The criminal trial for Sean “Diddy” Combs kicked off with jury selection in Manhattan, as the one-time cultural mogul faces shocking federal sex crime charges in a case expected to stretch on for months.
Several dozen potential jurors were brought into a courtroom one by one and questioned by Judge Arun Subramanian, the prosecution and defense to determine whether they’re qualified to serve on Combs’ jury.
As jury selection got underway, prospective jurors said they had heard news about allegations against the hip-hop star, seen a video of him allegedly assaulting a woman and even heard a comedian joke about the baby oil authorities say they found in his residences.
Jurors were given a list of people and places related to the defendant in some way, including Hollywood and music industry celebrities such as Michael B. Jordan, Kid Cudi, Michelle Williams, Mike Myers and others.
Combs, 55, who at one time was among the most powerful figures in the music industry, has experienced a sharp fall from grace after facing a bevy of lawsuits and criminal charges accusing him of rape and sexual assault.
During his final court hearing on May 2, Combs confirmed he turned down a potential plea deal. Subramanian previously rejected a request from the rapper’s legal team to delay the start of the trial.
He could spend the rest of his life in prison if convicted.
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Court wraps for the day
The first day of jury selection in Combs’ trial wrapped for the day.
Subramanian deemed 19 qualified to serve, including two who said they were fans of 1990s hip-hop, and the rest were dismissed. More will be questioned on May 6, and jury selection is expected to finish by the end of the week.
The group of jurors who weren’t struck ranged in age from 30 to 75; most were college-educated, with careers spanning scientists, behavioral health associates, professional movers and grocery-store deli clerks.
During the group question portion, prospective jurors filled in details on their ages, occupations and interests. One woman, a 30-year-old manager at a sports facility, shared her love for watching “New Girl” and “Gilmore Girls,” while another woman – a 42-year-old dietary aide at a nursing home – expressed how she’d rather read “Harry Potter” than the news.
Many prospective jurors shared their go-to news outlets – New York Times, NPR and CNN were most commonly cited.
Potential juror dismissed because his wife served as attorney in 1991 stampede case
The most head-turning dismissal came late in the afternoon. A potential juror noted a possible conflict of interest with his wife, who served as an attorney in the trial of the 1991 City College stampede, when nine people were killed during a fatal crush at a celebrity basketball game in New York that Combs helped organize.
Combs was never criminally charged, although he did face lawsuits for his role in promoting the would-be deadly event.
The potential juror said his wife had a negative opinion of Combs from the court case: “She found his behavior disturbing,” the man said. “In general, she doesn’t like him.” Despite claiming he could still be impartial, Subramanian agreed with Combs’ team, who moved to have him excused from the trial.
From language barriers to video violence
There were a handful of potential jurors dismissed throughout the afternoon, with reasons ranging from one woman’s “very serious inability to understand English,” to another man’s ill will toward law enforcement officers after “several” occasions of being searched through the years for “no good reasons.”
One woman unsuccessfully requested to recuse herself from jury duty, given a number of major life events coming up for her this next month, including her son’s prom and daughter’s birthday party. (“A lot of big things happening!” Subramanian said good-naturedly.)
Another man also lobbied to withdraw, stating simply that he does “not like violence on video,” whether it’s something as innocuous as skateboarding or as serious as Combs allegedly beating Cassie Ventura in the much-discussed 2016 surveillance video.
Mike Myers. Kid Cudi. Dawn Richard. What do these names have to do with the Diddy trial?
In addition to questions about a history of sexual assault, jurors were given a list of people and places related to Combs in some ways. The names included Michael B. Jordan, Kid Cudi, Cassie Ventura, Michelle Williams, Mike Myers, Dallas Austin, Lauren London and Dawn Richard.
The list, a who’s who of Hollywood and music elite, paints a picture of Combs’ far-reaching influence in the entertainment industry.
For example, Kid Cudi, an Ohio-born rapper who was briefly romantically involved with Combs’ ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, is likely on the list as a 2023 civil lawsuit from Ventura against Combs accused the hip-hop mogul of threatening to blow up Cudi’s car. (Ventura and Kid Cudi briefly dated “during a rough patch” in her relationship with Combs, she said.)
