NEW YORK—Sean “Diddy” Combs confirmed on Thursday that he rejected prosecutors’ offer for a plea deal, paving the way for the rapper to go to trial next week on sex trafficking charges.
At a hearing in Manhattan federal court, U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian asked Combs, 55, if he had reviewed the offer and rejected it.
“Yes I did,” Combs said.
Combs could be sentenced to life in prison if convicted on all five criminal counts he faces at trial including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. He has pleaded not guilty.
Maurene Comey, a prosecutor with the Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s office, said at Thursday’s hearing that Combs faces the possibility of a more severe sentence if convicted at trial than he would have had he accepted the plea deal, but she did not provide further details about the government’s offer….