(NewsNation) — Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs rejected a plea deal from the feds, and his upcoming trial on sex trafficking charges will feature widely-seen 2016 hotel surveillance video of the music mogul allegedly attacking Cassie Ventura, his girlfriend at the time.
Those were among the details that emerged Friday at a pretrial hearing setting some ground rules for Diddy’s upcoming trial, which begins early next month with jury selection in New York.
Diddy’s rejection of a plea deal — as disclosed by an assistant federal prosecutor with no details — is not considered surprising. The celebrity has vehemently maintained his innocence since he was arrested in September 2024 on allegations he sexually abused and exploited women and used his status to coerce them into participating in sexual events called “Freak-offs.”
Also Friday, the federal judge overseeing the trial ruled jurors will be able to view the infamous footage of Diddy and Ventura. The original video no longer exists; what surfaced publicly was recorded on a cell phone and obtained by CNN.
Diddy’s legal defense team sought to prevent the video from being shown to jurors and suggested the video was manipulated, which CNN denies.
Diddy, who has been held without bond, appeared more downcast than usual at his latest courtroom appearance. He sat down with a writing pad and pen ready to take notes, and, at one point, turned around to the gallery. That is where he usually sees a row of his children there to support him.
On Friday, there was no one there, and Diddy seemed upset. About 10 minutes in, however, his son, Justin, came into the courtroom, and the two acknowledged each other.
Combs is facing charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. His legal defense team is expected to argue that the sexual activity at the heart of the case was consensual.
Diddy also faces civil lawsuits from a number of accusers who say Combs and his associates abused them.