Sean “Diddy” Combs is set to be arraigned on Friday in Manhattan federal court on a new indictment, which includes additional allegations that the music mogul forced employees to work grueling hours and threatened retaliation against those who refused to participate in his alleged two-decade sex trafficking operation.
U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian is scheduled to preside over the hearing at 2 p.m. EDT (1800 GMT), during which the 55-year-old Combs will enter a plea. The trial is currently set to begin on May 5.
Combs has previously pleaded not guilty to charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation for prostitution.
While the latest indictment does not introduce new charges, it expands on allegations of “forced labor” connected to the racketeering conspiracy. Prosecutors claim Combs and his associates exercised control over employees by compelling them to work long hours with minimal rest, using or threatening physical force, financial harm, psychological manipulation, and damage to their reputations.
Combs’ attorney, Marc Agnifilo, has stated that his client never coerced anyone into sexual acts.
The Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s Office alleges that Combs exploited his entertainment empire, including Bad Boy Entertainment, to sexually abuse women between 2004 and 2024. Allegations include orchestrating and recording “freak offs,” in which women engaged in sexual performances with male sex workers, some of whom were transported across state lines. Agnifilo has maintained that these encounters were entirely consensual.
In addition to the criminal case, Combs is facing numerous civil lawsuits from women and men accusing him of sexual assault and other misconduct, all of which he has denied.
Friday’s hearing is expected to address jury selection, with prosecutors pushing for an April 21 start date to ensure the trial does not extend beyond the July 4 holiday. The defense, however, is requesting a May 5 start, arguing that an earlier date would hinder their ability to prepare adequately.
Combs has been held in a Brooklyn detention facility since his arrest in September 2024.
A legendary figure in the music industry, Combs—also known as Puff Daddy and P. Diddy—founded Bad Boy Records and played a key role in launching the careers of artists like Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans, The Notorious B.I.G., and Usher in the 1990s and 2000s.
His downfall accelerated in early 2024 when federal agents raided his homes in Los Angeles and Miami Beach as part of the sex trafficking investigation that ultimately led to his indictment.
