Sean “Diddy” Combs, the musician and rap mogul being sued by dozens of people for alleged sex crimes, begins his sex trafficking trial today (May 12) in Manhattan’s Federal District Court. Prosecutors will argue that Diddy abused his money and power to traffic, drug, and sexually assault women; the defense claims any encounters were consensual. Opening statements will commence today. If convicted, Diddy could face life in jail.
Diddy, who has been incarcerated since September 2024 due to multiple denials of bail, appeared in the court last week as Judge Arun Subramanian oversaw jury selection. The final selection was delayed until today over fears jurors might get cold feet over the weekend.
Jury selection began last Monday. Nearly 100 potential jurors were questioned and assessed on their impartiality. Because of the high-profile nature of the case, some familiarity with the allegations against Diddy—including the video that showed his physical assault of the singer Casandra Elizabeth “Cassie” Ventura, his former girlfriend, in 2016—did not automatically disqualify potential jurors, The New York Times reports. Many admitted to having seen memes, satire, and speculation about the case. Those who admitted to bias against Diddy, bad experiences with law enforcement, or, in one case, difficulty staying off marijuana for the trial’s duration were excused.
At least three accusers are expected to testify, as well as some of Diddy’s former sexual partners, a business associate, and one or more male sex workers, according to CNN. Cassie’s testimony is expected to be at the center of the prosecution case, alongside two or three other women who may use pseudonyms to protect their identities.
After months of snowballing lawsuits alleging crimes that include sexual assault, battery, grooming, and statutory rape, Diddy was arrested in a New York hotel room on September 16, 2024, and indicted by a grand jury on charges of racketeering conspiracy; sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion; and transportation to engage in prostitution. He pleaded not guilty the following day.
The arrest followed a raid of his homes in Los Angeles and Miami that March as Homeland Security Investigations built its case. At the time, his attorney, Marc Agnifilo, said his client “is an imperfect person, but he is not a criminal.” Diddy has since hired an eight-person defense team including Brian Steel, the lead defense attorney in Young Thug’s Atlanta RICO case, which resulted in the rapper’s release from jail after pleading guilty to some charges. Last Tuesday, the judge admonished Mark Geragos, who has represented Diddy but is not part of his defense team, for describing the prosecution as a “six-pack of white women” on his podcast.
