A grey-haired and bearded Sean “Diddy” Combs showed up at Manhattan’s Daniel Patrick Moynihan Courthouse Friday for one of his final pre-trial hearings on sex trafficking and racketeering charges.
Despite his changed look in his tan jumpsuit, he seemed upbeat, blowing kisses to family members including his mother and two children. During the hearing, he pleaded not guilty to the new superseding indictment containing additional racketeering accusations.
The Bad Boy founder’s trial was pushed back from May 5 to a week later, though the judge noted the exact start date could shift depending on jury selection timing.
CNN Video Becomes Key Focus
Diddy’s lawyers continued arguing against the CNN hotel assault video showing him attacking Cassie Ventura—evidence prosecutors consider “critical” to proving he physically assaulted sexual partners, employees, and witnesses as part of his alleged sex trafficking and racketeering operations.
Judge Arun Subramanian decided jury selection will happen in two phases: written questionnaires for potential jurors in late April, followed by in-person questioning beginning May 5. Opening statements are planned for May 12.
The judge ruled that voir dire will be “sequestered,” keeping jurors separated during questioning—a measure often taken in high-profile cases.
Regarding the CNN video, Diddy’s lead attorney Marc Agnifilo claimed, “It’s a piece of evidence that is deceptive.” He repeated Thursday’s claim that CNN ran the video through editing software and didn’t preserve the original footage. He alleged parts were rearranged and sped up.
“It’s a piece of evidence that’s been changed,” he insisted.
CNN responded Thursday: “CNN never altered the video and did not destroy the original copy of the footage, which was retained by the source. CNN aired the story about the video several months before Combs was arrested.”
Prosecutors Defend Video Evidence
Government prosecutors countered they would bring multiple witnesses to testify about the events in the video to confirm its accuracy. They also revealed having additional footage from a witness who recorded the original surveillance video on their phone.
Judge Subramanian suggested a compromise to Agnifilo: if he believes the CNN video was edited, could he create a version restored to the original chronological order and speed? Agnifilo said he plans to file a motion about the video soon.
After the video became public last year, Diddy apologized: “My behavior on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I’m disgusted. I was disgusted then when I did it, I’m disgusted now.”
New Medical Records Surface
In a late hearing development, Agnifilo mentioned Diddy’s team “recently came into possession of a great deal of medical records” including prescription medication details. He didn’t reveal whose records they were.
Because of these prescription drug records, he plans to call a pharmacology expert during trial.
The parties will meet again April 25 for what’s currently scheduled as their final pre-trial conference.
