The Diddy trial starts today with the jury selection

The highly anticipated trial against Sean “Diddy” Combs begins today in a federal court in Manhattan, marking the start of what could become one of the most significant legal cases in the history of the entertainment industry and one of the most scandalous celebrity trials ever. The 55-year-old music producer and entrepreneur faces serious charges, including racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation for the purpose of prostitution. If convicted, he could be sentenced to life in prison. After months of growing media attention and legal complications, Combs appeared in court last Thursday for a preliminary hearing, during which he confirmed, through his lawyers, that he had rejected a plea deal offered by federal prosecutors. Judge Arun Subramanian, who is presiding over the case, has authorized Combs to wear civilian clothing during the trial: five shirts, five sweaters, five pairs of pants, and two pairs of shoes without laces. A measure intended to ensure that his appearance before the jury is not negatively affected by his detention. Jury selection begins today, formally initiating the first phase of the trial, and is expected to last several days. Both prosecution and defense will work to select a jury composed of twelve primary and six alternate jurors, aiming to ensure their impartiality despite the enormous media coverage. 

Diddy has been held since last September at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. His legal team, which has grown from six to eight lawyers, has described the prison conditions as “horrific,” citing overcrowding, understaffing, and widespread violence. In recent months, a bail request was denied by a federal judge who said Diddy might attempt to flee the country. The most serious charge to be debated is racketeering. Prosecutors claim that Combs organized and ran a criminal network to facilitate the sexual exploitation and coercion of numerous individuals: women and men (some allegedly underage) were drugged, intimidated, or threatened with weapons to force them into sexual acts. In a raid on his Los Angeles mansion, police reportedly found items used during sexual events known as “freak offs,” including drugs and over 1,000 bottles of baby oil, which according to some of the lawsuits may have even contained a date-rape drug called GHB. This case is just one of the more than thirty lawsuits filed against him for alleged sexual abuse and assault, many of which date back to the 1990s. The legal storm was triggered by a lawsuit filed by ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, who accused him in 2023 of violence and rape. The lawsuit was quickly settled out of court, but since then others have found the courage to come forward.

Combs’ defense has so far denied all allegations, claiming they are attempts at extortion and attacks on his reputation. His lawyers argue that their client simply lived a “non-traditional but consensual” lifestyle, which included relationships with multiple partners and even sex workers. Opening statements are scheduled for May 12, and prosecutors have stated they will need three weeks to present their evidence, while the defense has requested one week for its case – suggesting the trial will likely extend well into the summer. If convicted on all counts, Combs could be sentenced to life in prison. In addition to the maximum sentence for racketeering, sex trafficking carries a minimum sentence of 15 years, while transportation for prostitution purposes carries up to 10 years in prison. But beyond the sentence that may be imposed on Combs if the court and jury find him guilty, this trial promises to definitively reveal, through sworn testimony, one of the most uncomfortable and dark truths behind the American music industry. And if the initial accusations and legal documents released at the time of Combs’ arrest captured the attention of the entire Internet – who knows what we might discover in the coming months.