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Sean “Diddy” Combs’ attempt to delay his federal trial in the ongoing sex-trafficking case was rejected by a judge on Friday. This decision means the trial will proceed as planned, starting with jury selection on May 5, followed by opening arguments on May 12.
Diddy’s legal team had filed a motion on Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, asking for an additional two months to prepare their defense. This request was based on new charges introduced in an updated indictment on April 4. However, U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian ruled against the delay, questioning why there wasn’t enough time to prepare for the trial. After the two-hour hearing, Combs was seen leaving the courtroom, smiling and waving to a few people, including his mother.
In addition to denying the delay, Judge Subramanian made a couple of other significant rulings. He allowed three alleged victims in the case to testify anonymously, protecting their identities. The judge also ruled that Diddy’s ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, must hand over all draft copies of her memoir to Diddy’s legal team.
Combs, 55, was arrested last September on charges that include racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is currently being held at the Special Housing Unit in the Metropolitan Detention Center.
In terms of legal representation, Combs recently added Brian Steel, a Georgia-based attorney who is known for representing Young Thug in his YSL RICO case. Steel filed a motion on Tuesday to appear as an out-of-state lawyer for Combs. This comes after attorney Anthony Ricco withdrew from the case in February, without giving a specific reason. Mark Geragos, another high-profile attorney, is also expected to play a significant role in the trial, alongside lead counsels Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos.