The high-stakes sex trafficking trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs entered its critical jury selection phase Monday in Manhattan federal court, where the 55-year-old music mogul could face life imprisonment if convicted.
Combs, wearing dark glasses and a sweater over a white shirt, arrived from Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center as Judge Arun Subramanian began questioning potential jurors individually.
The anonymous 12-member jury—plus six alternates—will decide Combs’ fate on charges including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation for prostitution.
Prosecutors Allege “Freak Off” Parties as Defense Claims Consensual Acts
Federal prosecutors allege Combs used his Bad Boy Records empire to coerce women into drug-fueled sexual encounters with male sex workers—events he reportedly called “Freak Offs.”
Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo maintains these were consensual adult activities, comparing them to a “swingers” lifestyle. The trial follows more than 50 civil lawsuits against Combs, including a settled claim by ex-partner Cassie Ventura that triggered the #MeToo reckoning for the hip-hop icon.
Sean Combs’ Disastrous Fall From Grace
Once a cultural powerhouse hosting A-list parties from the Hamptons to Saint-Tropez, Combs now sits in custody just miles from his Harlem birthplace.
The trial could last two months, with opening statements set for May 12. Prospective jurors—including one who acknowledged knowing actors Michael B. Jordan and Mike Myers—are being vetted for impartiality despite extensive media coverage.
Unanimity Required as Combs Faces Minimum 15-Year Sentence
Judge Subramanian aims to qualify 45 jurors before peremptory strikes narrow the pool. A unanimous verdict is required for conviction, which could bring 15 years to life imprisonment.
The case represents a defining moment for accountability in Hollywood’s entertainment industry, with Combs joining other powerful figures to face post-#MeToo reckonings.
