Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs to stand trial on federal charges in May

[Lauren Taylor]

AMERICAN RAPPER AND RECORD EXECUTIVE, SEAN ‘DIDDY’ COMBS, WILL STAND TRIAL ON FEDERAL SEX TRAFFICKING, RACKETEERING AND CONSPIRACY CHARGES IN MAY, A JUDGE RULED THURSDAY DURING DIDDY’S APPEARANCE FOR A HEARING IN A MANHATTAN COURTROOM.

ACCORDING TO THE INDICTMENT COMBS “ABUSED, THREATENED, AND COERCED WOMEN AND OTHERS AROUND HIM TO FULFILL HIS SEXUAL DESIRES, PROTECT HIS REPUTATION, AND CONCEAL HIS CONDUCT.”

PROSECUTORS SAY HE ENGAGED IN SEX TRAFFICKING, FORCED LABOR, KIDNAPPING, ARSON, BRIBERY, AND OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE, VIOLENCE TOWARDS WOMEN AND THOSE CLOSE TO HIM, AMONG OTHER CRIMES – DATING BACK TO 2008.

LAST MAY, CNN PUBLISHED A HOTEL SECURITY FOOTAGE VIDEO FROM 2016 SHOWING COMBS AT A LOS ANGELES HOTEL GRABBING, STRIKING AND DRAGGING HIS THEN-GIRLFRIEND, CASSIE VENTURA, THROUGH THE HOTEL HALLWAY. DAYS LATER, COMBS APOLOGIZED IN A VIDEO POSTED TO HIS SOCIAL MEDIA.

“I MEAN, I HIT ROCK BOTTOM, BUT I MAKE NO EXCUSES,” THE MUSIC MOGUL SAID. “MY BEHAVIOR ON THAT VIDEO IS INEXCUSABLE. I TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY ACTIONS IN THAT VIDEO.”

COMBS’ ATTORNEYS FILED A 17-PAGE MOTION WEDNESDAY, ACCUSING FEDERAL OFFICIALS OF ‘LEAKING’ THE HOTEL VIDEO CLAIMING PROSECUTORS ARE ATTEMPTING TO DESTROY HIS REPUTATION, TAINT THE JURY POOL “AND DEPRIVE MR. COMBS OF HIS RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL.”

FEDERAL PROSECUTORS DENIED LEAKING THE VIDEO.

COMBS’ ATTORNEYS ARE SEEKING A GAG ORDER IN THE CASE. THE JUDGE ORDERED BOTH THE PROSECUTION AND THE DEFENSE NOT TO SHARE INFORMATION OR MATERIALS WITH THE MEDIA OR PUBLIC ABOUT THE CASE.

THE JUDGE ORDERED COMBS TO REMAIN BEHIND BARS UNTIL HIS TRIAL BEGINS MAY 5TH.

COMBS IS DUE BACK IN COURT DECEMBER 18TH. HE HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO ALL CHARGES.

SEPARTE FROM THE FEDERAL CHARGES, COMBS IS ALSO FACING MORE THAN 100 LAWSUITS – ACCUSING HIM OF RAPE AND ASSAULT, FROM WOMEN AND MEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY, ACCORDING TO TEXAS LAWYER TONY BUZBEE.