Jury Selection Underway in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ High-Profile Sex Crimes Trial

 On May 5, 2025, jury selection began in the federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Courthouse in Lower Manhattan, New York. The trial, one of the most high-profile cases in the U.S. music industry, centers on allegations that Combs, 55, coerced women into participating in drug-fueled sexual performances known as “freak offs,” which he allegedly orchestrated, directed, and recorded over decades. 

Combs has pleaded not guilty to charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution, which carry a potential life sentence if he is convicted. The jury selection process, expected to last several days, involves narrowing a pool of approximately 600 prospective jurors to 12, plus six alternates, to decide the fate of the hip-hop icon who founded Bad Boy Records.

Prospective jurors are being asked to complete detailed questionnaires to assess their impartiality, given the intense media coverage surrounding Combs’ case. Questions focus on their knowledge of Combs, his music, and the allegations, as well as their views on issues like intimate partner violence, prostitution, illegal drugs, and the music industry. Additional inquiries explore jurors’ experiences with law enforcement, financial hardships, and perceptions of whether wealthy individuals face different legal consequences. 

The process is overseen by U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, a Biden-appointed judge of South Asian descent, who has emphasized the need for an unbiased jury. Both the prosecution and Combs’ defense team, led by attorneys Marc Agnifilo and Alexandra Shapiro, are reviewing jurors’ responses to identify biases or conflicts, with some candidates likely to be excused due to scheduling issues or preconceived opinions about the case.

The trial, set to begin opening statements on May 12, is expected to last eight to ten weeks, with the prosecution planning to present its case over three weeks and the defense anticipating one week. Prosecutors allege that Combs used his business empire to facilitate the “freak offs,” involving drugs like ketamine and ecstasy to ensure compliance, and employed staff to arrange travel, book hotels, and deliver cash to sex workers. 

The indictment claims these events were often recorded to silence victims, with IV fluids administered afterward due to physical exertion. Combs’ defense argues that the encounters were consensual, framing his lifestyle as that of a “swinger” rather than a criminal. Key witnesses may include Combs’ ex-girlfriend, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, who filed a 2023 civil lawsuit alleging years of abuse, settled out of court but later corroborated by 2016 hotel CCTV footage showing Combs assaulting her. The trial’s outcome could mark a significant moment for accountability in the music industry, drawing parallels to the #MeToo movement’s impact on other sectors.