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The federal sex trafficking case against Sean “Diddy” Combs has been reassigned to a new judge, according to court records obtained by PEOPLE. As of October 3, Judge Arun Subramanian has taken over from Andrew L. Carter Jr., who was previously overseeing the case.
During a bail hearing on September 18, Judge Carter had stated that he would transfer the case to another judge if he could not accommodate the trial schedule requested by Combs, who declined to waive his right to a speedy trial. Ultimately, Carter’s reassignment made way for Judge Subramanian to now preside over the case.
Combs faces serious charges, including sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation for the purpose of engaging in prostitution. These charges were unveiled following a federal indictment on September 17. According to the indictment, prosecutors allege that the music mogul used “force, threats of force, and coercion” to compel women to participate in what are described as “freak offs”—elaborate sex performances involving male sex workers.
Despite pleading not guilty to all charges, Combs has been denied bail on two occasions. In his decision to deny bail, Judge Carter stated, “There is no condition or combination of conditions to ensure he will not obstruct justice or tamper with witnesses.”
Currently, Combs remains incarcerated at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn while awaiting further developments in his case. In addition to the criminal charges, Combs also faces multiple civil lawsuits accusing him of sexual abuse. report from The National Desk.
The reassigning of the case comes as one of the latest updates in this high-profile legal battle. While Combs’ legal team continues to fight for his defense, the upcoming trial will likely bring intense scrutiny to both the criminal and civil charges he is facing.
For now, the focus turns to Judge Subramanian as the case progresses through the federal court system, with many awaiting what comes next in this complex and widely followed case.
