Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial: Grand jury to hear new evidence in criminal case against rap mogul, sources say

NEW YORK — A federal grand jury in New York will consider new evidence in the criminal case against Sean “Diddy” Combs, according to sources familiar with the case.

Sources say the grand jury will convene on Thursday.

The sources declined to say what the new evidence was or who might be called to testify about it.

Federal prosecutors have previously raised the possibility of additional charges against Combs.

A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York declined to comment.

His trial is scheduled for May, but prosecutors suggest the trial date or duration could change if they decide to add charges.

Combs has denied all allegations against him, both criminal and civil. Following the criminal case, many people filed civil lawsuits against the music producer.

In a statement on Monday, his defense lawyers responded to new allegations contained in the civil lawsuit against the rapper – including an allegation regarding sexual assault on a 10-year-old boy – accusing the plaintiff’s attorney of lack of credibility.

“The attorney behind this lawsuit cares about media attention rather than the truth, as is clear from his constant press appearances and 1-800 number,” the statement reads. “As we have said before, Mr. Combs cannot respond to every new publicity stunt, even in response to claims that are apparently ridiculous or patently false.”

Defense attorneys said they and Combs “have full confidence in the facts and the fairness of the judicial process.”

“In court, the truth will prevail: Mr. Combs has never committed sexual assault or trafficked anyone — male or female, adult or minor,” defense attorneys said.

As for the criminal case, Combs has already pleaded not guilty to racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and prostitution charges, and despite the objections of his lawyers, he remains in custody without bail.

As part of his defense, Combs’ lawyers asked a judge to order federal prosecutors to reveal the identities of his accusers, and on Wednesday, a judge ruled that a Tennessee woman who claims in a civil lawsuit that Combs sexually assaulted her when she was a teenager, 19- a year-old college student from Brooklyn cannot pursue her case anonymously, calling the woman’s arguments “completely without merit.”

“Simply put, allegations of sexual assault alone are not sufficient to entitle plaintiff to operate under a pseudonym,” Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil wrote in the ruling.

The woman alleged that a security guard took her to a private room at a party hosted by Combs and that the guard told her, “You know what you’re here for.”

Asking for her identity to be hidden, the woman argued that publishing her name would harm her, but ultimately the judge was not convinced.

“Combs has had no contact with the plaintiff for approximately 20 years since the alleged rape, and Combs is currently in custody awaiting trial. Accordingly, counsel did not establish any present threat of physical harm to the plaintiff,” the decision stated.

The judge also said Combs had the right to investigate his accuser and her credibility.

The ruling could impact a number of other cases brought by prosecutors who sued Combs under a pseudonym.