By Ovasa Ogaga,
A U.S. federal judge on Friday rejected Sean "Diddy" Combs’ last-minute attempt to delay his upcoming sex-trafficking and racketeering trial, setting the stage for jury selection to begin as scheduled on May 5, with opening statements slated for May 12.
U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian ruled that the hip-hop mogul’s request — filed just weeks before trial — came too late. Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to five serious criminal charges, including racketeering and sex trafficking. Federal prosecutors allege that Combs used his business empire as a cover to sexually abuse women over a 20-year span, from 2004 to 2024.
Combs' defense team, led by Marc Agnifilo, had asked for more time to prepare following the addition of new charges earlier this month and to review emails they requested from an alleged victim. But prosecutors argued the new charges were not materially different from the existing ones and opposed the delay.
At Thursday’s hearing, Judge Subramanian also granted a motion allowing some alleged victims to testify under pseudonyms to protect their identities during what’s expected to be a high-profile and emotionally charged trial.
Combs — also famously known as Puff Daddy and P. Diddy — built a music empire in the 1990s and 2000s, launching careers of stars like Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans, Notorious B.I.G., and Usher. But prosecutors say behind his success lay a dark world of coercion, sex trafficking, and abuse, involving so-called "freak offs" — recorded sexual encounters with male sex workers allegedly transported across state lines.
Combs has been held in a Brooklyn jail since September, awaiting trial. After Friday’s hearing, he briefly turned to the courtroom gallery where his mother and supporters sat, one of them wearing a black sweatshirt reading “Free Puff.”
“I love you all,” Combs said, blowing a kiss before U.S. Marshals led him away.
