O.J. Simpson. Johnny Depp. Michael Jackson.
America’s fascination with celebrity is perhaps only topped by the intrigue when one such celebrity goes on trial.
At the nexus of Hollywood and the judicial system, the oft-televised proceedings present the ultimate spectacle, as the dirty laundry of society’s most famous names becomes available by court order for public consumption.
The trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs promises to be no different, as the disgraced music mogul faces federal charges for racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.
But unlike in the cases of Depp or Simpson, eager trial watchers will have to rely on courtroom sketches and reporter dispatches from inside, as cameras have been shut out of the proceedings.
Why won’t the Diddy trial be televised?
Because Combs faces federal criminal charges, the presence of “electronic media” is expressly banned by a procedural rule passed in 1946.
Entitled Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, the statute bars both photographs and broadcasting from the courtroom of a federal criminal trial. R. Kelly’s federal criminal trial, on similar charges, was also not televised.
The rules around federal civil proceedings are slightly more flexible, allowing for recording in some instances at the discretion of the judge. Some criminal trials at the state level, like in the closely watched case of Alex Murdaugh, allow for cameras in the courtroom.
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When does Diddy’s trial start?
Combs’ trial, which will take place in downtown Manhattan, is currently set to begin May 5 with jury selection. The trial’s start date is the same day as the Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, just miles away from the courthouse.
On multiple occasions, Combs attended the exclusive annual gala, benefitting the museum’s Costume Institute.
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What charges does Diddy face?
Diddy is charged with two counts of sex trafficking, two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution and one count of racketeering.
Racketeering is the participation in an illegal scheme under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Statute, or RICO, as a way for the U.S. government to prosecute organizations contributing to criminal activity.
Using RICO law, which is typically aimed at targeting multi-person criminal organizations, prosecutors allege that Combs coerced victims, some of whom they say were sex workers, through intimidation and narcotics to participate in “freak offs” — sometimes dayslong sex performances that federal prosecutors claim they have video of.
Contributing: Jay Stahl, Taijuan Moorman, KiMi Robinson, Edward Segarra, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why won’t Diddy’s trial be televised?
