Sean “Diddy” Combs confirmed at a listening to Thursday that he had rejected a plea deal from federal prosecutors in his intercourse trafficking case, paving the way in which for his trial to start subsequent week.
“Have you ever rejected the federal government’s provide?” U.S. District Decide Arun Subramanian, who’s overseeing his trial in New York, requested him.
“Sure, your honor,” Combs replied.
Combs, sporting olive-colored clothes over a white thermal shirt, carried a black binder with notebooks in it as he entered the courtroom and waved to supporters within the gallery earlier than he hugged and shook palms along with his attorneys.
He has pleaded not responsible to expenses of intercourse trafficking, racketeering and transportation to interact in prostitution.
Protection lawyer Marc Agnifilo stated that Combs’ authorized workforce mentioned the provide with him and that collectively they determined to reject it. Assistant U.S. Lawyer Maurene Comey stated the proposal would have given Combs a lighter sentence than he would obtain if he’s discovered responsible at trial on all expenses.
The listening to was the final earlier than the trial begins with jury choice Monday. Subramanian stated voir dire, or the questioning of potential jurors, could be performed in a option to defend jurors’ privateness, together with doable disclosures about experiences with sexual or home abuse.
Subramanian stated he wished to seat a jury of 12 and 6 alternates in three days.
The courtroom will name 50 jurors every day to the Twenty sixth-floor courtroom in Manhattan. Every juror will both be excused for trigger or requested to return to the primary courtroom for additional questioning.
The aim is to slim the group to 45 folks, who will every be interviewed individually with two attorneys from either side current. The courtroom had requested 600 potential jurors.
If potential jurors wish to communicate privately, they are going to go into Subramanian’s chambers, the place the media will probably be excluded, he stated. The transcript for these elements could be sealed.
Agnifilo had expressed concern that the media’s presence would stop potential jurors from talking candidly.
Given the quantity of consideration the case has acquired, significantly in current days, Agnifilo requested the courtroom so as to add a query to the juror survey, concerning a questionnaire already despatched to potential jurors: “Have you ever learn something since finishing the questionnaire?” Subramanian agreed to take action.
Comey stated she understood the protection workforce had added two new attorneys and stated prosecutors want to know who they’re. Agnifilo stated that the brand new attorneys had been within the courtroom, and that they might file their appearances by the top of the day. Certainly one of them is Xavier Donaldson, who has been current for a number of earlier hearings.
A prosecutor stated at a listening to final week that Combs had been supplied a plea deal, the main points of which haven’t been made public.
Subramanian requested all events to be in his courtroom at 8 a.m. Monday and reminded them to keep away from making public statements that would prejudice the trial’s consequence.
The reminder got here in response to a courtroom submitting this week, during which Combs’ attorneys requested Subramanian to bar legal professionals for witnesses, together with Douglas Wigdor and Lisa Bloom, who signify individuals who have filed separate civil fits towards Combs, from talking publicly concerning the trial till its conclusion.
Combs lawyer Teny Geragos stated at Thursday’s listening to that Bloom had appeared on the BBC to attempt to bolster her shopper’s credibility. Bloom instructed the BBC that Richard was “completely terrified” of Combs.
“It’s deeply disturbing to us and will violate the principles of judicial conduct,” Geragos stated.
Bloom represents a John Doe and Daybreak Richard, who was a member of two now-defunct teams fashioned by Combs, Danity Kane and a second one known as Diddy — Soiled Cash.
“How hypocritical that Mr. Combs and his attorneys, having made public statements many instances, now wish to silence me,” Bloom stated Thursday. “Accusers and their attorneys have each proper to talk out. I’m very proud to signify my courageous purchasers, Daybreak Richard and John Doe, in litigation towards Mr. Combs.
“I sit up for attending Mr. Combs’ upcoming felony trial in New York and persevering with to advocate for my purchasers in keeping with the regulation and the moral guidelines.”
Richard alleged in a go well with filed final 12 months, per week earlier than Combs was arrested, that he had groped and threatened her and that she had witnessed him assaulting his former longtime girlfriend Cassie, whose full title is Casandra Ventura. Richards’ go well with is pending, together with dozens of others filed by women and men accusing Combs of sexual misconduct, which Combs has vehemently denied.
Wigdor represents Ventura, whose bombshell lawsuit filed in November 2023 preceded the federal raids of his residence in March 2024 and felony expenses. Ventura accused Combs of years of bodily and emotional abuse and and alleged that he compelled her to have intercourse with male intercourse staff — encounters she stated he known as “freak offs” that had been fueled by medicine and alcohol — whereas he masturbated and recorded them. Freak offs are on the heart of the federal government’s case.
Ventura and Combs settled the lawsuit inside a day with out disclosing the phrases and with Combs denying any wrongdoing.
Wigdor pledged to battle Combs’ efforts to forestall him from talking publicly concerning the case.
“We’ll vigorously oppose the movement in search of a rare sweeping gag order as it’s an apparent try at controlling and silencing victims and their counsel in contravention of well-established authorized and moral precedent,” he stated in an announcement. “Given this, it ought to come as no shock that Combs fails to quote even one case to help his request.”
Combs is alleged in his the five-count indictment to have coerced and threatened ladies to take part in sexual acts and silenced them by means of blackmail and violence. Prosecutors allege he had assist from a community of associates and workers.
