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Sean “Diddy” Combs showed up at a Manhattan courthouse on Monday morning looking far from a prisoner. Instead of jail clothes, he wore a blue sweater, a white T-shirt, glasses, and sat up front with his legal team. The court was in the middle of selecting a jury, with over 150 potential jurors being screened to find 12 jurors and six alternates.
Each potential juror had filled out a detailed questionnaire beforehand. They were brought in one by one to talk through their answers with the judge and legal teams. This process helped the court determine whether the jurors had any bias, prior trauma, or strong opinions about the hip-hop industry that might affect their ability to judge fairly.
During the session, Diddy’s legal team asked for a break. When the judge asked if they could continue, Diddy raised his hand and admitted, “I’m sorry, your honor, I’m a little nervous today.”
Potential jurors were also asked sensitive questions, such as whether they had personal experiences with sexual assault or if they had seen coverage of the case in the news, including the viral video involving Cassie Ventura.
Judge Arun Subramanian made a light remark to ease the tense mood, saying, “The list of people and places is so long, I thought it was an appendix to Lord of the Rings.” He also warned that the trial could last up to eight weeks, starting from May 12 when both the U.S. Attorney’s office and Diddy’s defense will present their opening arguments.
Diddy is facing serious charges including sex trafficking, racketeering, and transporting people across state lines for the purpose of prostitution. Prosecutors claim he drugged and manipulated women into participating in disturbing and prolonged sexual events, which he allegedly called “freak-offs.”
Diddy has strongly denied all the accusations, saying all encounters were consensual. He has also turned down a plea deal offered by prosecutors. If convicted, he could face life in prison.