A year and a half after Sean “Diddy” Combs was accused of sex trafficking by his former longtime partner, Cassie Ventura, the hip-hop mogul is set to face a criminal trial beginning with jury selection on Monday.
The 55-year-old music icon, once celebrated for his influence on hip-hop and elite social circles, has pleaded not guilty to a five-count indictment that includes charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transporting individuals for prostitution. These charges follow over 50 civil suits filed against him since November 2023, all of which he denies. Ventura’s lawsuit, which sparked the wave of allegations, was settled privately.
Combs’ once-glamorous reputation has been severely tarnished, and he now joins a growing list of powerful entertainment figures accused of sexual misconduct in the wake of the #MeToo movement. Once a symbol of success with homes in Los Angeles and Miami, he has been detained since September in a Brooklyn jail and recently returned a symbolic key to New York City at the request of Mayor Eric Adams.
On Monday morning, U.S. Marshals will transport Combs to federal court in Lower Manhattan, where Judge Arun Subramanian will begin vetting jurors in a heavily scrutinized selection process.
Out of hundreds of respondents, around 150 candidates will undergo further questioning to identify any biases. The final jury will remain anonymous due to the high-profile nature of the case.
Prosecutors claim Combs exploited his music empire to manipulate women into drug-fueled group sexual encounters he called “Freak Offs.”
The defense is expected to argue that these acts were consensual and part of a swinger lifestyle. The trial is anticipated to last two months, with opening statements set for May 12.
If convicted, Combs faces at least 15 years behind bars and could receive a life sentence.
