The federal government's sex-crimes case against Sean "Diddy" Combs will soon be underway, underscoring an urgent push to hold one of the music industry's most prominent figures accountable.

U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian ruled Friday against Combs' defense team's request to push back the start of his federal trial. At a roughly two-hour hearing April 18, Combs was seen smiling and waving to a few people as he exited the courtroom, including his mother, after a more emotionally subdued hearing than a previous one in March. 

Sean “Diddy” Combs pleaded not guilty Monday to additional criminal counts brought forth in a new federal indictment charging the disgraced rapper under five counts, including racketeering and sex trafficking. 

Combs appeared in a New York courtroom to formally enter his plea weeks ahead of his federal criminal trial which is set to begin with jury selection on May 5, Reuters reported.

The music mogul faces federal charges of racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution...

Federal prosecutors on Friday added two charges to Sean “Diddy” Combs ' indictment and said they expect four accusers to testify against him, expanding on allegations that the jailed hip-hop mogul engaged in sex trafficking with multiple women and as recently as last year.

A superseding indictment accuses Combs of using force, fraud or coercion to compel a woman to engage in commercial sex acts from at least 2021 to 2024.

Sean "Diddy" Combs pleaded not guilty to the newest version of the government's allegations against the rapper during a Friday court hearing.

The new indictment against Diddy lengthened the timeline of his alleged sex-trafficking and racketeering behavior and added two more victims. The prosecution also accused the "Last Night" rapper of forcing employees to work long hours by threatening them with physical or reputational harm and forcing an employee to engage in a sexual encounter with the musician.