Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial: Jury selection set to be finalized Friday in sex trafficking case
Court narrows down potential jurors from 600 to dozens, with opening statements set for Monday, May 12
The final round of jury selection will begin Monday in the trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs.
The court must seat a panel of 18 New Yorkers — 12 jurors and six alternates — before opening statements are set to begin on May 12.
On Monday, lawyers will use peremptory challenges to strike off some of the remaining 43 potential jurors they do not want at trial to narrow that number down to 18. Opening statements will start after.
The music mogul is facing a five-count indictment accusing him of sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution, and racketeering conspiracy.
The rapper was arrested in September 2024 as federal authorities alleged Combs and his associates threatened, abused, and coerced victims “to fulfill his sexual desires.” This included “Freak Offs,” recorded sex performances that prosecutors say Diddy arranged and forced victims to participate in. During searches of his homes, authorities seized narcotics and 1,000 bottles of lubricant and baby oil.
Two superseding indictments against the music mogul were added. In March, fresh allegations of “forced labor,” and in April, an additional charge of sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Diddy has denied any accusations of wrongdoing and has rejected the government’s plea deal offer.
What do we know about the plea deal Diddy rejected?
Sean “Diddy” Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him, including sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation for prostitution purposes, and has maintained his innocence since being arrested.
Last Thursday, standing before a judge in his final pre-trial hearing, Combs said he rejected the government’s offer to plead guilty to charges in exchange for a lesser sentence.
Ariana Baio reports.
Diddy rejects plea deal offer ahead of his trial on sex-trafficking charges
First group of prospective jurors now in court
The first group of jurors has been brought into the courtroom and is being addressed by Judge Subramanian.
He explains the basics of the case, listing all of Diddy’s names — Sean Combs, Puff Daddy, P. Diddy, Diddy, PD, and Love.
The trial is expected to run for about eight weeks from May 12. The court will sit from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the first week and then from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for subsequent weeks.
The judge also tells the jurors that if, during questioning today, there is something they do not want to say in open court, they may answer out of earshot, and the transcript will only be visible to the parties themselves.
Jurors now being questioned individually
The first group of jurors was escorted from the court and made to wait in a second courtroom. They are now being brought in one by one to review a binder containing a list of people and places relevant to the case.
Earlier, Judge Subramanian compared the list to an appendix to The Lord of the Rings.
Jurors are also asked clarification questions about their questionnaire answers.
If they have answered that they have direct or indirect experience concerning the charges (for example, being the victim of assault or having a close family member who is), then the judge asks if they can be fair in their assessment of the facts of the case.
Juror excused
One prospective juror was excused by Judge Subramanian after stating that they had a family member who experienced some of the case's subject matter — potentially assault or domestic violence — making it difficult for them to sit through the trial.
Another juror said they had a family member who had been the victim of domestic violence, but stated that they could remain impartial.
Two more prospects excused
Two more potential jurors have been excused.
One was excluded for cause by Judge Subramanian after saying they had seen a “damning” image of the defendant.
Another was excused as they had just started a new job in a hotel.
Prospective jurors refer to hotel hallway security video of Diddy
Some prospective jurors have said they have seen either an image or a video of Diddy from a hotel hallway security camera.
Here’s what they’re referring to:
Diddy seen in shocking video punching and kicking girlfriend Cassie in hotel hallway
Potential juror's company published Diddy-related book
A potential juror revealed they work in marketing for publishing company Simon & Schuster, which published a memoir, Do You Believe Me Now, by Al B. Sure, that includes his connection to Diddy.
From the company’s website:
Grammy-nominated R&B legend Al B. Sure! tells all in this inspiring survivor’s memoir that reveals the untold story of his near-death health emergency, shocking ties to Diddy, romance with the late Kim Porter, and the extraordinary highs and life-threatening lows of being a pioneering New Jack Swing superstar.
Days after Homeland Security raided Sean Combs’s compounds in a federal sex-trafficking investigation, the multiplatinum R&B legend Al B. Sure! declared that when people heard how he wound up in a coma two years earlier, they were “really going to need to call Homeland Security.”
After a brief discussion about the contents of the book, it is agreed that the juror should be excluded.
'The Fall of Diddy' documentary brought up
After a potential juror revealed she works for HBO, Diddy’s lawyer notes that the company recently released a documentary called The Fall of Diddy, but Judge Subramanian says he will overrule the objection for now.
The juror can remain in the mix and will not be excluded.
Here’s what you need to know about the documentary:
Where to watch 'The Fall of Diddy' documentary
More possible jurors say they have seen hotel security video
The hotel security video has been seen by the majority of the potential jurors brought in for questioning by Judge Subramanian.
In March, lawyers for Diddy claimed the video was altered by CNN and questioned whether it is admissible as evidence.
Kevin E G Perry reports.
