Music mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, 54, is seeking a trial date for sex trafficking charges in the spring of 2024. His legal team informed a judge on Wednesday that both the defense and prosecutors support scheduling the trial for April or May, as outlined in a joint letter ahead of a hearing in Manhattan federal court on Thursday.
Combs has been in custody since his arrest on September 16, facing serious allegations of years of physical and sexual abuse against women.
He has pleaded not guilty to the charges, which include claims that he created a network of associates and employees to coerce and abuse women, utilizing methods such as blackmail, kidnapping, arson, and physical violence to silence victims.
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His attorney, Marc Agnifilo, argued that prosecutors are mischaracterizing consensual sexual relationships, asserting that they intend to demonstrate Combs’ innocence during the trial.
The legal team will be addressing the specific allegations and the evidence presented by prosecutors, which includes extensive documentation and electronic data.
In their joint letter, prosecutors confirmed their readiness for trial, stating they have begun providing defense attorneys with a large amount of evidence.
This includes several terabytes of electronically stored information, complete sets of search warrants, and a cellphone seized from Combs in March. Additionally, prosecutors are currently in the process of copying data from more than 40 devices and five additional iCloud accounts linked to the defendant.
As the legal proceedings continue, the public and media maintain a keen interest in the outcome of this high-profile case, which has sparked significant debate over issues of consent and power dynamics within the entertainment industry. The upcoming hearing is expected to shed light on the prosecution’s evidence and the defense’s strategy as they prepare for trial.
