NEW YORK (AP) — The final stage in selecting jurors for the trial of hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has been pushed back to early next week, just before the trial begins, as decided by a federal judge on Friday.
Prosecutors allege that the 55-year-old Combs exploited his fame within the hip-hop industry to sexually abuse women over a span from 2004 to 2024. After his arrest in September, he pleaded not guilty and has been held without bail in a federal facility in Brooklyn.
Judge Arun Subramanian allowed the defense to postpone the last step in selecting jurors until both sides could narrow the list from 45 to 12 jurors and six alternates. Typically, lawyers are not required to disclose their reasons for dismissing potential jurors.
The defense indicated that choosing an extraordinary juror could take only 10 to 15 minutes, so they requested that this not be done until they’re present on Monday. While the jurors were not required to be in the Manhattan courtroom on Friday, Combs was there.
Prosecutors raised objections, stating that when some jurors feel overwhelmed after being selected, it compromises the entire process, prompting them to withdraw from participating in a high-profile trial expected to last two months.
This past week, during jury selection, I was asked to assist in ensuring it was fair and impartial, allowing for factual decisions to be made.
On Monday, prosecutors will be permitted to challenge six prospective jurors, while defense attorneys can strike ten potential jurors before final selections are made. This process is anticipated to take about an hour.
If Combs faces a conviction on all counts, which include assault, bribery, and sex trafficking, he could be looking at up to 15 years in prison and possibly a lifetime sentence.
Prosecutors assert that the founder of Bad Boy Records has used his influence in the music industry to exploit women during the stated timeframe.
The charges encompass descriptions of incidents involving drug-laden parties in which Combs allegedly filmed women being forced to engage with male sex workers.
Moreover, the allegations depict Combs as having physically abused his victims, including choking, hitting, and dragging them, with some claims suggesting he even threatened to hang one from a balcony.
His lawyer contends that Combs shouldn’t be criminalized for consensual adult interactions and acknowledges that although Combs struggled with substance abuse, he asserts that he has received treatment.
A focal point of the evidence against him includes footage of Combs assaulting his long-time girlfriend in a Los Angeles hotel hallway back in 2016.
Following the airing of this video on CNN last year, Combs stated, “I fully take responsibility for my actions in that video. At the time, I was overwhelmed. I regret it now.”
A significant number of prospective jurors mentioned they had viewed the video, and some felt that it impacted their ability to serve fairly.
