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Sean "Diddy" Combs isn't taking any deals ahead of his sex trafficking trial next week.
The troubled mogul appeared in a courtroom in Manhattan on Thursday, May 1, for a final hearing before jury selection for his trial begins next week. According to TMZ, the Bad Boy Records founder kept his head held high despite looking grey and thinner than usual. While he sat with his lawyers Teny Geragos and Brian Steel, Combs told the judge he rejected the plea deal federal prosecutors recently offered him. The judge warned the artist he could possibly serve more time in prison if he were convicted without the deal, but Combs said he understood the risk.
The terms of the proposed plea agreement were not disclosed during the hearing. Prosecutors first spoke about the plea deal at a previous hearing held last week. During the hearing, Combs' lawyers also gave a preview of their defense by claiming the 55-year-old participated in sexual encounters with multiple people because he led a "swinger" lifestyle.
"There's a lifestyle, call it swingers or whatever you will, that he thought was appropriate because it was common," his attorney Marc Agnifilo argued. "Many people think it's appropriate because it's common."
Combs is charged with two counts of sex trafficking, two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, and one count of racketeering. He was arrested last September and was denied bail. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges, including the additional charges he was recently indicted on. He's been locked up in a jail cell in Brooklyn for the past eight months and has worn typical inmate attire each time. However, the judge recently allowed him to wear his own clothing for the trial.
Jury selection for the trial will begin May 5 at 8 a.m., and opening statements will start May 12.