A federal grand jury in New York is hearing new evidence this week as part of the investigation into Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Attorney Arielle Mitchell told NBC News on Wednesday that her male client will testify before a grand jury in the Southern District of New York on Thursday.
A person familiar with grand jury proceedings confirmed the man is scheduled to testify Thursday.
Combs’ legal team did not respond to requests for comment. A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Justice declined to comment.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to charges of extortion, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson said during a hearing this month that the superseding indictment could affect the trial, which is scheduled to begin May 5.
Combs is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. His defense team is seeking to appeal his detention, which has been rejected twice by two separate judges.
As Combs’ criminal trial looms, he is being hit with a wave of civil lawsuits. Texas-based attorney Tony Buzbee filed the latest lawsuit in New York State Supreme Court on Monday. In two separate lawsuits, Combs is accused of sexually assaulting two boys who were 10 and 17 years old at the time. The plaintiffs allege that the abuse occurred in 2005 and 2008, respectively. Combs denies the charges.
“The lawyer behind this case is more interested in media attention than the truth, as evidenced by his constant press appearances and 1-800 address,” Combs’ team said in a statement this week. .
The statement continued: “As previously stated, Mr. Combs cannot respond to any new publicity stunts, even seemingly ridiculous or patently false claims. Mr. Combs and The defense team has full confidence in the facts and the integrity of the judicial process.The court said Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone, male or female, adult or minor. The truth that it is not will prevail.”
Combs faces more than a dozen civil lawsuits, but only one, filed last year by his ex-girlfriend Cassandra Ventura, has been settled. In her lawsuit, she accused Combs of years of physical and sexual abuse. Combs denied the allegations and settled the case for an undisclosed amount. Months later, security video obtained by CNN showed Combs severely beating Ventura in a hotel hallway in 2016. In a video posted to his social media accounts, Combs apologized for the incident and said he has since changed.
Prosecutors revealed in a comprehensive criminal complaint that Ventura’s video and her claims are part of the case against him.
