Didi rejects last-minute plea agreement and pleads not guilty prior to sex trafficking trials – National

Sean “Diddy” Combs refused a plea deal from federal prosecutors at a hearing Thursday in his sex trafficking case, scheduled to begin May 5th.

US District Judge Arun Subramanian, who oversees his trial in New York, asked the rapper about the plea deal after asking Didi to check if he had a healthy heart, not a drug.

“Did you reject the government's offer?” Subramanian asked him, according to NBC News.

“Yes, your honor,” replied Diddy.

Mohren Comey, a prosecutor at the Manhattan U.S. Lawyer's Office, said the denied transaction would allow for shorter prison hours, but no other details of the transaction were shared.

Diddy had previously pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking, assault and transporting to engage in prostitution. If he is convicted of all numbers, he could remain behind the bar for the rest of his life.

He was dressed in olive clothing over a white thermal shirt as he entered the courtroom and waved to the gallery supporters before hugging his lawyer.

During the hearing, Subramanian refused a request from Diddy's lawyer to rule out security camera footage CNN that violently attacked ex-girlfriend Kathy Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel hallway in 2016.

The ruling allows prosecutors to show the video to the ju judge. This was changed at trial and unacceptable what Diddy's lawyers had previously alleged.

Ventura will testify in her name at trial. The judge's choice begins on May 5th, with a statement of opening the trial scheduled for May 12th. The trial is expected to last 8-10 weeks.

Subramanian said he would like to sit 12 and six alternative judges over three days.

The court will call 50 ju judges daily to the Manhattan court. Each ju apprentice will be exempt for the cause or will be asked to return for further questions.

Subramanian aims to narrow the group down to 45 people, each interviewing two lawyers individually from both sides of the case. 600 potential ju apprentices are being requested.

At Thursday's hearing, Diddy's lawyer Tenny Jelagos targeted Lisa Bloom, the lawyer representing John Doe and Dawn Richard.

Jelagos said Bloom appeared on the BBC to try to enhance the reliability of its clients.

“It's deeply intrusive to us and could violate the rules of justice,” Geragos said.

Bloom said that Diddy and his lawyers “issued multiple public statements” was “hypocritical” and now he “want to shut me up.”

“The accuser and his attorneys have every right to speak out. I am extremely proud to represent my brave clients, Dawn Richard and John Daw, in the suit against Mr. Combs,” Bloom added Thursday.

“We look forward to attending Combs' upcoming criminal trials in New York and continuing to advocate for his clients in line with the law and ethics rules.”

In September 2024, Richard sued the music producer, explaining years of psychological and physical abuse, including groping, and says he suffered when he helped him begin her career.

Richard has become more widely known after appearing on the reality show where he created the band, but he has sued for unspecified damages and millions of dollars in revenue that she has been denied.

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She argues that punitive damages are guaranteed due to financial harm, physical injury, pain and suffering, and severe psychological and mental distress.

A representative for Didi said in a statement that he was “shocked and disappointed” by the lawsuit.

They said Richard “trying to rewrite history” by producing all of the false claims in order to get payday.

They added that if her experience was so negative, Richard would have not continued his work with Diddy for a long time, including agreeing to go back in 2020 to reboot the band and be featured on last year's love album.

“It's a shame that Richard put aside his 20-year friendship to get money from him, but Mr. Combs is confident in the truth and looks forward to prove it in court,” they said.

According to the lawsuit, Richard witnessed Diddy repeatedly abuse his girlfriend, enduring the threat of fearing her life when Richard worked on the song.

She says in a lawsuit that regularly explodes in Rage, throwing cell phones, laptops, food and studio equipment at rooms and people. Otherwise, according to the lawsuit, Richard witnessed him choking and choking longtime girlfriend Ventura. According to the lawsuit, the event took place from 2004 to 2011.

In her lawsuit, Richard said, “Now we're adding her voice to the growing chorus of victims who bravely share their tragic stories. Together they are in solidarity for justice as the latest victims of the #MeToo movement in the music industry.”

In court documents, she accused Diddy of asking, “Do you want to die today?” And she claims he boasted that he “ends people” when he withholds her income, steals her copyrighted work, and is groped, attacked, and falsely imprisoned by locking her into a car for hours.

In the lawsuit, Richard repeatedly demands that while recording, rehearsal and performing between 2009 and 2011, Diddy repeatedly stripped her into her underwear, demanding that she make sleazy remarks about her body, sometimes calling her “lazy, fat, ugh, thin” even in front of her friends, producers and bodyguards.

She argued that he could carry out many of his abuses in public, including Didi, who supported him as defendants and those around the music company, and be held responsible for along with record company employees.

Diddy pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking charges after being arrested in September 2024. He remains in jail without bail.

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If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse or is involved in an abusive situation, help the victims of crime for the Canadian Resource Center. You can also reach the free you can reach on 1-877-232-2610.

– Use files from Associated Press

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