The federal trial of rapper and music mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs on sex trafficking charges is set to begin on May 5, 2025, according to a New York judge’s announcement on Thursday.
Diddy will remain in custody until the trial, as ordered by federal judge Arun Subramanian.
He was arrested on September 16, facing three criminal charges accusing him of sexually abusing women and forcing them into drug-fueled sex parties using threats and violence.
Judge Subramanian took over the case after another judge stepped aside due to past connections with the lawyers involved.
US Magistrate Judge Robyn Tarnofsky previously ruled that Diddy would remain jailed while waiting for his trial after he pleaded not guilty to a 14-page federal indictment.
Despite attempts by Diddy’s legal team to get him released on bail, two judges have denied these requests, with one stating that Diddy poses a “serious flight risk.”
At a recent hearing, Diddy’s lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, raised concerns about alleged improper leaks from federal agents regarding the case. He also requested that the court exclude a video showing the 54-year-old rapper assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Cassie, in 2016 from being used as evidence in the trial.
However, prosecutor Emily Johnson dismissed these claims, calling them baseless. Johnson, an assistant US attorney, stated that the leaks didn’t come from the prosecution team, describing the defense’s argument as an attempt to block important evidence.
