Combs entered his appeal to the new prosecution before the US district judge Arun Subramanian at a hearing at the Federal Court of Manhattan on Friday. A test is scheduled for May 5.
The 55 -year -old man who was kept in a Brooklyn prison awaiting trial since his September 2024 was wearing a tan Baggy arrest clothes and sported gray hair and a gray beard. He blew kisses to his mother and other family members sitting on the court audience when he was led at the end of the 45 -minute hearing.
Combs previously declared innocent of accusations of conspiracy, sexual traffic and transport to engage in prostitution.
Also known during his career as Puff Daddy and P. Diddy, Combs has founded Bad Boy Records and is credited with helping R&B rappers and singers such as Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans, Great Notorium and opening stars in the 1990s and 2000s.
Prosecutors of the US lawyer office in Manhattan said Combs used their commercial empire, including their Bad Boy Entertainment label, to sexually abuse women between 2004 and 2024.
Supposed Comb abuses included that women participate in registered sexual performances called “freak offs” with sex professionals, which were sometimes transported by state lines.
Although the new prosecution did not add new accusations, he described what prosecutors called “forced labor” that Combs demanded in connection with the 20 -year extortion conspiracy.
He said Combs and his associates “kept control” about some employees, forcing them to work long hours with little sleep, through the use or threats of using physical strength, financial damage, psychological damage and reputation damage.
Comb defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo said his client never forced anyone to get involved in sexual acts against his will. Agnifilo said the strangers were consensual sexual activities.
In a preview of an imminent dispute over what could be crucial evidence, prosecutor Mitzi Steiner said the defense can seek to prevent them from introducing a hotel surveillance video broadcast by CNN last year, showing Combs Sticking and dragging his former R&Bger’s former R&Bger known as Cassie.
Combs apologized in May last year after the CNN broadcast the video. Agnifilo said the video was not evidence of sex trafficking and said that Combs and Ventura had “a 11 -year -old toxic and loving relationship.”
In court on Friday, Agnifilo said the video was out of sequence and then parts of it were accelerated.
“It’s misleading evidence, it’s misleading evidence, it’s evidence that has been changed,” he submitted.
A CNN -voice door said the output never changed the video.
The judge suggested that both sides work together to put the video in the right sequence and the correct speed before showing it to the jury.
At the Friday’s hearing, Subramanian said the potential jurors will start filling in questionnaires on April 28.
The judges’ personal question will begin on May 5, with opening statements on May 12, he said.
