The moment of truth has arrived for Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Almost eight months after the embattled music mogul was arrested in New York, Combs is about to stand trial on allegations of racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to all five counts.
The commencement of the trial comes after Combs’ attorneys unsuccessfully pushed to delay its start by two months, arguing a postponement would provide them with “necessary time to prepare” his defense. They maintained that there was “substantially new conduct” alleged in an expanded April 3 indictment, and that the government was still producing evidence.
But U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian ruled against this request during an April 18 hearing, clearing the trial to proceed on its scheduled start date. Subramanian told the court there was no reason to think that Combs’ attorneys did not have sufficient time to put a defense together.
When does the Diddy trial begin?
Combs’ trial is set to begin on Monday, May 5. Jury selection is expected to start on that date, which happens to be the same Monday of another high-profile event in New York: the Met Gala.
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Opening statements in the trial are scheduled to begin the following Monday, May 12. The trial will not be televised, as cameras are not expected to be permitted in the courtroom.
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In the lead-up to the May 5 start date, attorneys for the prosecution and the defense have been in court for pretrial hearings to discuss various procedural matters. During a hearing on April 25, Subramanian ruled that prosecutors may use as evidence security footage from 2016 allegedly showing Combs beating his ex-girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura Fine at a hotel.
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Ventura originally accused of Combs of sexual assault and physical abuse in a November 2023 lawsuit, which was followed by numerous legal claims from other accusers alleging abuse by the man who was once among the most influential figures in hip-hop music. Ventura’s lawsuit was quickly settled. Combs has denied all allegations of abuse.
And during a May 1 hearing, Combs confirmed he declined a potential plea deal in front of the judge. Both prosecutors and the defense also came to an agreement on the jury selection process.
Contributing: Patrick Ryan, Taijuan Moorman, Edward Segarra, Jay Stahl
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Diddy trial: When does it begin?
