Hip-hop fans were shocked last month when rap star and record label founder Sean "Diddy" Combs was indicted on federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges.

While the New York Post reported that Comb's lawyers sought to have his criminal trial begin in April, the judge had other ideas. 

Trial date set for May 5

According to CNN, Southern District of New York Judge Arun Subramanian gave Combs a May 5 trial date during a hearing in Manhattan on Thursday.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily A. Johnson told the judge that she believes the government's case will take roughly three weeks to present but acknowledged that this time frame could change if additional charges are added.

Meanwhile, members of the accused music mogul's legal team estimated that it would take them a week to put forward his defense.

Subramanian went on to indicate that he will issue an order barring both prosecutors and defense lawyers from discussing secret grand jury material as well as other non-public evidence.

Prosecutors deny leaking video to CNN

That move came in the wake of allegations leveled by Comb's lawyers on Wednesday that prosecutors had leaked video footage of their client beating his girlfriend to CNN.

For his part, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams stated that there is no "factual basis" to the claim as "the government was not in possession of the video before its publication by CNN."

A 2016 surveillance video obtained by CNN shows Sean "Diddy" Combs violently grab, shove, drag and kick his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura during an altercation in a hotel in California. https://t.co/JrnJhWOaQt pic.twitter.com/xeRBtoGBDV

— CNN (@CNN) May 17, 2024

CNN broadcast the video last year, and it shows Combs punching and dragging a woman named Cassie Ventura at a hotel in 2016.

U.S. calls on those with information to come forward

Williams put out a press release on September 17 in which he announced charges against Combs and asked anyone with additional information to come forward.

"As alleged in the Indictment, for years, Sean Combs used the business empire he controlled to sexually abuse and exploit women, as well as to commit other acts of violence and obstruction of justice," Williams stated.

"Today, he is charged with racketeering and sex trafficking offenses. If you have been a victim of Combs' alleged abuse – or if you know anything about his alleged crimes – we urge you to come forward. This investigation is far from over," the prosecutor went on to add.