Diddy Rejects Government Plea Deal As Sex Trafficking Trial Gets Underway
Photo Credit: Wesley Tingey
Sean “Diddy” Combs has rejected the government’s offer to plead guilty to reduce his potential prison sentence as his sex trafficking trial kicks off.Combs appeared in court on Thursday, formally rejecting the US government’s plea offer that would reduce his potential prison sentence if he would plead guilty. When asked by Judge Arun Subramanian if he rejected the prosecution’s plea deal, Combs answered, “Yes, I do, your honor. Thank you.”
As the disgraced musician’s federal sex trafficking trial gets underway, at least four witnesses who have already filed civil suits against Combs are expected to testify against him. While the witness list has not been made public, three individuals familiar with the matter told CNN anonymously about those likely to testify.
Unsurprisingly, the central witness is Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura, the singer and ex-girlfriend of Combs, who will testify under her real name. The judge has permitted the other three witnesses and alleged victims to testify under pseudonyms to aid in protecting their identities. In court documents, they are referred to as “Victim-2,” “Victim-3,” and “Victim-4.”
Meanwhile, a number of supporting witnesses will also testify as government witnesses to corroborate the key witnesses’ accounts or to provide other relevant information. Among those expected to testify is a male sex worker seen in explicit videos of Combs’ “Freak Offs”—sexual encounters he allegedly coerced women into with sex workers, in which one or both parties were drugged and forced to engage in sex acts.Combs is facing over 60 civil lawsuits, which are notably separate from his criminal trial. But many of those lawsuits served as a “roadmap” for prosecutors, according to sources close to the matter.
He has pleaded not guilty to charges of racketeering conspiracy, transportation to engage in prostitution, and sex trafficking. Combs continues to vehemently deny all civil allegations against him.
