Sean “Diddy”, the hip-hop mogul who has been charged with criminal offenses, appeared before a federal court in Manhattan. He was dressed in a khaki prison jumpsuit for his status meeting as he prepared to face charges of sex trafficking and racketeering on May 20, 2025.
Prosecutors claim that the indictment against Combs is based on an alleged sex-trafficking scheme that involved “freak-offs,” elaborate sex performances involving male sex workers and women who either were coerced into participating or forced to do so. Combs is accused by the government of orchestrating and participating in these illegal activities that involve the exploitation and manipulation of vulnerable individuals.
Arun Subramanian, the judge who presided over the hearing, asked the defense team to have the updated motion schedule ready by January 3 “to prevent any surprises at the last moment.” Combs made his first court appearance since November’s bail hearing.
Judge Subramanian dismissed Combs’ claims that the prosecution leaked surveillance footage from an attack on Cassie Ventura, a singer in Los Angeles in 2016, in a hotel. Combs requested an evidentiary proceeding, claiming that the Department of Homeland Security improperly shared the video with CNN. The video depicting a violent physical altercation between Combs, Ventura, and others has been the focal point of this case.
Ventura filed a lawsuit against Combs in the last year. This was the first of over a dozen civil suits that Combs has faced. Ventura’s lawsuit claiming abuse was settled for an unspecified amount the day after it was filed.
Combs’s defense stated in an October filing that they believe the government has been:
…leaking information and material from the grand jury, including the Intercontinental 2016 videotape to prejudice the public and potential Jurors against Mr. Combs.
Subramanian, however, found that Combs had not provided sufficient evidence to support the claim that the leak was caused by the government, and wrote:
Combs failed to prove that the Intercontinental Hotel Video was leaked to CNN by the government. Combs claims that the government is ‘the most probable source of the leak’, but he does not provide any solid evidence to support this claim.
He said that Combs’ argument for the DHS as the source of the video leak was “not convincing.”
Combs’ legal team argued that shackles could create “juror bias” and Judge Subramanian accepted this reasoning, allowing Combs to appear without shackles in the courtroom. His legal team argued shackles might create “juror prejudice”. Judge Subramanian agreed with this reasoning and allowed Combs to be shackled-free in court.
Combs has also been granted limited laptop access by Judge Subramanian while he is in jail. This allows him to review materials about the case and prepare for his trial. The laptop is only for legal material and not general internet usage.
Combs remains incarcerated in the Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn since his arrest in September. Combs was denied bail by Judge Subramanian last month due to concerns that Combs could tamper with witnesses. Combs has denied all charges and withdrawn his bail appeal. He will spend the holidays behind bars.
Combs is due back in court on March 17.
