Sean “Diddy” Combs appeared in a Manhattan courtroom for a pretrial hearing in his federal sex trafficking case. The 74-year-old mogul faces three charges of sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution, and racketeering conspiracy. Two of his children were present in court, along with his mother.
Combs is being held at a federal detention center in New York City awaiting trial. Prosecutors accuse him of coercing women into engaging in sex acts, often under duress or with the use of drugs. Authorities also allege he controlled his victims by promising financial and career opportunities, as well as threatening violence.
The indictment includes allegations of violent behavior, including multiple instances of kidnapping. Combs’ lawyers argue that a 2016 surveillance video showing him physically assaulting his former girlfriend Cassie Ventura should not be used as evidence due to its authenticity. However, prosecutors believe it’s crucial to include the video in the trial, with multiple witnesses expected to testify about it.
The next pretrial conference is scheduled for April 25. Jury selection will begin on May 5, with opening statements set to start on May 12. Combs has denied all allegations and previously settled a civil lawsuit with Ventura.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/14/entertainment/sean-diddy-combs-pretrial-hearing/index.html