Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs expected to appear in court ahead of criminal trial: What to know

Sean “Diddy” Combs is expected to appear in court Friday in one of the last hearings before his trial is set to begin.

Authorities arrested the embattled hip-hop mogul in September on federal charges of racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.

A pretrial conference scheduled for Friday afternoon in Manhattan federal court will see Combs’ legal team and prosecutors dispute various aspects of the rapper’s trial, including jury selection, submitted evidence and the trial’s court timeline.

Combs is also expected to be arraigned in court on a new indictment, which added accusations that the hip-hop mogul forced employees to work long hours and threatened to punish those who did not assist in his two-decade sex-trafficking scheme.

The trial, slated to start May 5, comes more than a year after a civil lawsuit filed by Combs’ ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, alleging rape, sex trafficking and physical abuse, opened the flood gates to dozens of damning civil complaints accusing the Bad Boy Records founder of various sexual assaults over the course of his three-decade career.

Here’s everything you need to know about Combs’ criminal charges and upcoming trial.

Diddy’s charges, explained

The day after Combs was taken into custody, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York indicted Combs and announced federal criminal charges against the music mogul. He’s charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution; Combs previously pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Racketeering is the participation in an illegal scheme under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Statute, or RICO, as a way for the U.S. government to prosecute organizations contributing to criminal activity. Per Combs’ indictment, prosecutors say his racketeering activity included “multiple acts of kidnapping,” arson, bribery, witness tampering, forced labor, sex trafficking, transportation for the purposes of prostitution and distribution of narcotics.

Prosecutors say they have “dozens” of videos depicting Combs’ so-called “freak offs” – sometimes dayslong sex performances between sex workers and people he allegedly coerced into participating through narcotics and intimidation – that corroborate witness testimony.

Earlier this month, prosecutors submitted a second superseding indictment – updating the amended indictment from January that added three unnamed women who were allegedly victims of his so-called sex trafficking enterprise – which claims Combs subjected employees to forced labor under inhumane circumstances.

Diddy is ‘fighting for his life’ amid sex trafficking charges. What does this mean for him?

Why was Diddy arrested?

The music mogul was taken into custody on Sept. 16 “based on a sealed indictment” filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.

The 14-page federal grand jury indictment, which was unsealed Sept. 17, revealed an extensive and ongoing federal investigation into the hip-hop icon.

At the time, Combs’ attorney Marc Agnifilo confirmed the rapper’s arrest to USA TODAY in a statement, saying, “We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”

Is Diddy in jail?

Despite repeated attempts at bail, Combs was ordered to remain in custody at the Special Housing Unit in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center ahead of his May 5 trial — a ruling his legal team has challenged in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. He’s been in jail since his arrest on Sept. 16.

What will happen at Diddy court hearing?

U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian is expected to ask Combs for his plea to the revised indictment.

Ahead of Friday’s pretrial conference, Combs’ attorneys and prosecutors outlined a series of trial logistics for Subramanian’s review, according to a letter obtained Thursday by USA TODAY. The legal items range from the jury selection process to discovery obligations.

Regarding jury selection, the prosecution is requesting the selection process begin April 21 to avoid extending the trial’s run beyond July 4, which could create “unnecessary additional challenges in seating a jury.” Combs’ legal team is requesting a two-part start date of May 5 and May 6, arguing an earlier date would “substantially prejudice the defense.”

Additionally, the defense is asking the court to subject prospective jurors to a written questionnaire in order to eliminate potential juror bias and ensure a fair trial. Prosecutors, in an effort to streamline jury selection, are suggesting in-person oral questioning of juror candidates.

When it comes to the discovery process, during which various facts and documents in the case are disclosed by all parties, prosecutors argue that Combs and his legal team have failed to produce any discovery materials and should be ordered by the court to comply.

However, the defense said it plans on submitting some case evidence during the pretrial conference, noting an alleged subpoena response from CNN that details its publication of hotel surveillance footage of Combs and Ventura from a 2016 incident.

The scheduling of the case’s final pretrial conference is also under dispute.

Prosecutors are requesting the conference take place the week of April 14 after the briefing deadline for parties’ pretrial motions has passed. Combs’ legal team prefers a conference window during the week of April 28, as this comes after the final pretrial filing deadline on April 25.

CNN defends video of Diddy assaulting Cassie after rapper’s team claims it was altered

Why were Diddy’s homes raided before arrest?

On March 25, 2024, Homeland Security Investigations agents raided Combs’ Los Angeles home. Agents also searched Combs’ Miami residence at that time, Rolling Stone, NBC News and The Associated Press reported.

A Homeland Security Investigations spokesperson said in a statement to USA TODAY at the time that “Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York executed law enforcement actions as part of an ongoing investigation.” The searches were part of an ongoing sex-trafficking investigation in New York, authorities have since confirmed.

Multiple AR-15 guns, large-capacity magazines, “evidence” of the crimes in the indictment and over 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant used during “freak off” parties — “elaborate and produced sex performances” — were discovered during federal raids of Combs’ homes, said Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, at a press conference the same day authorities announced the indictment against Combs.

Why did Cassie sue Diddy?

Combs’ legal woes began in November 2023 when ex-girlfriend Ventura accused the rapper of rape, sex trafficking and physical abuse in a civil suit. Combs and Ventura settled for an undisclosed amount a day later.

Ventura, who began dating Combs when she was 19 and he was her boss at his Bad Boy label, alleged in the lawsuit that Combs plied her with drugs and alcohol, physically abused her and “took control” of her life — ranging from her healthcare to her career opportunities.

Combs also allegedly raped her in 2018 and forced Ventura into “repeated unwanted sexual encounters” with male prostitutes who he hired and recorded their encounters.

Contributing: KiMi Robinson, Jay Stahl, Taijuan Moorman, Naledi Ushe, USA TODAY; Luc Cohen, Reuters