Ventura, who is also on the list, alleged in a bombshell lawsuit in 2023 that Combs had trafficked, sexually assaulted and physically abused her during their decade-long relationship. The two “amicably” settled the lawsuit a day after Cassie’s filing, and Combs’ team alluded to a “substantial eight-figure settlement” in court documents for his criminal case.
What’s the schedule for Diddy’s trial?
Assuming all parties can agree on 45 jurors by the end of the May 7 session, the prosecution and defense will spend May 8-9 preparing for opening statements, which begin May 12.
Prospective juror references comedian’s video about Diddy case
One prospective juror said they had “liked” a video on social media in which a comedian joked about Combs and baby oil.
“I remember liking it because I thought it was funny,” said the juror, who Subramanian decided was qualified after they said they would be able to put the video aside and be impartial.
According to Combs’ original indictment, the baby oil bottles were used during the hip-hop mogul’s alleged “freak off” parties, which were described as “elaborate and produced sex performances” that involved sex workers.
‘I’m a little nervous today’
As jurors continued to be dismissed, Combs asked Subramanian for a short bathroom break, according to multiple reports. He told the judge “I’m sorry your honor, I’m a little nervous today.”
Potential jurors continue to be excused
Several potential jurors had been excused by Subramanian as the afternoon ticked on.
Due to the nature of the charges against Combs, a major issue coming up with the potential jury pool is whether those called or their loved ones are sexual assault survivors.
One person expressed some anxiety about being on the jury and revealed she had been assaulted as a teen. Combs’ lawyer attempted to exclude her from the pool but was unsuccessful after the judge called her “careful” in her answers rather than cagey, as the defense characterized her.
Swaths of potential jurors have also admitted to seeing media coverage about the allegations against Combs, as well as a video of him dragging and kicking his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, in a hotel hallway. While many have said that wouldn’t sway their ability to be impartial, one individual was excused after saying they had previously seen what could be a “damning” image of Combs.
For potential Diddy jurors, a wide array of questions
As lawyers on both sides attempted to find a suitable batch of jurors for what promises to be one of the most closely watched celebrity trials in years, potential candidates were asked a wide array of questions and presented with a list of people and places related to Diddy including Kid Cudi, Mike Myers and Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child fame.
One juror, who said hearing from victims of alleged assault would make them “uncomfortable,” was quickly dismissed, while another was also let go after saying she had seen a screenshot of Combs allegedly beating ex-girlfriend Cassie which she thought could be “damning evidence.”
Combs’ lawyers have tried to remove potential jurors for other reasons. They moved to dismiss a 55-year-old woman who works at HBO because the media company recently released a documentary titled “The Fall of Diddy.” The potential juror did not work on the film, and the judge overruled the attempt.
Another prospective juror, who is a chief marketing officer at Simon & Schuster, was excluded for cause after saying that the company is publishing a memoir from Al B. Sure! this fall that contains accusations or references about Combs. The prospective juror said she would “be unlikely to read that book,” but the judge still said this was “too close to home.”
Jury questioning underway in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ sex trafficking trial
Combs arrived in court from the federal lockup in Brooklyn where he is being held shortly after 9 a.m. EDT, wearing dark glasses and a dark sweater over a white shirt. Sporting a salt-and-pepper goatee, Combs smiled and hugged his attorneys upon entering Subramanian’s courtroom.
About an hour-and-a-half later, Subramanian began questioning prospective jurors one-by-one, a process known as voir dire. The judge’s goal in voir dire is to choose 45 potential jurors who are qualified to serve, and lawyers for both sides will then have the opportunity to dismiss jurors without stating a reason.
The jury will be anonymous, which is frequently the case in high-profile trials in which jurors could face threats or harassment if their identities are known.
Where to watch: Is the Diddy trial going to be televised?
The trial will not be televised, as cameras are typically not allowed in federal criminal trial proceedings. USA TODAY will be reporting live from the courtroom.
Favorite music? Your friends’ sex lives? Diddy jury selection may surprise you
If your significant other cheated on you, could you get past it?
