Diddy previously rejected a plea deal in his federal sex crime case.
Diddy Turns Down Plea Offer
On Friday (April 25), the embattled music mogul appeared in New York Supreme Court for another pretrial hearing as his May trial draws closer, Rolling Stone reports. During the hearing, the long-rumored plea deal was mentioned by prosecutors who asked the judge to get Combs to say for the record that he had been offered and decided to turn down a plea deal. Judge Arun Subramanian said he would address the plea during another pretrial conference on May 1. The details of the plea deal have not been released.
Federal prosecutors also talked about presenting evidence during the trial that Diddy forced an alleged victim to undergo a medical procedure connected to sex trafficking. The procedure speaks, “directly to the degree of control [Diddy] had over her, consent to specific sexual acts … It’s relevant to these questions on coercion,” a federal prosecutor told Judge Subramanian.
XXL has reached out to Diddy’s team for comment.
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Judge Rules on Cassie Video
During today’s hearing, Judge Arun Subramanian also ruled that the jury will be allowed to view the security footage of Diddy assaulting his ex-girlfriend Cassie at the Intercontinental Hotel in Los Angeles in 2016. Cassie is one of multiple alleged victims who plan to testify at the trial. She will be the only one to do so without a pseudonym. Diddy’s legal team had been arguing against the video being shown during the trial. They claim the video, which was leaked by CNN last May, has been altered and does not tell the entire story.
The Bad Boy Entertainment founder was charged with racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty.
During Friday’s hearing, Diddy’s attorneys claimed Puff engaged in a consensual swinger lifestyle that is not uncommon. In the past, they have claimed racial bias is at play when it comes to the crimes Diddy has been charged with, which include allegedly forcing people to engage in drug-fueled sex marathons through force, fear and coercion.
Diddy’s team was hoping to get his case pushed back until July. However, Judge Subramanian denied the request last week.
Jury selection for the trial is scheduled to begin on May 5, with opening arguments expected to start on May 12.
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