Defense in Sean 'Diddy' Combs's sex-trafficking trial's first day of jury selection: He confessed his apprehension, stating, "I'm feeling somewhat anxious."
Rebel Helper
Today kicked off the federal sex trafficking trial against hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs, as potential jurors were grilled about their knowledge of the case and whether they could remain impartial in a high-profile Manhattan courtroom.
Potential jurors were presented with a list of over 100 names, both famous and not, who may be mentioned during the trial. Names like Michael B. Jordan, Mike Myers, and Kanye West made the list, although none are implicated in the case.
Names of women who have filed civil lawsuits against Combs also appeared on the list, including Casandra Ventura - whose lawsuit set the stage for the sex trafficking and racketeering charges - and Dawn Richard, who alleged Combs groped and threatened her and witnessed him assaulting Ventura. Combs has denied these allegations, and the suits are still pending.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey revealed that prosecutors have had trouble reaching the lawyer for a woman identified as Victim-3 in the indictment against Combs. It is uncertain if she will even show up to court if a subpoena is enforced.
Jury selection will ultimately select 12 jurors to decide if Combs, who has been incarcerated at a Brooklyn federal prison since his 2024 arrest, leveraged his power and influence to sexually exploit women for over two decades as federal prosecutors allege in the five-count indictment.
Combs entered the courtroom on the first day of selection dressed in a white collared shirt, black crewneck sweater, and charcoal-colored pants. He was granted permission by U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian to wear his own clothes during the trial.
Dr. Elie Aoun, a clinical psychiatrist, was named as an expert witness for the defense, who can testify about drugs Combs may have taken and their combined effects. Aoun will also testify about potential blackouts and intoxication episodes in Combs' past.
At the heart of the government's case are allegations that Combs forced women, including his former girlfriend Ventura, to participate in drug-fueled sexual encounters with male sex workers that Combs directed and filmed and called "freak offs."
Prosecutors claim these encounters amount to sex trafficking, alleging Combs kept records of the encounters, silenced victims through blackmail and violence. A video from March 5, 2016, showing Combs attacking and dragging Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel hallway is central to the prosecution's case.
Combs has admitted to the attack in the video, stating his behavior was "inexcusable," and taken responsibility for his actions. However, prosecutors claim Combs bribed hotel security with $100,000 to obtain the footage and cover it up.
The defense has argued the video was manipulated, sped-up, and edited. However, CNN has vehemently denied these claims. Potential jurors who have seen the video were questioned, and those expressing concern or discomfort were excused.
Combs' lead attorney, Marc Agnifilo, expressed apprehension when a woman who worked for HBO said she was unaware of a documentary about Combs titled "The Fall of Diddy." Another woman was retained despite admitting she had liked a video on social media of a comedian making a joke about Combs and baby oil, a detail that federal agents seized during last year's raids of Combs' homes in Los Angeles and Miami.
The trial, which is expected to last eight weeks, will remain anonymous for the jurors. Mark Geragos, high-profile defense lawyer and father of a potential juror, will reportedly advise Combs' legal team on which jurors to choose this week while observing the selection process informally.
- The list of potential jurors for the federal sex trafficking trial against Sean "Diddy" Combs includes celebrities like Casandra Ventura, who has allegedly filed a lawsuit against him, and Kanye West, although none are currently implicated in the case.
- Ventura's lawsuit set the stage for the sex trafficking and racketeering charges, and she is identified as Victim-3 in the indictment against Combs.
- While Combs has vehemently denied the allegations made by Ventura and Dawn Richard, who also alleged he groped and threatened her, he has been incarcerated at a Brooklyn federal prison since his 2024 arrest.
- In the entertainment world, controversy and general-news stories surround Combs, with recent issues including crime-and-justice allegations and the federal sex trafficking trial.