At first blush, the answer might not seem relevant to Sean “Diddy” Combs’ upcoming sex-trafficking trial. But it’s the surprising type of clue lawyers may look for in picking jurors starting Monday.
Robert Hirschhorn, a lawyer and jury consultant, told USA TODAY a potential juror who could compartmentalize cheating in a relationship might also be the type of person who could compartmentalize disturbing evidence at trial. Prosecutors are poised to show, for example, a video of Combs dragging and kicking his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, in a hotel hallway.
“Everybody that says, ‘compartmentalize,’ I don’t care what else they say – Unless they say, ‘I already think Diddy’s guilty,’ I’m putting them on the jury every day,” Hirschhorn said.
Jury consultants and trial experts told USA TODAY the legal teams may also look for clues to how potential jurors would approach the trial in their musical preferences, their openness to alternative sexual lifestyles, and their history with sexual violence.
Favorite music? Your friends’ sex lives? Diddy jury selection may surprise you
– Aysha Bagchi
Diddy arrives at courthouse
Combs has arrived at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse in Manhattan, where he faces sweeping sex crime charges.
U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian was expected to begin questioning prospective jurors one-by-one in a bid to seat a panel of 12 jurors and six alternates who can be fair and impartial despite heavy media coverage of the case so far.
Diddy adds another lawyer to his team in the 11th hour
Combs’ six-person defense team, led by attorneys Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos, added one more member on May 2, the last business day before jury selection.
Xavier R. Donaldson, a New York-based criminal defense lawyer, filed a notice of appearance as a retained attorney for Combs in a document reviewed by USA TODAY May 2.
According to his LinkedIn, the Howard University School of Law alumnus was once an assistant district attorney for the Bronx County DA’s office in the ’90s before moving into private practice. Notably, Combs also attended Howard University as a business student but dropped out before earning his Bachelor’s degree.
The last attorney who joined Combs’ team was Brian Steel, the lawyer representing rapper Young Thug in his own long-running RICO trial.
What is Diddy on trial for?
Combs is facing federal sex crimes and trafficking charges in a sprawling suit that has eroded his status as a power player and king-maker in the entertainment industry.
The embattled music mogul was arrested in September and has been charged with racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to all five counts.
His indictment emerged alongside dozens of separate civil suits suggesting a pattern of abusive behavior and exploitation spanning decades, including accusations of rape, sexual assault and physical violence.
What questions are jurors being asked?
Prosecutors said several of the questions they wanted potential jurors to be asked will have to do with their feelings on law enforcement and experiences with the government.
Experiences with sexual assault or with being accused of assault could also be a major factor during jury selection. Both sides have proposed questions to potential jurors about those experiences.
Combs’ team wants potential jurors to describe the music they like and their opinions about the hip-hop and rap music industry. The defense team’s proposed questionnaire also suggested they want to know if jurors are openminded to alternative sexual lifestyles.
How long has Diddy been in jail?
Despite repeated attempts at bail, Combs was ordered to remain in custody at the Special Housing Unit in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center ahead of trial — a ruling his legal team has challenged in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. He’s been jailed since his arrest on Sept. 16.
‘Coercive control’ is the phrase you won’t hear about at the Diddy trial. Why it’s still important.
There’s no shortage of discussion over Combs’ trial. One phrase you won’t hear during the legal process? “Coercive control.”
Combs was arrested in September in Manhattan and charged with racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution; he has pleaded not guilty.
Federal prosecutors and Combs’ legal team have clashed over what expert witness testimony the jury will be allowed to hear. Judge Arun Subramanian ruled that psychologist Dawn Hughes is not allowed to discuss “coercive control,” which is a type of domestic abuse. She is, however, allowed to discuss coping strategies for victims and why many victims stay in abusive or violent relationships.
The ruling is significant in this case as prosecutors will bring alleged victims of Diddy to testify about abuse, and defense attorneys will try to dispute their statements. Accusers’ past communications with Diddy, prior statements about him and anything and everything they’ve previously said about the allegations are likely to be scrutinized.
– Hannah Yasharoff and David Oliver
Contributing: KiMi Robinson, Anika Reed, Aysha Bagchi and Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY; Reuters
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What happened during Diddy’s trial? Combs faces sweeping charges
