NEW YORK — Jury selection began Monday in the federal sex trafficking trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs, marking a significant moment in the hip-hop mogul’s contentious career. Opening statements and witness testimony are anticipated next week, with the trial expected to last at least eight weeks.
During the selection process, multiple potential jurors were briefed on the charges of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy against Combs by Judge Arun Subramanian. He reminded jurors that Combs has pleaded not guilty and is presumed innocent until proven otherwise. Combs, 55, appeared in court wearing a sweater over a white collared shirt and gray slacks, attire permitted by the judge in lieu of jail clothing.
Combs has been detained in a Brooklyn federal facility since his arrest last September. The trial unfolds in a federal courtroom without live broadcasts, as electronic recordings are prohibited, relying instead on courtroom sketch artists to convey the proceedings to the public.
The jury is set to consider a 17-page indictment that accuses Combs of maintaining a lengthy pattern of abusive behavior towards women, allegedly supported by associates within his entourage and business network. Some jurors acknowledged seeing reports on a key piece of evidence: a video from 2016 depicting Combs in a hotel hallway engaging in a violent altercation with one of his accusers.
Prosecutors allege that Combs coerced women into drug-fueled sexual encounters with male sex workers, dubbing these experiences “Freak Offs.” According to the indictment, he used a combination of intimidation and offers for career advancement to exert control over his victims. The prosecution’s claims describe violent incidents, including beatings and kidnapping, asserting that Combs once dangled an individual from a balcony.
Combs has publicly acknowledged one violent incident involving former girlfriend Cassie, a renowned R&B singer, captured on a security camera. Cassie, legally named Casandra Ventura, has since filed a lawsuit alleging years of abuse, including physical violence and sexual assault.
While Combs’ attorney, Marc Agnifilo, concedes the defendant is “not a perfect person,” he maintains that all acts of sexual engagement were consensual, asserting that any group encounters were without coercion. This trial adds to a lengthy history of legal troubles for Combs, including a notorious 1999 incident involving an altercation with an Interscope Records executive.
In a separate incident later that year, Combs faced police scrutiny after fleeing a nightclub where gunfire erupted, though he was acquitted of related charges in 2001. Similarly, a 2015 incident at UCLA saw him charged with assaulting an individual with a kettlebell in what he described as self-defense, leading to the prosecution eventually dropping the case.
The outcome of this trial could have significant implications for Combs, who faces decades in prison if found guilty of the charges against him. The proceedings will draw considerable attention, serving as another chapter in the tumultuous life of one of the music industry’s most prominent figures.
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