Sean “Diddy” Combs, erstwhile king of hip-hop moguls, is now embroiled in the worst legal challenge of his career—and there’s no time left to dilly-dally. A federal court has turned down Combs’ application for a postponement of his trial, reliably fixing May 5, 2025, as the date for commencing a case that has riveted public interest coast to coast in America, as well as further afield. With charges dating back two decades, running from sex trafficking to racketeering, the court action is set to uncover a murkier side of one of music’s best-known figures.
Judge Subramanian issued the decision earlier this week, rejecting the defense team’s request for two extra months to study new evidence submitted, including a sex trafficking charge for another purported victim, who is described as “Victim 2” within court papers. The judge made it explicitly clear: There is no excuse for not being ready for trial on time with four defense law firms up front.
Since his arrest in September 2023, Diddy had been behind bars at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn. Authorities arrested him from a Manhattan hotel, where he had been held ever since. In spite of multiple attempts by his lawyers, the court rejected all of their applications for him to be granted bail, citing fears of possible tampering with witnesses as well as abuse of the prison communication systems.
The severity of the accusations he is charged with only increased. Combs is charged by the federal indictment with five serious offenses: sex trafficking, transporting for prostitution, racketeering, and conspiracy crimes tied to them. Combs, prosecutors say, from 2004 through 2024, leveraged his fame and public appeal to recruit, control, and exploit women—acts they say weren’t isolated incidents of their own, but rather part of a bigger, larger- scale scheme for defending his reputation.
Judge Subramanian’s ruling not only made official the start of the trial date but denied requests for dismissal of primary charges as well. The judge emphasized that with Combs’ strong legal support, there is enough time for preparation. Jury selection will begin on May 5, with the opening statements being expected the following week on May 12. The trial is estimated to run for eight to ten weeks.
Adding to the severity of the circumstances, the court has sanctioned the introduction of controversial evidence. It includes security footage purportedly depicting Diddy assaulting his former girlfriend, Cassie, outside of a hotel corridor—images that have preceded the court’s closure of public access—along with footage from the highly popular Fall of Diddy docuseries. The series includes testimony from former business partners and employees, as well as a vivid sketch of alleged abuse behind closed doors.
In an unusual step for such a high-profile proceeding, the court further decreed that certain witnesses are able to provide testimony anonymously so their identities can be kept hidden and they can be protected from any danger that could arise for speaking out.
The criminal prosecution is only one aspect of Combs’s mounting legal issues. There are also several civil cases, many of them stemming from the same sexual abuse, misconduct allegations. High-profile lawyer Tony Buzbee, who is known for his tenacious legal approach, is taking over 100 clients for several civil cases against Combs. Legal analysts predict that how such cases are addressed will reshape how celebrity accountability is handled in court.
