Sean “Diddy” Combs insists that he is not a sex offender but rather someone who participates in the “swinger” lifestyle, as he declines a plea deal proposed by prosecutors.
During a court hearing held shortly before the scheduled start of his sex trafficking trial, it was revealed that federal authorities had previously offered Diddy a plea bargain. Prosecutors asked Judge Arun Subramanian to confirm in court that Diddy understood the deal’s conditions. The judge stated that he would revisit the topic during a later session on May 1.
The details of the plea offer have not been publicly disclosed, and Diddy’s legal team has so far declined to comment on why it was rejected.
In his defense, Diddy has maintained that his alleged actions were part of consensual adult behavior, which he views as typical within the “swinger” community. His attorney, Marc Agnifilo, told the court: “There’s a lifestyle, call it swingers or whatever you will, that he thought was appropriate because it was common. Many people think it’s appropriate because it’s common.”
Prosecutors also petitioned the court to allow the testimony of a person who says they underwent a “medical procedure” linked to the trafficking allegations. The nature of the procedure was not shared, and the judge has not ruled on whether this evidence will be permitted.
In another motion, prosecutors asked to use a sex tape involving Diddy as evidence, but requested that it not be made public due to its “extremely sensitive” content.
Diddy faced a setback when the judge ruled that footage showing him allegedly assaulting Cassie in a hotel hallway can be presented at trial. Although Diddy’s legal team had questioned the authenticity of the video, he had already apologized for his actions shown in the clip.
The trial is scheduled to begin on May 12. It will be open to the public but will not be livestreamed, unlike other recent high-profile court cases.
