NEW YORK – Sean “Diddy” Combs, a prominent figure in hip-hop, appeared in a New York court on Monday amidst serious allegations that he exploited his business influence to sexually abuse a woman.
Jury selection is set to start in the morning and could take a few days. Opening statements and witness testimonies are anticipated to begin next week.
The 17-page indictment presents charges against Combs that read more like those aimed at a drug lord or mob leader, alleging involvement in sex trafficking and conspiracy related to assault.
According to the indictment, Combs, with the assistance of his close associates and business staff, engaged in a pattern of abusive behavior towards women over a two-year period.
Prosecutors allege that women were coerced into participating in drug-fueled sexual activities with male sex workers, referred to as “freak-offs.”
To entice these women, the indictment claims Combs utilized a combination of his influence and intimidation.
When Combs didn’t get his way, it is alleged that he and his associates resorted to violent acts, including assault and arson, with claims that he once dangled someone from a balcony.
Combs and his attorney maintain his innocence, arguing that there was no coercion involved in any actions and that nothing constituted a criminal enterprise.
The trial is projected to extend over eight weeks.
At 55, Combs has acknowledged a past incident of violence that may be brought up in court. In 2016, video footage showed him attacking ex-girlfriend Cathy in a Los Angeles hotel. Cathy later filed a lawsuit claiming years of abuse by Combs, which included physical and sexual assault.
The Associated Press typically does not disclose the identities of those claiming sexual abuse unless they publicly come forward, as Cathy has done.
Combs’ lawyer, Mark Agnifilo, acknowledged that Combs is “not the perfect person” and admitted to a turbulent relationship with drug use, but insisted all sexual encounters were consensual.
This trial marks the most serious legal challenge Combs has faced yet.
His legal troubles date back to 1999 when he was accused of storming into an Interscope Records office and attacking an executive with a champagne bottle. The executive later requested leniency from prosecutors after Combs agreed to take an anger management course.
That same year, Combs was pulled over by police after he and then-girlfriend Jennifer Lopez fled a nightclub following a shooting that injured three. He was acquitted of all charges during a 2001 trial, although his associate Jamal “Shyne” Barrow was convicted and served nearly nine years for the incident.
In another incident in 2015, Combs faced allegations of assaulting someone at UCLA, where his son played football. He claimed self-defense, and prosecutors eventually dropped the case.
Now, Combs is confronted with his most severe charges yet, facing potentially decades in prison if convicted.
