Judge sets May trial date for Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex trafficking charges

The federal trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs is scheduled to start May 5, a judge in New York City declared Thursday as federal prosecutors and defense lawyers clashed in court over whether details in the sex trafficking case against the embattled hip-hop mogul are being leaked.

Marc Agnifilo, a lawyer for Combs, asked U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian in Manhattan to issue a gag order and accused federal agents of leaking grand jury information and making prejudicial comments to the media.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson argued that the defense is simply trying to exclude a “damning piece of evidence” disguised as media statements.

Among the alleged leaks raised by the defense was a video that aired on CNN in May that shows Combs beating his then-girlfriend, singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, in 2016 — prompting Combs, the Grammy-winning founder of Bad Boy Records, to apologize and express his remorse after the video became public.

“None of the leaks are from the prosecution team,” Johnson said.

Subramanian deferred ruling on a gag order and said he would consider an order to prohibit publicly sharing information that undermines a fair trial.

Meanwhile, Johnson said the government could take three weeks to present its case against Combs, 54, who pleaded not guilty last month to charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. The length of the trial, however, could change if a possible superseding indictment is filed, she told Subramanian.

Agnifilo, Combs’ lawyer, said the defense’s case could take about a week. Combs, wearing a beige shirt and pants, appeared anxious at times in the packed courtroom, turning to his supporters in the gallery, including his mother, Janice Small Combs, and his children.

Combs has remained jailed in Brooklyn since he was arrested on Sept. 16 after two separate judges twice denied him bail. While another bail appeal is pending in New York’s 2nd Circuit Court, Subramanian ordered Combs to remain in custody because that application is not before him.

Manhattan federal prosecutors’ sprawling criminal case is the most serious Combs faces in a winding legal saga that has included a new wave of lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault and misconduct over the decades. A federal indictment alleged Combs orchestrated and recorded coerced sex acts during gatherings known as “freak offs.”

Combs faces life in prison if he is convicted.

Erica Wolff, a lawyer for Combs, has said he “emphatically and categorically denies as false and defamatory any claim that he sexually abused anyone, including minors.”

Many of the lawsuits were filed in New York City, where, under the Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act, a person can still bring forth a sexual abuse complaint even after the statute of limitation has passed. Combs last year settled one complaint in which Ventura accused him of rape and abuse. A lawyer said Combs “vehemently denies” claims related to that case.

Agnifilo has similarly denied the criminal allegations.

“He’s going to fight this with all of his energy and all of his might and the full confidence of his lawyers,” Agnifilo told reporters last month. “And I expect a long battle with a good result for Mr. Combs.”

In a joint letter this week from Combs’ lawyers and prosecutors to the trial judge, his defense team said it “continues to assert his right to a speedy trial and intends to request a trial date in April or May 2025, and as consistent with the Court's trial schedule.”

However, prosecutors told Subramanian there is “voluminous” evidence, including “several terabytes of electronic material,” which they’ve begun to turn over to the defense.

The items already submitted include a complete set of search warrants in the case, a phone belonging to Combs that was seized in March and reports on his iCloud accounts.

Johnson said Thursday that prosecutors intend to complete discovery for the trial by the end of the year. Ninety-six devices related to the case were seized from Combs’ homes in Los Angeles and Miami and on Combs himself at a Miami airport, she added.

It may take longer to extract data from them, in part, because a handful of the devices were found smashed, Johnson said.

A discovery conference hearing was scheduled for Dec. 18.

Upon the end of Thursday’s hearing, Combs waved to his family, threw them a kiss and gave a prayer motion before being led out.

As speculation swirls around other celebrities who might be associated with the allegations against Combs, another defense lawyer, Anthony Ricco, later told reporters that his client is “doing fine.”

“He had his family here today to support him,” Ricco said. “We really want to put an end to all of the clowning that we see on the internet. This is a serious proceeding with serious consequences, and all of us are addressing it accordingly.”

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com