Sean 'Diddy' Combs loses bid to delay to sex-trafficking trial

By Luc Cohen

A U.S. judge on Friday denied Sean "Diddy" Combs' bid to delay his upcoming sex-trafficking trial by two months.

U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian said the hip-hop mogul made his request too close to his trial. Jury selection is scheduled to start on May 5, with opening statements on May 12.

Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to five criminal counts including racketeering and sex trafficking. Prosecutors with the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's office say Combs used his business empire to sexually abuse women between 2004 and 2024.

Combs' lawyers say the sexual activity described by prosecutors was consensual.

In a court filing on Wednesday, Combs' lawyer Marc Agnifilo asked Subramanian to delay the trial because he needed more time to prepare his defense to new charges brought on April 4. Agnifilo also said the defense needed more time to review emails it wants an alleged victim to turn over.

Federal prosecutors were opposed to any delay, writing in a Thursday court filing that the additional charges brought earlier this month did not amount to substantially new conduct. They said Combs was not entitled to the alleged victim's communications.

At Thursday's hearing, Subramanian also granted prosecutors' motion to allow some alleged victims to testify under pseudonyms at the trial to protect their privacy.

Also known during his career as Puff Daddy and P. Diddy, Combs founded Bad Boy Records and is credited with helping turn rappers and R&B singers such as Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans, Notorious B.I.G. and Usher into stars in the 1990s and 2000s.

But prosecutors have said his success concealed a dark side. They say his alleged abuse included having women take part in recorded sexual performances called "freak offs" with male sex workers, who were sometimes transported across state lines.

Combs has been jailed in Brooklyn since September.

After the hearing ended, Combs briefly turned toward the courtroom audience to speak with his mother and other supporters, one of whom was wearing a black sweatshirt reading "Free Puff."

"I love you all," Combs said, blowing a kiss, before being led away by U.S. Marshals.