The federal trial of music producer Sean ¡°Diddy¡± Combs has officially started with jury selection underway. Combs is facing multiple serious charges including sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transporting people for prostitution. The case is being tried in Manhattan Federal Court and comes seven months after his indictment by the U.S. Attorney¡¯s Office for the Southern District of New York.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has been held at Brooklyn¡¯s Metropolitan Detention Center since his September 2024 arrest. The court has scheduled opening statements to begin on May 12. Cameras will not be allowed inside the courtroom.
If convicted on all five federal counts, Sean Combs could face a life sentence. Prosecutors claim that from 2004 to 2024, Combs ran a criminal network using his music businesses. They allege this network was used to carry out serious crimes such as forced sex acts, bribery, kidnapping, and obstruction.
The prosecution will rely on testimonies from four women. Three of them will testify under pseudonyms. The fourth, known as "Victim-1", is Cassie Ventura, Combs' former partner. In 2023, Ventura filed a lawsuit accusing Combs of rape and long-term abuse. That lawsuit was settled just one day later.
The court has allowed Ventura to testify using her real name. A major piece of evidence is a 2016 surveillance video showing Combs physically assaulting Ventura. This footage resurfaced in May 2024 and led to a public apology from Combs on Instagram.
According to prosecutors, Combs used drugs and false career promises to pressure victims into what they described as ¡°Freak Offs.¡± These were non-consensual sexual events that allegedly lasted for hours and were sometimes filmed. In addition, a former employee has accused Combs of forced labour.
Combs is being defended by a team of well-known lawyers including Mark Agnifilo, Teny Geragos, and Brian Steel, who is also known for defending rapper Young Thug. Representing the government are Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meredith Foster, Emily A. Johnson, Christy Slavik, Madison Reddick Smyser, and Mitzi Steiner.
While Combs is also facing several civil lawsuits related to similar abuse claims, those are not part of this federal criminal case.
With jury selection complete, the Diddy trial now moves to the evidence stage where serious abuse claims and testimonies await.
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