Sean "Diddy" Combs’ Trial Update
The selection of the last 12 men and women who will make up the jury for Sean "Diddy" Combs’ trial was postponed on Monday to prevent them from getting cold feet about hearing the high-profile and closely watched case. This case could end with the rap mogul walking free or spending time behind bars.
Jury Selection Process
Friday was the day when lawyers for the prosecution and defense further questioned the 43 men and women from the jury pool and narrowed down the group to 12 jurors and six alternates by exercising their peremptory strikes. US District Judge Arun Subramanian had already conducted individual interviews with everyone last week to ensure they remained impartial and open-minded. Many potential jurors expressed that they had prior knowledge of Combs, particularly about the footage of his ex-girlfriend’s assault, which has been a topic of discussion for almost two decades.
Trial Schedule
The court is set to begin on May 9, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. in Courtroom 26A, Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse, 500 Pearl Street, New York, NY 10007. Despite Combs’ massive fame, enough jurors passed the screening, and the required number of men and women to sit on the jury was fulfilled on time.
Trial Proceedings
The opening arguments in the expected eight-week legal proceedings were initially set to begin on Monday morning. However, Senior Defender Marc Agnifilo commented on Friday morning that some of the selected jurors might complete the 12 jurors and six alternates over the weekend, which could lead to further delays. Judge Subramanian agreed that this threat was valid, and the court was postponed for the day. The final selection of the jury will take place on Monday, and the court will immediately enter into opening statements as soon as the jury is seated.
Charges Against Combs
The government has accused Combs of using his billion-dollar business as a "criminal enterprise," where he and several co-conspirators allegedly engaged in sex trafficking, forced labor, interstate transportation for prostitution, coercion, and enticement. The federal prosecutor’s office presented their case in a five-count indictment, which was released shortly before Combs was arrested in Manhattan in September.
Combs’ Response
Combs has pleaded not guilty and denied all accusations against him. In court this week, the defense team made it clear that Combs’ relationship with his ex-girlfriend, who is listed as a victim in the indictment, was not one-sided and that both parties engaged in mutual actions throughout their relationship.
Testimonies and Evidence
The defense team will argue that mutual violence was present in the relationship, with both parties committing domestic violence. However, the question remains at what point the violence became coercive. The prosecution intends to have four alleged victims testify against Combs, but they admitted on Thursday that they are not certain whether one of the alleged victims will appear in court because they lost contact with her last week.
