Why Sean "Diddy" Combs Sex Trafficking Case Was Reassigned to a New Judge

Sean "Diddy" Combs will be facing a new judge in his upcoming federal trial.

The rapper's case—in which he's pleaded not guilty to charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution—was reassigned to Judge Arun Subramanian on Oct. 3, according to court documents obtained by E! News.

Subramanian replaces Judge Andrew L. Carter Jr., who said in a Sept. 18 hearing that Combs' case would be reallocated to another judge if he was unable to accommodate a trial date, per People.

The change in judges means that Combs will have another chance to seek bail, which was previously denied by Carter and the case's first judge, U.S. Magistrate Judge Robyn Tarnofsky. Both judges agreed with prosecutors that the Bad Boy Records mogul should remain in jail until his trial.

Combs has been in custody since Sept. 16, when he was arrested in a New York City hotel lobby. In a federal indictment, prosecutors accused him of coercing women into participating in sexual performances—which he allegedly dubbed "Freak Offs"—with male commercial sex workers.

He is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn in the same unit as disgraced cryptocurrency entrepreneur Sam Bankman-Fried, sources told NBC News.

The 54-year-old has also been placed on suicide watch, a common practice not indicative of mental state for high-profile individuals upon admittance to a federal facility.

As Combs remains behind bars, his legal team maintains his innocence. 

"Please reserve your judgment until you have all the facts," his attorney Marc Agnifilo told reporters after Combs was denied bail. "These are the acts of an innocent man with nothing to hide, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court."

Confirming that Combs is receiving “treatment and therapy for things that he needs treatment and therapy for," the lawyer added of his client, "He is not a perfect person. There has been drug use. He has been in toxic relationships."

However, Combs is ready to share his side. “I don’t know that I could keep him off the stand,” Agnifilo said in a Sept. 26 clip from TMZ’s documentary The Downfall of Diddy: The Indictment. “I think he is very eager to tell his story."

I think he will tell every part of his story,” the lawyer continued, acknowledging the 2016 security footage of Diddy appearing to assault his now ex Cassie  in a hotel, which was published by CNN in May, “including what you see on the video.”

For a full breakdown of Combs' federal case, keep reading.

Federal agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed search warrants at Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Los Angeles and Miami properties on March 25, multiple law enforcement sources confirmed to NBC News.  

The sources told the outlet the warrant was out of the Southern District of New York, and a spokesperson for HSI New York confirmed to E! News it “executed law enforcement actions as part of an ongoing investigation, with assistance from HSI Los Angeles, HSI Miami, and our local law enforcement partners.” 

Law enforcement sources told NBC News the music mogul was in the Miami area when the search warrants were executed. 

News about the investigation broke after Combs faced allegations of sexual misconduct in lawsuits filed by multiple accusers starting in November, with the musician denying the allegations. 

“Sickening allegations have been made against me by individuals looking for a quick payday,” he wrote in a December statement posted on Instagram. “Let me be absolutely clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged. I will fight for my name, my family and for the truth.” 

The day after HSI executed the search warrants at Combs' L.A. and Miami properties, his lawyer spoke out. 

"Yesterday, there was a gross overuse of military-level force as search warrants were executed at Mr. Combs' residences," attorney Aaron Dyer said in a March 26 statement to E! News. "There is no excuse for the excessive show of force and hostility exhibited by authorities or the way his children and employees were treated." 

Dyer noted Combs “was never detained but spoke to and cooperated with authorities.”  

“Despite media speculation, neither Mr. Combs nor any of his family members have been arrested nor has their ability to travel been restricted in any way,” his lawyer's statement continued. “This unprecedented ambush—paired with an advanced, coordinated media presence—leads  to a premature rush to judgment of Mr. Combs and is nothing more than a witch hunt based on meritless accusations made in civil lawsuits.” 

And Dyer expressed Combs' intent to defend himself.

“There has been no finding of criminal or civil liability with any of these allegations,” he added. “Mr. Combs is innocent and will continue to fight every single day to clear his name.”

As for what actually went down during the searches, multiple law enforcement sources familiar with the warrant told NBC News authorities with the Department of Homeland Security seized phones from Combs’ home in Miami before he was scheduled to travel to the Bahamas, and several sources familiar with the matter added that guns were discovered during the search.

One source familiar with the matter also told NBC News three women and one man were interviewed by prosecutors and investigators from the Southern District of New York about allegations of sex trafficking, sexual assault, the solicitation and distribution of illegal narcotics and firearms purportedly tied to Combs.

On the same day the search warrants were executed at Combs’ Miami and Los Angeles properties, one of his associates, Brendan Paul, was arrested by the Miami-Dade police on suspicion of drug possession, a law enforcement source familiar with the matter told NBC News. 

According to the Miami-Dade arrest affidavit obtained by the outlet, Paul was taken into custody for allegedly possessing suspected cocaine and suspected marijuana candy. 

Prison records obtained by NBC News show Paul was released on March 26 after posting bond.

“We do not plan on trying this case in the media,” Paul’s attorney Brian Bieber said in a statement obtained by the outlet, “all issues will be dealt with in court.” 

In May, Paul accepted a plea deal, with his lawyer Bieber telling People, "Brendan accepted the prosecutor’s offer to permit his entry into the diversion program which, after completion, the case against him will be dismissed in its entirety."

He was arrested in the lobby of a New York hotel on Sept. 16, 2024, according to NBC News. It's unclear what Combs has been charged with and if the arrest has any potential connection to the raids.

“We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney’s Office," his lawyer Marc Agnifilo said in a statement to E! News. "He is an imperfect person but Is not criminal. To his credit Mr. Combs has been nothing but cooperative with this investigation and he voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of these charges."

After Combs was arrested based on the sealed indictment, the indictment was unsealed on Sept. 17.

The 54-year-old was charged with racketeering conspiracy; sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; as well as transportation to engage in prostitution, according to court documents obtained by NBC News.

The indictment alleged Combs “abused, threatened, and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct” for more than a decade, with prosecutors saying the purported behavior started around 2008.

"To do so," the documents stated, "Combs relied on the employees, resources, and influence of the multi-faceted business empire that he led and controlled—creating a criminal enterprise whose members and associates engaged in, and attempted to engage in, among other crimes, sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice."

According to NBC News, Combs pleaded not guilty and was denied bail.

“He’s going to fight this with all of his energy and all of his might,” his attorney Marc Agnifilo told reporters outside the courthouse prior to the arraignment, “and the full confidence of his lawyers."

Following his arrest, Combs was held at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center where he was denied a $50 million bond. The music mogul was also placed on suicide watch, which a source told E! News is a customary procedure for high-profile inmates. 

He was assigned the same area of the jail as cryptocurrency fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried, a source told NBC News. 

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