MANHATTAN, USA – Sean “Diddy” Combs, the prominent music mogul and entrepreneur, will face trial next week in a federal sex trafficking case after formally rejecting a plea deal that could have reduced his sentencing exposure.
At a hearing on Thursday, May 1, 2025, in Manhattan federal court, Combs, 55, appeared before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, who confirmed with the defendant that he had reviewed and declined the plea offer.
Dressed in tan jail attire, Combs responded, “Yes I did,” when asked if he had rejected the deal.
Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan had offered Combs a plea arrangement that reportedly would have allowed him to avoid a potentially life-long prison sentence.
However, specific terms of the proposal were not publicly disclosed.
“Combs faces the possibility of a more severe sentence if convicted at trial than he would have had he accepted the plea deal,” prosecutor Maurene Comey told the court.
Combs stands accused of using his vast music and business empire over a span of two decades to coerce women into participating in drug-fuelled sexual encounters with male sex workers — gatherings prosecutors have labelled “Freak Offs.”
The allegations are central to five criminal charges, including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
His defence team maintains that the sexual acts were consensual and framed the accusations within the context of what they described as a consensual “swingers” lifestyle shared by Combs and his longtime partners.
Jury selection for the case began earlier this week, with prospective jurors completing extensive questionnaires concerning their awareness of the case and ability to remain impartial.
Those selected will return to court on Monday, May 5, 2025, for in-person voir dire, and opening statements are slated to begin on Monday, May 12, 2025.
The trial is expected to last at least eight weeks.
Combs, once celebrated as a titan of the hip-hop industry who helped launch the careers of artists such as the Notorious B.I.G. and Mary J. Blige, has seen his public image deteriorate rapidly in the wake of mounting legal troubles.]
In addition to the criminal charges, he faces a string of civil lawsuits stemming from similar allegations of coercion, abuse, and trafficking.
His September 2024 federal indictment sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry and ended a career marked by both artistic success and controversy.
Combs continues to deny all accusations.
