Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs' says he's 'a little nervous' as sex trafficking
trial gets underway
[May 06, 2025]
By MICHAEL R. SISAK and LARRY NEUMEISTER
NEW YORK (AP) — The federal sex trafficking trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs,
whose wildly successful career has been dotted by allegations of
violence, began on Monday in New York City with jury selection that was
briefly paused when the hip-hop entrepreneur said he was “a little
nervous” and needed a bathroom break.
Three dozen potential jurors were questioned by Judge Arun Subramanian
about their answers on a questionnaire meant to help determine if they
could be fair and impartial at a trial that will feature violent and
sexually explicit videos. Opening statements and the start of testimony
are scheduled for next week.
The judge gave the would-be jurors a brief description of the sex
trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges against Combs, telling
them he'd pleaded not guilty and was presumed innocent.
By day's end, the jury pool was half its size as some were excluded for
personal reasons such as inability to economically endure a trial
projected to last two months or because their opinions or past
experiences would endanger their objectivity.
Another three dozen prospective jurors were expected to be questioned on
Tuesday. A jury was not likely before Wednesday.
Throughout Monday, Combs, 55, sat with his lawyers in a sweater over a
white collared shirt and gray slacks, which the judge had allowed rather
than jail clothing. He's been held in a grim federal lockup in Brooklyn
since his arrest last September. His hair and goatee were almost fully
gray because dye isn’t allowed in jail.
Unlike other recent high-profile celebrity trials, Combs’ court case
won’t be broadcast live because federal courtrooms don’t allow
electronic recordings inside — meaning courtroom sketch artists serve as
the public’s eyes in the courtroom.
If convicted of all charges, he could face a maximum of life in prison.
Several prospective jurors indicated they'd seen news reports featuring
a key piece of evidence in the case: a video of the hip-hop mogul
hitting and kicking one of his accusers in a Los Angeles hotel hallway
in 2016. One prospective juror described a still image she saw from the
video as “damning evidence.” That woman was rejected from consideration.
After another juror was dismissed, Combs asked for a bathroom break,
telling the judge, “I’m sorry your honor, I’m a little nervous today.”
One prospective juror said she had posted a “like” to a video on social
media by a comedian who joked about large amounts of baby oil found by
law enforcement in one of Combs' homes. She was not dismissed.
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Sean Diddy Combs sits at the defense table before the start of jury
selection at Manhattan federal court, Monday, May 5, 2025, in New
York. (Elizabeth Williams via AP)
 The 17-page indictment against Combs
— which reads like a charging document filed against a Mafia leader
or the head of a drug gang — alleges that Combs engaged in a
two-decade racketeering pattern of abusive behavior against women
and others, with the help of people in his entourage and employees
from his network of businesses.
Combs and his lawyers say he’s innocent and any group sex was
consensual. They say there was no effort to coerce people into
things they didn’t want to do, and nothing that happened amounted to
a criminal racket.
Prosecutors say women were manipulated into drug-fueled sexual
performances with male sex workers that Combs called “Freak Offs.”
To keep women in line, prosecutors say Combs used a mix of influence
and violence: He offered to boost their entertainment careers if
they did what he asked — or cut them off if they didn't.
And when he wasn't getting what he wanted, the indictment says Combs
and his associates resorted to violent acts including beatings,
kidnapping and arson. Once, the indictment alleges, he even dangled
someone from a balcony.
One of four alleged victims expected to testify against Combs may
not take the witness stand after all, Assistant U.S. Attorney
Maurene Comey revealed Monday. She told Subramanian that the woman's
attorney has had personal issues and been hard to reach and it was
unclear if the woman would show up either.
“There is no particular count that requires her testimony in order
for us to carry our burden,” Comey said.
Combs has acknowledged one episode of violence that is considered a
key piece of the prosecution's case. In 2016, a security camera
recorded him beating up his former girlfriend, the R&B singer
Cassie, in the hallway of a Los Angeles hotel. Cassie filed a
lawsuit in late 2023 saying Combs had subjected her to years of
abuse, including beatings and rape.
The Associated Press does not typically name people who say they
have been sexually abused unless they come forward publicly, as
Cassie, whose legal name is Casandra Ventura, did.
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