NEW YORK (AP) — Federal prosecutors in New York said Monday that attorneys for music mogul Shaun “Diddy” Comb are looking for reasons to delay a sex trafficking trial that is expected to begin in three weeks.
The latest version of the indictment against Combs 55 added two new charges this month, but he has not yet entered the plea, prosecutors said. Plus, along with delays from the routine process of sharing evidence with both sides called Discovery, prosecutors have made him think he might get stuck for a while, said U.S. lawyer Christy Slavik.
Combs has been locked up without bail since his arrest in September. He again entered the innocence plea at Monday’s hearing, but otherwise he would remain unpleasant in court.
Judge Arun Subramanian told Combs’ attorneys that they should request a suspension at trial until Wednesday to give them time for discovery.
“We’re a freight train moving towards trial,” he said.
Mark Agnifilo, who represents Combs, said the defense might ask for a “very short” two-week postponement of the issue of discovery.
The latest version of the indictment, which returned on April 4, added two new charges and accused women of at least 2021-2024 of using force, fraud or coercion to engage in commercial sexual activity.
Combs also claimed he was involved in the transport of women who were identified only as “victim 2.” They also include other people, including commercial sex workers who engage in prostitution during the same period.
The new charges have intensified charges that have already been claimed for conspiracy to assault him and sex trafficking.
Federal prosecutors said the conspiracy charges included allegations that they took over sex trafficking and forced a fourth of his employees into sexual activity with him.
His attorney responded to the latest version of the indictment, saying it was related to the ex-long-term girlfriend who was involved in the consensual relationship without adding any new claims or accusers.
Prosecutors say he forced and abused women over the years as he used his “power and fame” as a music star to help him by using his “power and fame” as a music star while silenced the victim through horrifying mail and violence such as seduction, arson and physical assault.
They say the founder of Bad Boy Records led female victims to elaborately produced sexual performances in which they swallowed the drugs alongside male sex workers at an event called “Freak Offs.”
