Sean “Diddy” Combs is officially heading to court without delay. A federal judge has denied the music mogul’s request to push back his upcoming sex trafficking and racketeering trial, keeping the May 6 start date locked in. This ruling drops as Combs’ legal team scrambles to challenge evidence and as his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura fights off invasive subpoenas tied to her upcoming testimony.
The motion for delay was filed by Combs’ attorneys, who argued they needed more time to prepare due to the recent disclosure of alleged evidence and heightened media scrutiny. But Judge Arun Subramanian wasn’t convinced, ruling that the case has been pending long enough and emphasizing the need to proceed on schedule. The trial is part of an ongoing civil and federal legal saga involving multiple women accusing Combs of sexual assault, human trafficking, and coercive control, allegations he has adamantly denied.
Meanwhile, Combs’ lawyers are trying to suppress a key piece of evidence: a 2016 surveillance video that appears to show Diddy physically assaulting Cassie in a hotel hallway. The video, first aired by CNN, sparked national outrage. But now, Diddy’s defense has brought in a forensic video expert who claims the footage is “wholly inaccurate,” arguing it was edited, sped up, and presented out of sequence. The original file, they say, no longer exists.
Cassie’s legal team is fighting back, insisting the footage is consistent with her allegations and serves as crucial evidence of a pattern of abuse that spanned over a decade.
In addition, Combs is also attempting to subpoena Cassie’s unpublished memoir drafts, private writings, and bank statements, claiming she offered to sell the book rights for $30 million in exchange for keeping her story private. Cassie denies those claims and has filed a motion to block the subpoena, calling it a clear attempt to intimidate and discredit her before she takes the stand. She is reportedly planning to testify under her real name, no longer listed anonymously as “Jane Doe.”
The court has not yet ruled on whether the surveillance footage or the subpoenaed documents will be allowed in trial, but both sides are bracing for a courtroom battle with major reputational and legal consequences.
With the trial officially greenlit to proceed in early May, Combs now faces one of the most pivotal legal challenges of his life.
