Sean 'Diddy' Combs is scheduled to appear before the judge who is expected to oversee his trial on sex trafficking charges. Combs will be transported from a Brooklyn jail to Manhattan federal court this afternoon for a hearing before Judge Arun Subramanian.
The hearing is anticipated to establish deadlines for both sides to present their arguments, setting the stage for a trial that Combs' legal team hopes to commence in April or May. Prosecutors have not yet indicated a preference for the trial's timing.
Judge Subramanian was assigned to the case after another judge recused himself due to past professional connections with lawyers involved. Combs, 54, has pleaded not guilty to the charges filed against him last month, which include racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking, with allegations dating back to 2008.
An indictment accuses Combs of coercing and exploiting women for years, aided by a network of associates and employees, while silencing victims through blackmail and violent acts such as kidnapping, arson, and physical assaults. His lawyers have been unsuccessful in securing his release on bail since his arrest on September 16.
Attorney Marc Agnifilo argues that prosecutors are attempting to criminalize consensual sexual encounters involving his client. Combs intends to prove his innocence at trial. Two judges have determined that Combs poses a risk to the community if released. At a recent bail hearing, a judge rejected a $50 million bail package, including home detention and electronic monitoring, concluding that Combs could tamper with witnesses and obstruct the ongoing investigation.
