Sean Diddy Combs just hit a legal wall – his request to delay the sex trafficking trial was denied.
The federal judge handling the case, Arun Subramanian, made it clear on April 18 that there’s no reason to push the trial back. That means jury selection kicks off on May 5, and Combs is heading to court on schedule.
The music mogul is facing serious charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering, and has pleaded not guilty. His legal team argued that they needed more time because the prosecution was slow to hand over new evidence following a recent superseding indictment. But Judge Subramanian didn’t buy it, saying it wasn’t clear why the existing timeline wasn’t enough.
This trial has already gained massive public attention, especially after CNN released a 2016 hotel surveillance video last year. The footage reportedly shows Combs physically assaulting his ex, singer Cassie Ventura. He can be seen chasing her down a hotel hallway, striking her, and then kicking her while she lay motionless on the ground.
Cassie sued Combs in November 2023, accusing him of assault and abuse that matched what was seen in the video. That lawsuit was settled just a day after it was filed, but the footage continues to haunt Combs in court.
Now, Combs’ lawyers want the video excluded, arguing that CNN altered and sped it up while also destroying the original. CNN denied all those claims and said the original was preserved by its source. It’s still unclear whether the judge will allow the video as evidence, but it’s already played a major role in shaping public opinion.
Adding to the drama, Brian Steel – famous for representing rapper Young Thug in another RICO case – has now joined Combs’ defense team after being approved by the judge on April 17. That’s a big move, considering the stakes: if convicted, Diddy could spend the rest of his life in prison.
And it’s not just the criminal case he’s dealing with. Since late last year, Combs has been named in several civil lawsuits accusing him of sexual misconduct. He’s denied all those allegations, but they’re definitely casting a long shadow over his career and reputation.
For now, Combs remains in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. He’s been behind bars since his arrest in September 2024, after being denied bail.
What do you think about the charges against Diddy? Should the video be allowed as evidence?
