Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ lawyer complains about trial secrecy as rapper’s name goes unmentioned
Combs left out of meeting outside courtroom where lawyers and judge discussed whether another famous rapper’s name could be disclosed
A lawyer for Sean “Diddy” Combs protested against the rising tide of secrecy at the hip-hop icon’s federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial on Thursday after Combs and the public were excluded from lengthy arguments over whether another famous rapper’s name could be disclosed.
Defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo complained to Judge Arun Subramanian after Combs was left out of an hour-long meeting in a private room outside the courtroom where lawyers and the judge discussed a hotel room “event” in January 2024.
That meeting added a two-hour delay to the start of the sixth and final day of testimony from a woman identified in court only by the pseudonym “Jane”, who dated Combs from 2001 until his arrest last September.
Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to charges that carry a potential prison sentence of 15 years to life in prison if he is convicted. Prosecutors say he used his fame, fortune, violence and threats to manipulate girlfriends into sex with paid sex workers in multi-day events that they later said they regretted.
Defence lawyers say the government is trying to prosecute consensual sex between adults.
Under cross-examination, Jane testified on Thursday that she flew to Las Vegas in January 2023 with a famous rapper and his girlfriend.