In the letter, Combs’ lawyers and prosecutors outlined the issues they believe should be addressed at a pretrial hearing Thursday in Manhattan federal court.
Sean “Diddy” Combs is pushing for a trial date next spring for his sex trafficking charges, according to a letter filed by his legal team to a judge on Wednesday. The hip-hop mogul, who is currently incarcerated, has asserted his right to a speedy trial and is requesting the court set a trial date in April or May 2025. His legal team’s request was outlined in a joint letter with federal prosecutors, which also addressed various pretrial issues that will be discussed at an upcoming hearing scheduled for Thursday in Manhattan federal court.
Combs was indicted last month on serious charges, including sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution. The charges stem from an extensive investigation by the Southern District of New York, and the music mogul is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, awaiting trial. The letter filed by his defense and the prosecution provides insight into the trial process, with both sides working through several key pretrial matters.
In the letter, prosecutors revealed that they have begun submitting large amounts of evidence to Combs’ defense team, including several terabytes of electronic materials related to the case. This evidence includes a full set of search warrants, as well as a phone seized from Combs in March and reports linked to his iCloud accounts. The discovery of this substantial amount of evidence suggests that the case is complex and will likely require significant time to process.
In a separate legal development, Combs’ attorneys filed an appeal late Tuesday in the 2nd Circuit Court, seeking bail after he was denied twice by judges following his arraignment. His defense team continues to argue for his release pending trial, but so far, the judges have ruled against granting bail. Combs’ legal team will likely make further arguments in the upcoming hearing, with the prosecution and defense preparing for what is expected to be a lengthy and high-profile legal battle.
As Combs awaits trial, the case continues to capture attention, with many waiting to see how the court handles the voluminous evidence and what decisions will be made regarding his bail request. The musician’s legal team is working to ensure a fair trial, while prosecutors are pushing forward with their case in what is set to be a major trial for the entertainment industry.