Sean “Diddy” Combs wants to go to trial on sex trafficking charges next spring, the embattled hip-hop mogul’s lawyers informed a judge Wednesday.
“Mr. Combs continues to assert his right to a speedy trial and intends to request a trial date in April or May 2025, and as consistent with the Court’s trial schedule,” the jailed rapper’s lawyers wrote.
Combs was charged last month with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution in a sweeping indictment by the Southern District of New York. He is currently awaiting trial behind bars at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
Combs’ preference was mentioned in a joint letter from his lawyers and prosecutors. In the letter, the two sides outlined the issues they believe should be addressed at a pre-trial hearing scheduled for Thursday in Manhattan federal court.
In the joint letter, U.S. government prosecutors said they have started submitting to defense lawyers some of the “voluminous” evidence in the case, including “several terabytes of electronic material” regarding Combs.
The items already turned over to the defense team include a complete set of search warrants in the case; a phone belonging to Combs that was seized in March; and reports on his iCloud accounts.
Combs’ attorneys filed a bail appeal late Tuesday in New York’s second circuit court. The filing came after Combs was denied bail twice by two separate judges following his arraignment.
The musician is expected to appear in court Thursday for a hearing in his case, according to his attorneys.
Combs has been hit by several civil lawsuits in the last year, including one from Dawn Richard, a former member of the girl group Danity Kane, who alleged that Combs groped, assaulted and imprisoned her and threatened her life.
But that’s not all, Texas litigator Tony Buzbee said at a press conference earlier this month. Buzbee is representing 120 people who plan to sue Combs and other “high-profile” defendants.
Combs has denied all claims against him, calling them “sickening allegations” from people looking for “a quick payday.”
Many of the lawsuits against Combs were filed in New York City, which — under the Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Law — allows people to file lawsuits alleging sexual abuse even after the statute of limitations had passed. He has settled in some of those cases.
Daniel Arkin contributed.
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