Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial gets underway with jury selection

Nineteen prospective jurors made it through the first day of jury selection in Sean "Diddy" Combs' criminal sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy trial, beginning the first courtroom test of whether one of hip-hop's most important figures used power and wealth amassed in the music, clothing and spirits industries to sexually abuse, coerce and exploit alleged victims for decades.

Known by various names through the years -- Puffy, Puff Daddy, P. Diddy, Diddy and Love -- Combs became a rap impresario in the 1990s, launching the careers of Mary J. Blige, Usher and the Notorious B.I.G. and lending his hip-hop credentials to the songs of Mariah Carey and Jennifer Lopez.

Combs, who once proclaimed himself "Bad Boy for Life," now faces what could amount to a life sentence if convicted. Federal prosecutors in New York allege he "abused, threatened and coerced women" into prolonged, drug-fueled sexual orgies with male prostitutes he called "freak offs" and threatened them into silence.

"After Freak Offs, Combs and the victims typically received IV fluids to recover from the physical exertion and drug use," the indictment said.

He has pleaded not guilty to racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution charges -- five counts in all. His defense attorneys have said all of his sexual encounters were consensual and have described Combs as a swinger who invited third parties into his bedroom.

At a hearing last month, Agnifilo seemed to preview the defense strategy, telling the judge, "There's a lifestyle, call it swingers, that he was in that he thought was appropriate. The reason he thought it was appropriate is because it's so common."

By coincidence, jury selection began the same day as the Met Gala, where Combs was once a fixture.

Potential jurors began answering written questions last week to test what they may have heard about the case, whether they can be fair and whether they can endure a two-month trial expected to feature sexually explicit evidence.

The 19 prospective jurors who made it through the first day of jury selection on Monday answered a series of 15 questions about their news habits, their musical tastes, their employment and their educational background.

Prospective juror #51 lives in the Bronx and listens to '90s hip-hop. She's a math teacher and watches "old stuff" on television, like "The Golden Girls."

Another prospective juror, a high school wrestling coach who lives in Westchester with his wife and two kids, said, "I don't watch the news." He's a big fan of the Yankees and listens to Bruce Springsteen and the Eagles.

Judge Arun Subramanian sent all 19 home after he instructed them not to read or listen to anything about the case and not to speak to anyone about the case. Some of these individuals may return May 12, when opening statements are scheduled to begin. No juror has been seated yet.

The judge has said he wants a pool of 45 prospective jurors before the lawyers begin their peremptory strikes.

Jury selection will resume on Tuesday.

Before court adjourned, defense attorney Teny Geragos said prosecutors may opt not to call Victim-3 as a witness. Prosecutor Maurene Comey said, without elaborating, that the woman's attorney has been going through some issues and has been "difficult to communicate with." Victim-3 does not live locally and "may not show up" despite receiving a subpoena, Comey said.

The evidence includes a surveillance tape, first broadcast by CNN in May 2024, that shows Combs striking, kicking and dragging then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura at a Los Angeles hotel in March 2016. Ventura's civil lawsuit, settled a day after it was filed in 2023 with no admission of wrongdoing, provided prosecutors with a basis to initiate the criminal investigation that led to Combs' arrest in September 2024.

Combs apologized for the video at the time, saying, "I hit rock bottom -- but I make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video."

Ventura is an anticipated witness, along with three other as-yet-unidentified alleged victims, two of whom were given permission to testify under pseudonyms.

Prosecutors are also expected to introduce items seized when federal agents from Homeland Security Investigations raided Combs' homes in Los Angeles and Miami, including more than a dozen electronic devices and AR-15-style rifles with defaced serial numbers.

Days before trial, federal prosecutors offered Combs a chance to plead guilty and spare himself the possibility of a prolonged prison sentence. Asked if he rejected the offer, Combs answered, "Yes I do your honor."

He has appeared in court wearing drab beige jail garb but the jury will see him in ordinary dress clothes. Members of his family, including his mother, are expected to attend.

In addition to Geragos, his defense team includes Marc Agnifilo. They represented NXIVM founder Keith Raniere who was convicted of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking, the same charges Combs faces.

The defense team also includes Brian Steel, who represented rapper Young Thug at a racketeering trial in Atlanta, and Alexandra Shapiro, a leading appellate litigator who also represents Sam Bankman-Fried.

The all-female prosecution team includes Comey, who successfully prosecuted Ghislaine Maxwell for sex trafficking, and Emily Johnson, Mitzi Steiner and Madison Smyser, who have prosecuted violent crime, and gang prosecutor Christy Slavik.