Sean “Diddy” Combs, the hip-hop mogul, appeared before Judge Arun Subramanian at Manhattan federal court, marking his first appearance since being arrested on sex trafficking charges. Combs, who pleads not guilty, is accused of coerced and abusing women with the help of associates and employees, allegedly silencing victims through blackmail and violent acts, including kidnapping, arson, and physical beatings, dating back to 2008.
The indictment alleges that Combs, 54, operated a network of associates and employees to traffic and exploit women, and that he used violent tactics to maintain control over his victims and ensure their silence. Combs’s lawyers have been trying to secure his release on bail, but two judges have rejected their requests, citing concerns that Combs would pose a danger to the community and tamper with witnesses.
In a recent filing, Combs’s lawyers accused the Department of Homeland Security of leaking a video showing Combs punching and kicking his former protege and girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie, in a hotel hallway in 2016. The lawyers claimed that the leak, which aired on CNN, has caused “damaging, highly prejudicial pre-trial publicity” that will taint the jury pool and deprive Combs of a fair trial.
Sean Diddy Combs (Image via Getty)
In response, federal prosecutors denied that the government possessed the video before it was aired on CNN, and told the judge that they would not be submitting any additional evidence related to the alleged leak. The prosecution is expected to set deadlines for lawyers on each side to submit arguments that will establish the boundaries for the trial, with Combs’s lawyers pushing for a trial in April or May.
Combs’s lawyers have also appealed the bail rulings, arguing that the proposed bail package, which included home detention and electronic monitoring, would not prevent Combs from contacting witnesses or obstructing the investigation. The appeals court is expected to render a decision soon. The case has sparked widespread media attention, and the outcome will have significant implications for Combs’s reputation and legal future.
