Last month, the music mogul and rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs, 54, was arrested and charged with sex trafficking and racketeering. On Thursday, he was reportedly all smiles as he went before a judge for the first time.
Diddy’s Trial Date Is Set
During this hearing, Judge Arun Subramanian scheduled Diddy’s trial to start on May 5, marking a long wait for those seeking justice. Prosecutors expect to need three weeks to lay out their case against Diddy. Meanwhile, Diddy’s defense estimates that they will need one week to argue the rapper’s defense.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office made a point of saying that the investigation into Diddy is still ongoing. This means that there is still a possibility of a superseding indictment, which could lengthen the trial.
Diddy’s mother Janice Combs attended the hearing, arriving at the Manhattan courthouse an hour before it started. Also in attendance were Diddy’s children, twins Jessie & D’Lila, daughter Chance and sons Christian, Justin, and Quincy.
Previously, Janice Combs defended her son, saying, “To bear witness what seems to be like a public lynching of my son before he has had the opportunity to prove his innocence is a pain too unbearable to put into words.”
Related: Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs To Appear Before Judge For The First Time Since His Arrest
Diddy Was All Smiles In Court
Diddy was wearing a long-sleeved tan prison shirt and pants when he arrived in court. Though he wasn’t handcuffed, his feet were shackled. Diddy was seen laughing and smiling with his attorney as he waited for the judge to arrive.
Once the hearing came to an end, Diddy turned around to face his family. He proceeded to wave, blow kisses, and bow to them. Judge Subramanian even thanked Diddy’s family for attending the hearing.
Prosecutors say that Diddy’s attorneys will receive the discovery material within the next 30 days. After raiding Diddy’s homes, the government seized a total of 96 devices: nine at the airport, 36 in Miami and 51 in Los Angeles. His phone was also seized after his September 16 arrest, and his Manhattan hotel room was searched.
Diddy is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York after being remanded without bail. Diddy is no longer requesting to move unless there is an issue with reviewing discovery.
Charges Against Diddy
Diddy has been charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution. If convicted on all charges, he’s facing a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of life in prison.
Prosecutors claim that Diddy was running a criminal enterprise for years. He allegedly used “firearms, threats of violence, coercion, and verbal, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse” in his crimes.
Diddy has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Indeed, his lawyers claim that he is innocent of everything that he has been accused of.
Diddy has been an A-list star for decades, and he has tons of famous friends. It will certainly be interesting to see if any other celebrities are implicated in this case in the months to come.
More About:Celebrity News