A federal judge on Friday denied Sean “Diddy” Combs’ bid to delay his sex trafficking trial by two months.
Combs’ attorneys had asked U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian in a letter Wednesday for a two-month adjournment to better prepare a defense. Marc Agnifilo, one of Combs’ attorneys, had suggested at a hearing Monday that they would seek a two-week delay.
In denying the delay, Subramanian said that Combs has at least four attorneys and that he would not allow a “fishing expedition” to seek more evidence.
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The matter was among a series of motions Subramanian ruled on Friday during a two-hour hearing. He also rejected a defense motion to dismiss counts three and five, which relate to transportation to engage in prostitution.
Combs, 55, who is detained at a federal jail in Brooklyn, awaiting his trial in May, has pleaded not guilty to five criminal counts, including sex trafficking and racketeering. Opening statements are scheduled to start May 12. The trial is projected to last eight to 10 weeks.
The letter said prosecutors have been slow to turn over evidence, including information related to a third superseding indictment returned by a grand jury this month that focuses on a woman identified only as Victim-2. The latest indictment added two additional charges — one count each of sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. Those counts bolstered charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution that Combs was indicted on in September. Combs’ team had told the judge it needed more time to address the additions to the indictment.
The indictment alleges Combs forced women to participate in drug-fueled sexual encounters with male sex workers called “freak offs,” that he arranged, directed and often filmed.
Also Friday, Subramanian granted a request from the prosecution that Victim-2, Victim-3 and Victim-4 be allowed to use pseudonyms at trial. In a filing April 4, prosecutors said three of the four accusers who are expected to testify have asked that their identities not be revealed to the press or the public and that they instead be referred to at trial using only pseudonyms. The women’s names are known to Combs’ legal team and will be known to the jurors.
One of Combs’ attorneys, Teny Geragos, argued Friday that Victim-3 has made public statements, and that her attorney has told the defense team that she is “meh” when it comes to remaining anonymous. Geragos said that it hinders the defense to allow Victim-4 to remain anonymous as she would be hiding behind a pseudonym.
Victim-1, whose allegations closely align with those made by his former longtime girlfriend Casandra Ventura in a civil lawsuit she filed against Combs in November 2023, is prepared to testify under her own name, prosecutors said in the filing. Subramanian said that Ventura must produce all prior drafts to her unpublished memoir to the defense by April 25. A defense request for her bank statements was denied because Subramanian said they were not relevant. Her attorney, Doug Wigdor, was seated in the front row of the gallery.
Combs and Ventura quickly settled her lawsuit in 2023 without him admitting any wrongdoing. Her lawsuit preceded federal raids on his homes in Los Angeles and Miami Beach and the criminal charges.
The latest indictment relates to a woman prosecutors described as “Victim-2,” and accuses Combs of using force, fraud or coercion to compel her to engage in commercial sex acts from at least 2021 to 2024. The third superseding indictment also alleges that Combs was involved in transporting “Victim-2” and others, including commercial sex workers, to engage in prostitution during the same time frame.
The prosecution and defense will submit final proposals for the jury questionnaire by Tuesday. Combs’ team has asked the judge to allow prospective jurors to be questioned about their views on drug and alcohol abuse, sex and violence.
The prosecution has argued in a court filing that the defense team’s prospective questionnaire, which contains 72 questions, is too long. By comparison, the prosecutors’ proposed survey contains 23 questions. The prosecution expressed concern in court Friday about asking jurors to disclose their history with sexual abuse in writing, which Combs’ legal team has proposed. They agreed that the questionnaire would give jurors the option to discuss the matter in private.
Combs appeared solemn and anxious throughout the hearing. After it was over, court officers allowed him to turn his chair around and face his mother, Janice Combs, who was seated in the gallery. He told her, “I love you; everything will be all right.”
Another hearing is scheduled for next week.
