Hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has failed in his attempt to delay the start of his highly anticipated sex trafficking trial.
A U.S. district judge, Arun Subramanian, rejected the request, stating that Combs made the motion too late, with the trial just weeks away. Jury selection remains scheduled for May 5, and opening statements are expected to begin one week later.
The denial means the 55-year-old music executive, who has pleaded not guilty to a series of serious criminal charges, must now face his day in court without the extra preparation time his legal team sought.
Combs is currently facing five criminal charges, including racketeering and sex trafficking, stemming from alleged conduct spanning two decades—from 2004 to 2024.
Federal prosecutors from the Manhattan U.S. attorney’s office allege that Combs used his vast entertainment empire as a cover to exploit and abuse women sexually.
They say his status, influence, and financial resources allowed him to orchestrate a complex scheme of coercion, trafficking, and abuse. These allegations strike a stark contrast to Combs’s public image as a music industry pioneer and successful entrepreneur.
The latest legal development came after Combs’s lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, filed a motion on Wednesday requesting more time to prepare a defense, particularly in light of two new charges added on April 4.
These additional charges—sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution—brought the total number of criminal counts against Combs to five. “We are not asking for indefinite time,” Agnifilo wrote in the filing.
“We are simply seeking a brief postponement to ensure we have time to properly respond to these new allegations.” He also emphasized the need for additional time to compel the release of emails from one of the alleged victims, which he argued could be critical to the defense.
Federal prosecutors, however, firmly opposed the delay. In a response filed on Thursday, they argued that the two new charges did not introduce fundamentally different behavior or conduct. “The recent additions do not change the core of the government’s case,” the prosecutors stated.
“These charges stem from the same ongoing pattern of abuse, and the defendant has had ample time to prepare.”
They further pushed back against the defense’s request to access the alleged victim’s private communications, stating that Combs is not entitled to them and that demanding such disclosures could intimidate victims and delay justice.
As the trial date approaches, Judge Subramanian is also considering several sensitive evidentiary issues. Among them is whether to allow the alleged victims to testify under pseudonyms to protect their identities.
This request from the prosecution is meant to safeguard the victims from public harassment and preserve their privacy in a high-profile case likely to draw intense media attention. “We must ensure that victims feel safe and supported throughout this process,” a federal attorney said.
These decisions will significantly shape how the trial unfolds, given the emotional and personal nature of the allegations.
Sean Combs, also known throughout his career as Puff Daddy and P. Diddy, rose to fame in the 1990s and early 2000s as the founder of Bad Boy Records.
He played a pivotal role in launching the careers of several major artists, including the Notorious B.I.G, Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans, and Usher. But prosecutors say his public success concealed a sinister private life.
They accuse him of orchestrating abusive sexual encounters known as “freak-offs,” in which women were allegedly coerced into performing in recorded acts with male sex workers, some of whom were reportedly transported across state lines.
Since being denied bail in September, Combs has remained in custody at a Brooklyn jail, awaiting trial. The criminal case is just one part of the legal storm surrounding him.
He also faces numerous civil lawsuits from both women and men who allege they were sexually abused by the music mogul. Combs has consistently denied all accusations.
“These claims are entirely false,” his legal team has said in public statements. “Mr. Combs maintains his innocence and looks forward to clearing his name in court.” As the trial draws near, all eyes are on what could become one of the most consequential celebrity criminal trials in recent memory.
