Jury selection began Monday in New York City for the federal sex trafficking trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs. Proceedings briefly halted when the music mogul, appearing uneasy, asked the judge for a bathroom break, saying he was “a little nervous.”
Judge Arun Subramanian questioned approximately 36 potential jurors, referencing their questionnaire responses aimed at assessing whether they could remain impartial in a case expected to include graphic video evidence involving violence and sexual content. Opening statements and witness testimony are set to start next week.
During the screening, the judge outlined the charges, sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy, and reminded the group that Combs had pleaded not guilty and remains presumed innocent.
By the end of the first day, the candidate pool had been cut in half. Some were excused for personal or financial hardships, while others were deemed biased based on past experiences or strongly held views, AP reported.
Another wave of 36 potential jurors is expected to face questioning Tuesday. A final jury is unlikely to be seated before Wednesday.
The 55-year-old rapper, according to reports, sat quietly beside his attorneys throughout the day, dressed in a sweater layered over a white shirt and gray slacks — attire approved by the judge instead of jail-issued clothing. He’s been held in a stark federal detention center in Brooklyn since his arrest last September.
Without access to hair dye, his hair and goatee have turned nearly completely gray.
Unlike recent celebrity trials streamed in real time, Combs’ case won’t be broadcast. Federal courtrooms prohibit electronic recordings, leaving sketch artists to visually document the proceedings.
If found guilty on all charges, Combs faces the possibility of a life sentence.
Several jurors acknowledged seeing media coverage of a central piece of evidence, surveillance footage showing Combs allegedly attacking a woman in a Los Angeles hotel hallway in 2016. One juror called a still frame from the video “damning evidence,” and was subsequently dismissed.
After a different juror was released, Combs addressed the judge, saying, “I’m sorry, your honor, I’m a little nervous today,” and requested to use the restroom.
Another candidate for the jury disclosed she had “liked” a social media video from a comedian who joked about the large stash of baby oil found in one of Combs’ residences. She was allowed to remain under consideration.
The 17-page indictment paints a picture of Combs as the architect of a sprawling criminal enterprise, its structure and allegations resembling those of organized crime syndicates or drug cartels. The document accuses him of orchestrating a decades-long pattern of abuse against women and others, allegedly carried out with the aid of his entourage and staff from his business ventures.
Combs and his legal team maintain that he’s innocent, arguing that any group sex was consensual and no coercion occurred. They firmly reject the idea that his behavior constituted a criminal enterprise.
According to prosecutors, Combs manipulated women into drug-fueled sexual encounters involving male sex workers — what he allegedly called “Freak Offs.” They claim he used his celebrity status as leverage, promising career advancement in exchange for compliance and shutting people out if they refused.
When persuasion failed, prosecutors allege, violence took its place. The indictment claims Combs and his associates used beatings, kidnapping, and even arson to intimidate. In one instance, he is said to have dangled a person off a balcony.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey said Monday that one of the four women expected to testify may now be unavailable. The woman’s attorney has been unreachable due to personal issues, casting doubt on whether the witness will appear in court.
“There is no particular count that requires her testimony in order for us to carry our burden,” Comey stated.
A pivotal moment in the case centers on a 2016 hotel hallway incident involving Combs and his ex-girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie, which he has admitted to. The attack, caught on a security camera, resurfaced in late 2023 when Cassie filed a lawsuit accusing Combs of long-term abuse, including beatings and sexual assault.
