When is Sean 'Diddy' Combs' trial and what is he charged with?

The proceedings of Sean "Diddy" Combs, 1 of the astir palmy rappers and euphony moguls successful the US, starts successful New York with assemblage enactment connected Monday.

The charges against him see racketeering conspiracy, enactment trafficking, and proscription to prosecute successful prostitution. If convicted, helium could look beingness successful prison.

The rapper besides faces dozens of civilian lawsuits from individuals who impeach him of utilizing his powerfulness to drug, assault, rape, intimidate and soundlessness people.

Mr Combs has pleaded not blameworthy to the transgression charges and rejected the idiosyncratic lawsuits arsenic attempts "for a speedy payday".

Mr Combs - who has besides gone by the names Puffy, Puff Daddy, P Diddy, Love, and Brother Love - emerged into the hip-hop country successful the 1990s.

His aboriginal euphony vocation occurrence included helping motorboat the careers of Mary J Blige and Christopher Wallace - aka Biggie Smalls, oregon The Notorious B.I.G.

His euphony statement Bad Boy Records became 1 of the astir important labels successful rap and expanded to see Faith Evans, Ma$e, 112, Mariah Carey and Jennifer Lopez.

Mr Combs besides had a prolific concern vocation extracurricular of music, including a woody with British drinks institution Diageo to beforehand the French vodka marque Cîroc.

In 2023, helium released his 5th grounds The Love Album: Off The Grid and earned his archetypal solo information astatine the Grammy awards. He besides was named a Global Icon astatine the MTV Awards.

In the national transgression case, Mr Combs is charged with racketeering conspiracy, 2 charges of enactment trafficking and 2 charges of proscription to prosecute successful prostitution.

Many of the astir terrible allegations subordinate to the racketeering conspiracy charge.

It includes accusations of kidnapping, drugging, and coercing women into intersexual activities, sometimes utilizing firearms oregon threats of violence.

In a raid connected his Los Angeles mansion, constabulary recovered supplies that they said were intended for usage successful orgies known arsenic “freak offs”, including drugs and much than 1,000 bottles of babe oil.

Separately, Mr Combs faces a fig of lawsuits accusing him of rape and assault.

Tony Buzbee, a Texas lawyer handling immoderate of these cases, said that much than 100 women and men from crossed the US person either filed lawsuits against the rap mogul oregon volition bash so.

In December 2023, a pistillate known successful tribunal papers arsenic Jane Doe alleged that she was "gang raped" by Mr Combs and others successful 2003, erstwhile she was 17. She said she was fixed "copious amounts of drugs and alcohol" earlier the attack.

Mr Combs' ineligible squad dismissed the flurry of lawsuits arsenic "clear attempts to garner publicity."

His existent ineligible issues began erstwhile helium was sued by his ex-girlfriend Casandra Ventura, besides known arsenic Cassie, successful precocious 2023. She accused him of violently abusing and raping her.

That suit was settled for an undisclosed magnitude a time aft it was filed, with Mr Combs maintaining his innocence.

Since then, dozens of radical person filed lawsuits accusing Mr Combs of intersexual assault, with accusations dating backmost to 1991. He denies each claims.

His arguable past with Ms Ventura resurfaced successful 2024, erstwhile CCTV footage leaked by CNN showed Mr Combs kicking his erstwhile girlfriend arsenic she laic connected a edifice hallway level successful 2016.

He apologised for his behaviour, saying: "I instrumentality afloat work for my actions successful that video. I was disgusted past erstwhile I did it. I'm disgusted now."

Mr Combs has consistently denied the allegations made against him successful the civilian lawsuits, describing them arsenic "sickening" and suggesting they were made by "individuals looking for a speedy payday".

In a connection to the BBC astir the national transgression charges, his lawyer said: "Mr Combs and his ineligible squad person afloat assurance successful the facts and the integrity of the judicial process.

"In court, the information volition prevail: that Mr Combs ne'er sexually assaulted oregon trafficked anyone - antheral oregon woman, big oregon minor."

Diddy's lawyers aboriginal filed a question to disregard 1 portion of the national indictment successful which helium is accused of proscription to prosecute successful prostitution. His squad argued helium was being unfairly targeted owed to his race.

In a proceeding successful New York a week earlier the trial, his attorneys told the tribunal that the rapper led the "lifestyle" of a "swinger" and was not a criminal.

They said helium thought it was "appropriate" to person aggregate enactment partners, including enactment workers.

At the aforesaid hearing, prosecutors revealed that Mr Combs had rejected a plea deal.

Mr Combs has been held astatine the Metropolitan Detention Center successful Brooklyn, New York, since his apprehension connected 16 September 2024.

His lawyers person argued for his release, citing the jail’s “horrific” conditions.

Critics picture the situation arsenic overcrowded and understaffed, with a civilization of violence.

A New York national justice denied the bail request, describing Mr Combs arsenic a “serious formation risk”.

Prosecutors person alleged that Mr Combs has been breaking situation rules by contacting imaginable witnesses.

They impeach him of "relentless efforts" to "corruptly power witnesser testimony".

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The trial is scheduled to statesman connected Monday.

The archetypal days of the proceedings volition dwell of assemblage selection, with the proceedings starting successful earnest aft the sheet of 12 jurors and six alternates is selected.

Prosecutor Emily Johnson told the justice that the authorities volition request 3 weeks to contiguous its case.

Defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo said the rapper's squad volition request a week for theirs.

Mr Combs' proceedings volition instrumentality spot successful beforehand of US District Judge Arun Subramanian astatine the Daniel Patrick Moynihan courthouse successful little Manhattan.

The proceedings is expected to beryllium unfastened to the public, but won't beryllium streamed online.

Cameras, phones and physics devices are usually not allowed successful US national courtrooms.

Mr Combs faces up to beingness successful situation if convicted connected the racketeering charge.

He faces different statutory minimum condemnation of 15 years if helium is recovered blameworthy of enactment trafficking.

Transportation for purposes of prostitution carries a maximum condemnation of 10 years.