Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal sex trafficking trial kicked off in New York City with jury selection that took several days and is tied to serious allegations involving violence.
Opening statements and testimonies are set to commence next week.
During the selection process, potential jurors received a brief overview of sex trafficking, alongside discussions of conspiracy charges against Combs, presented by Judge Arun Subramanian.
Combs, seated with his attorney, appeared in a white collared shirt paired with a sweater and gray slacks. The 55-year-old has been detained in a federal facility in Brooklyn since his arrest last September. Notably, his hair and beard have turned mostly gray, as prisoners are not allowed hair dyes.
Unlike other high-profile celebrity trials recently, this one isn’t being aired live; electronic recordings are prohibited in federal courts.
The trial is anticipated to last a minimum of eight weeks, with Combs facing decades in prison if convicted.
Some jurors recalled a 2016 news report featuring footage of hip-hop figures allegedly assaulting one another in a hotel hallway, though a female witness was dismissed due to lack of consideration.
At one point, after a juror was removed, Combs requested a break, saying to the judge, “Sorry, I’m a little nervous today.”
The 17-page indictment against him reads much like those associated with organized crime, asserting that Combs engaged in a two-year period of abusive behavior towards women, aided by his associates.
Combs and his legal team maintain his innocence, asserting that all encounters were consensual and denying any resemblance to criminal enterprise.
Prosecutors allege that women were manipulated into drug-fueled sexual acts with male sex workers, referring to these as “freak-offs.” They argue that Combs employed a blend of influence and intimidation to arrange these situations.
When things didn’t go his way, the indictment claims that Combs and his companions resorted to violent tactics, including assaults and threats, alleging even a situation where he dangled someone from a balcony.
Recognizing a history of violence, Combs has admitted to an incident from 2016 where security footage shows him assaulting his ex-girlfriend, R&B singer Cathy, in a hotel. Cathy later initiated a lawsuit claiming years of abuse, which included physical violence and rape.
The Associated Press typically refrains from naming individuals who do not publicly declare incidents of sexual abuse, except in cases like Cassie, whose full name is Casandra Ventura, who has spoken out.
This trial represents the most significant of many legal troubles Combs has faced over the years.
In 1999, he was charged after allegedly invading the Interscope Records office with a bodyguard and attacking an executive with a champagne bottle and chair. The executive later requested leniency from prosecutors, leading to a guilty plea on lesser charges from Combs, who subsequently took an anger management class.
Later that year, Combs was pulled over by police after fleeing a nightclub incident where three people were shot. He was acquitted of all related charges in a 2001 trial, although his associate Jamal “Shyne” Barrow was convicted of the shooting and served nearly nine years in prison.
In 2015, Combs faced accusations of assaulting someone with a kettlebell at UCLA, where his son played football. He claimed self-defense, and prosecutors eventually dropped the case.
