Rapper Diddy's sex trafficking trial to begin May 5, 2025

Music Executive and rapper, Sean "Diddy" Combs, will stay behind bars until his sex trafficking trial begins on May 5, 2025.

On October 10, the rapper came before a court at a status hearing, less than a month after he was detained in New York City on allegations of racketeering, sex trafficking, and using a vehicle to engage in prostitution. 

A trial date of May 5, 2025 was set during the hearing by Judge Arun Subramanian, who took over from Andrew L. Carter Jr. after being reassigned to the case earlier this month.

The rapper has been detained at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn, New York, for three weeks. 

Combs' attorneys filed a new appeal just one day ago, requesting bail for him and claimed that he would "intimidate" witnesses for the impending trial were "unfounded," according to court documents. 

The document, which was sent in on October 9, contended that Judge Carter's rejection of Combs' prior bail request was predicated more on "speculation" than on proof that he would genuinely obstruct his criminal investigation. 

The rapper's attorneys, Alexandra A.E. Shapiro and Jason A. Driscoll, further contended that Combs's trip to New York to appear in court last month, as well as their suggestion of monitoring—which forbids access to phones, the internet, or even video surveillance when needed—helped justify the rapper's release from custody, stressing that their client is "presumed innocent." 

“He took extraordinary steps to demonstrate that he intended to face and contest the charges, not flee,” the filing said. 

“He presented a bail package that would plainly stop him from posing a danger to anyone or contacting any witnesses,” it said.

Judge Subramanian declared that Combs would stay in detention for the hearing on October 10 in spite of the appeal. 

According to the federal indictment made public following his arrest on September 16, Combs is charged with taking part in "Freak Offs," which are described as sexual displays that last for hours or even days. 

Prosecutors claimed that the 54-year-old "arranged, directed, masturbated during, and often electronically recorded" these events. 

The petition also charged Combs with "distributing a variety of controlled substances, in part to keep the victims obedient and compliant" and with coercing victims into engaging in "extended sexual acts with male commercial sex workers" employing "force, threats of force, and coercion."