In a Thursday hearing, a U.S. judge ruled that Sean “Diddy” Combs will go to trial, starting May 5, on federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges. After the ruling, the jailed hip-hop entrepreneur blew kisses to his family in the courtroom.
Lawyer Marc Agnifilo, for Combs, also complained, during a hearing in front of U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian in Manhattan federal court, about what he called inappropriate disclosures about the case by federal investigators. Prosecutor Emily Johnson said the allegation had no basis.
Related: Who Is Sean “Diddy” Combs: Uncovering the Secret Behind His Arrest
Using his business empire, which includes the record label Bad Boy Entertainment, Combs, 54, pleaded not guilty on September 17 to a three-count indictment accusing him of moving women and male sex workers across state lines to take part in videotaped sexual encounters known as “Freak Offs.” Since his arrest in September, Combs has made three appearances in court as of Thursday’s hearing.
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After the hearing, Combs, who wore a tan prison uniform, stood and kissed his family members, who sat in the courtroom’s audience. The defence attorney, Anthony Ricco, said in court that his mother and kids were there for the hearing. Afterwards, members of the U.S. Marshals Service led the Combs out of a side entrance.
Johnson notified the court that the prosecution would present its case for at least three weeks during the trial. Agnifilo approximated the Combs’ defence to take about a week to complete.
Since the arrest, Combs has been held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. On Thursday, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan denied Combs’ request to be immediately released pending his appeal of another judge’s ruling denying him bail. A three-judge panel of the 2nd Circuit will also hear the underlying appeal later.
