During a court appearance Thursday, Sean Combs confirmed that he did not accept a plea deal from federal prosecutors in his sex trafficking case.
Jury selection is scheduled to get underway on Monday. Combs was arrested in September and is facing charges of conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. The Sean John founder, entrepreneur and Grammy winner has pled not guilty to the criminal charges.
Combs could potentially face a life sentence if convicted. During Thursday’s hearing, the 55-year-old wore prison attire. Per an order signed by Justice Arun Subramanian, who is overseeing the case, Combs, a 2004 CFDA award winner and member, will be allowed to have five shirts, five sweaters, five pairs of pants and two pairs of shoes without laces to wear during the trial.
His legal team reportedly indicated Thursday that they will increase from a six-person team to eight attorneys by the start of the trial.
Combs, who is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center, is also facing more than dozens of lawsuits. He has denied any wrongdoing. Some of his accusers have alleged that Combs used his businesses to threaten and abuse women to fulfill his sexual desires.
A spokesperson for Combs declined comment Friday. Media requests to his legal team were not immediately acknowledged.
Jurors have reportedly been advised to arrive at the courthouse early on Monday. Jury selection is expected to take a few days to give the legal teams time for pre-trial preparation. Opening statements are expected to start on May 12.
Combs’ case has attracted worldwide media attention beyond standard news coverage. Several media outlets have delved into the allegations with podcasts, docuseries and news specials. Earlier this year, Peacock introduced “Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy,” and Legacy Editions debuted the hour-long “Diddy: Monster’s Fall.” The Daily Mail, BBC Sounds, TMZ, and ABC News have also developed different kinds of content about the case and the trial.
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