is set for next month.

Currently, jury selection is scheduled to begin on May 5, followed by opening statements expected a week later. Combs has entered a plea of not guilty to five criminal charges, which include racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He vehemently denies all allegations and maintains that any sexual activity described by prosecutors was consensual.

Reasoning Behind the Court's Decision

The court's decision was influenced by Combs' attorneys’ claims that they needed more time to address new charges and to obtain emails from one alleged victim. However, the judge ruled against the plea, stating that the new charges were not substantially different from those already in place.

*Sean “Diddy” Combs pictured in 2023. CREDIT: Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Images for Sean “Diddy” Combs*

Current Status of Combs

As it stands, Combs is being held without bail at a jail in Brooklyn. His legal team has also filed a motion to exclude video evidence of him allegedly attacking his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, from the trial. They have requested permission to present evidence at a pre-trial hearing regarding the reliability of the video evidence available.

Over a year ago, Ventura accused Combs of physical assault and rape, leading to a lawsuit that was settled the following day, despite Diddy's denials. In months to follow, *CNN* revealed surveillance footage showing Diddy in an altercation with Ventura in an LA hotel, which has added credibility to Ventura's accusations. Diddy later issued an apology for his “inexcusable” behavior, which Ventura’s lawyers described as “disingenuous.”

New Allegations and Legal Actions

In recent developments, another lawsuit was filed against Diddy, accusing him of human trafficking. This allegation comes from a Florida man named Joseph Manzaro, who claims that Diddy assaulted and humiliated him at an event in 2015, with high-profile witnesses including Beyoncé, Jay-Z, and LeBron James present that night.

Combs’ legal team has issued a statement denying these claims, emphasizing that “this complaint demonstrates the depraved lengths plaintiffs will travel to garner headlines in pursuit of a payday.” They assert that “no sane person reading this complaint could credit this story,” and that Combs looks forward to having his day in court to refute these allegations and expose the motives of the accusers.

Context of Previous Lawsuits

The accusations against Combs arose shortly after a different sexual assault lawsuit against him was dismissed last month. However, claims of sex trafficking against Diddy and former chief of staff Kristina Khorram, along with sexual assault and premises liability claims against him, have not been dismissed.

Khorram has also denied all allegations made against her, describing the claims as disturbing and unthinkable.

“Reckless name-dropping about events that are pure fiction and simply did not happen is nothing more than a transparent attempt to garner headlines.”

Conclusion

With the trial date fast approaching, the focus remains on how this high-profile case unfolds. The public is eager to see if justice will prevail for all parties involved.

FAQs

• What charges is Diddy facing in his upcoming trial? Diddy is facing charges including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking.
• When is the trial scheduled to begin? The jury selection is set to start on May 5, with opening statements expected shortly after.
• What happened with the video evidence against Diddy? Diddy's legal team filed a motion to exclude video footage of an alleged assault on Cassie Ventura from the trial.
• Who else has accused Diddy of misconduct? Recently, a man named Joseph Manzaro filed a lawsuit claiming human trafficking against Diddy.
• What was Diddy's response to the allegations? Diddy has consistently denied all allegations and looks forward to defending himself in court.

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