Music mogul, Diddy to remain in prison as s3x tr@fficking trial begins May 5, 2025
Music industry titan, Sean “Diddy” Combs will continue to be held in prison as his case involving s*x trafficking is set to begin on May 5, 2025.
Less than a month after the rapper was arrested at a New York City hotel on charges of racketeering, sex trafficking, and using transportation to engage in prostitution, he appeared before a judge during a status hearing on October 10.
In the hearing, Judge Arun Subramanian, who took over the case earlier this month from Andrew L. Carter Jr., announced a trial date for May 5, 2025.
The hearing comes just one day after lawyers for Combs filed a new appeal seeking bail for the rapper, who has remained in custody at Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York for three weeks—arguing that concerns he would “intimidate” witnesses for the upcoming trial were “unfounded,” according to court documents.The submission, made on October 9, contended that Judge Carter’s refusal to grant bail to Combs in his earlier appeal was based on mere speculation, rather than concrete evidence of his potential interference in his criminal investigation. Combs’ attorneys, Alexandra A.E. Shapiro and Jason A. Driscoll, further argued that the musician’s trip to New York to face his criminal allegations last month, coupled with their proposal for monitoring (which includes no access to phones, internet, and even video surveillance when needed) while outside of jail, supported his release. They also emphasized that their client is considered innocent until proven guilty.
“He took extraordinary steps to demonstrate that he intended to face and contest the charges, not flee,” the filing said. “He presented a bail package that would plainly stop him from posing a danger to anyone or contacting any witnesses.”
Despite the appeal, Judge Subramanian has decided that Combs will remain in jail during the October 10 hearing.
Per the federal indictment released after his Sept. 16 arrest, Combs is been accused of participating in sexual performances, dubbed “Freak Offs” that occurred for hours or even days. During these circumstances, prosecutors alleged the 54-year-old “arranged, directed, masturbated during, and often electronically recorded.”
Combs is also accused of having “distributed a variety of controlled substances, in part to keep the victims obedient and compliant,” according to the filing, as well as using “force, threats of force, and coercion” to get victims to “engage in extended s*xual acts with male commercial s*x workers.”
Combs has since denied the charges and maintains his innocence.
He will remain in the Brooklyn jail until his trial on May 5.