Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs appears for first day of his sex trafficking trial: Live updates – The Independent

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After rejecting a last-minute plea deal offer, Diddy appeared in court Monday as selection got underway for potential jurors in his trial on sex trafficking charges
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Jury selection has begun as the highly anticipated trial against Sean “Diddy” Combs kicks off in a Manhattan courtroom.
Federal prosecutors have brought a five-count indictment against the 55-year-old music mogul, accusing him of sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution, and racketeering conspiracy.
The rapper was arrested in September 2024 as federal authorities alleged Combs and his associates threatened, abused, and coerced victims “to fulfill his sexual desires.” One such desire includes “Freak Offs,” recorded sex performances that prosecutors say Diddy arranged and forced victims to participate in. During searches of his homes in Miami and Florida, authorities said they seized supplies such as narcotics and 1,000 bottles of lubricant and baby oil.
Since then, prosecutors have brought two superseding indictments against the music mogul. In March, the new indictment detailed fresh allegations of “forced labor.” In April, the newest indictment brought an additional charge of sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Diddy has also been the subject of a mountain of civil lawsuits alleging sexual abuse, rape and misconduct, with some cases dating to the 1990s. He’s denied any accusations of wrongdoing.
Last Thursday, Diddy rejected the government’s plea deal offer.
After speaking confidentially with the judge, another juror is excused as someone close to them was a victim of sexual assault or harassment.
Court is now back in session, and the next potential member of the jury is called for questioning — Juror 60.
It should be noted that not every juror is called for questioning. The judge has called 16 jurors so far.
Potential jurors were asked to look over a list of names and places connected with the trial and say if they recognized them or had a connection with them.
So far, the following names have come up:
For more than two decades, Sean “Diddy” Combs was one of hip-hop’s most opportunistic entrepreneurs, spinning his hitmaking talents into a broad business empire that included a record label, a fashion brand, a TV network, deals with liquor companies and a key role in a reality TV show.
But U.S. prosecutors say that behind the scenes, Combs was coercing and abusing women with help from a network of associates who helped silence victims through blackmail and violence.
Combs has pleaded not guilty and denied the allegations.
Here is a timeline of major events in his rise and fall:
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, the music mogul headed to trial on sex-trafficking accusations, rejected a last-minute plea deal with prosecutors, he confirmed in court on Thursday.
Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him, including sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation for prostitution purposes, and has maintained his innocence since being arrested.
Ariana Baio reports.
Kelly Rissman reports from the courthouse:
The line was long outside of a federal criminal courthouse this drizzly New York morning, filled with both members of the press and the public.
One woman said she’s a long-time fan of Diddy and hopes he is acquitted, but opted to attend the trial “to find the truth.”
The morning has been consumed by jury selection. One thing has been made clear: many potential jurors say they’ve seen the notorious video of Diddy allegedly assaulting a woman in a hotel.
Diddy’s defense team has expressed concern over how someone could be swayed after watching that clip, which the government excluded from the case.
Sheila Flynn writes:
The most honest thing Sean Combs may have ever done was name his record label “Bad Boy.”
Although 54-year-old Combs – aka Puff Daddy, aka Puffy, aka P. Diddy, Diddy and Love – has been orchestrating a lot more than just braggadocious “bad” behavior during the intervening decades, according to a federal indictment unsealed Tuesday. Instead, it charges, he’s been the veritable architect and leader of a “criminal enterprise” engaged in alleged arson, kidnapping, forced labor, bribery, obstruction of justice and sex trafficking.
It was that final accusation, laid out not in federal charging papers but in a series of damning lawsuits last year, that first revealed the growing cracks in the veneer of Combs’ carefully-curated reputation.
Read on…
Jury selection pauses for lunch and will resume shortly.
The hotel security video has been seen by the majority of the potential jurors brought in for questioning by Judge Subramanian.
In March, lawyers for Diddy claimed the video was altered by CNN and questioned whether it is admissible as evidence.
Kevin E G Perry reports.
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