Attorneys representing Sean “Diddy” Combs are urging a federal judge to block prosecutors from bringing up past sexual assault claims in the music mogul’s upcoming criminal trial, arguing those allegations are unrelated to the current charges and would unfairly sway the jury.
In a motion filed Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Combs’ legal team stated that he has not been criminally charged with sexual assault. Therefore, they argue, any mention of the numerous civil sexual assault lawsuits brought against him should be excluded from his trial, which is scheduled to begin on May 5.
Combs, 55, is currently facing federal charges including racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking, and two counts of transporting individuals for prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. He was arrested in September following federal raids on his properties and is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
“The Court should require the government to try the case it charged and prove that case to the jury beyond a reasonable doubt,” his lawyers wrote. “The government should not be permitted to pollute the trial with decades of dirt and invite a conviction based on the idea that Mr. Combs is simply a bad person.”
Combs’ attorneys argue that bringing in claims from unrelated civil lawsuits would be highly prejudicial and could confuse jurors. “It is hard to imagine any evidence that could be more unfairly prejudicial, or more likely to confuse the issues, mislead the jury, cause undue delay, and waste time,” they said in the court filing, obtained by PEOPLE.
This legal move comes just days after Combs was indicted on additional sex trafficking charges. Meanwhile, dozens of women have filed civil suits against him, accusing him of sexual assault. These lawsuits are not part of the criminal trial, but prosecutors could potentially use them to build a narrative against Combs.
Among the four women expected to testify in the trial is Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, 38, a former romantic partner of Combs. PEOPLE confirmed she will testify using her real name. According to a filing by federal prosecutors on April 4, the remaining three women have requested to remain anonymous during the proceedings.
The latest indictment alleges that Combs and his associates would lure individuals into sexual encounters through false promises of romance. Prosecutors claim these encounters, described as “freak offs,” were orchestrated sex shows in which participants were allegedly forced or coerced to take part.
Combs has publicly denied all criminal allegations against him.
If you or someone you know is experiencing sexual abuse, help is available. Text “STRENGTH” to 741-741 to reach a certified crisis counselor through the Crisis Text Line.
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