During Sean “Diddy” Combs’ trial, a potential juror was dismissed after suggesting to the judge that the wealthy music mogul could “buy a way out of prison.”
This incident occurred on the second day of jury selection in Manhattan federal court. The 48-year-old woman made her statement to US District Judge Arun Subramanian, saying, “Diddy has a lot of money at his discretion and may probably buy a way out of prison.”
“I don’t know how to explain it,” she continued, expressing her belief that police could do more, yet they still had a “clean slate about everything.”
She also shared her own experience as a victim of an attempted rape, which she felt highlighted issues with police inaction.
However, the judge ultimately removed her from the jury pool.
In another twist during jury selection, another potential juror revealed he wouldn’t be able to get through the day without smoking marijuana.
The 55-year-old man openly admitted to using cannabis for recreational purposes and acknowledged that it often clouds his judgment. When asked if he could abstain for the trial duration—potentially lasting up to eight weeks—he noted he had smoked the previous night but agreed to stop.
This revelation led the judge to dismiss him amidst questioning about biases among future jurors.
The jury selection process is expected to conclude by Wednesday, as Combs faces a potential minimum of 15 years in prison for charges related to sex trafficking, assault, and fraud, currently held without bail.
Complications arose when a lawyer for a family member of Bad Boy Records’ founder sparked controversy on a podcast, discussing the all-female team of prosecutors in the case. This prompted sharp criticism from Judge Subramanian.
Mark Jelagos, who represents Combs’ mother, faced backlash after referring to the prosecutors as “six-pack white women,” igniting the judge’s anger.
Jelagos argued that Combs was “targeted” due to his race, which Judge Subramanian promptly dismissed as “silly.”
“I think it’s outrageous to mention the prosecution in this case as a white woman in six packs,” Subramanian expressed, according to court transcripts.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to serious charges, including federal assault and sex trafficking, remaining incarcerated in Brooklyn.
Prosecutors have labeled the case as involving “serial abusers,” citing instances where Combs allegedly coerced women into compromising situations.
He has faced accusations of violence, including an incident where he reportedly assaulted his ex-girlfriend Cathy Ventura, with evidence captured on video, along with an allegation of hanging one victim off a balcony.
