Final jury selections are expected to be made in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ ongoing criminal trial as opening statements near.
After a brief recess in the high-profile legal proceeding, attorneys for the embattled hip-hop mogul and prosecutors returned to court on May 9 to select the jurors who will serve in Combs’ case. This comes after the jury pool was narrowed to 45 candidates across three days of intense questioning from the prosecution, defense and Judge Arun Subramanian.
Six women and five men were given the green light on May 7 after lawyers and the judge interviewed 22 candidates.
Their age bracket ranging from mid-20s to early 70s, the group represents a varied cross-section of society, with one juror working as a graphic designer and another in administration at the counterterrorism office of the United Nations.
Attorneys on both sides are now tasked with whittling down the selected jury to 12 final jurors who will sit for the trial alongside six alternates. During the interview process, prospective jurors were repeatedly asked if they, a family member or a friend had been a victim of sexual assault, sexual harassment or domestic violence, and whether they or a loved one had been charged or accused of such crimes.
Ahead of the trial’s kickoff on May 5, Combs, 55, confirmed he turned down a potential plea deal in the case during a final pretrial hearing on May 2.
Combs could spend the rest of his life in prison if convicted.
Diddy high school alumnus, ‘sleep-deprived’ Star Wars fan admitted to jury pool
A potential juror who attended the same high school as Combs was moved into the approved pool on May 7 after being questioned about their social media habits. The individual and Combs graduated 30 years apart.
Combs’ defense referenced a meme that implied the potential juror may have interacted with on social media, but the juror chalked this up to “doomscrolling” and “mindlessly swiping.” When the judge asked the juror if they had seen things while “doomscrolling” that might make them biased against Combs, they said no.
Another potential juror, questioned for about 25 minutes, continually sighed and trailed off in his speech. Judge Subramanian noted that the man neglected to fill out all the questions on his juror questionnaire. The potential juror explained that he was tired and “lazy” after binge-watching the new Star Wars series “Andor.”
Although federal prosecutors said the man was “meandering” and were worried about his “own personal discipline” if he was selected for the trial, Subramanian said none of his answers warranted a dismissal. He did, though, call the juror “sleep deprived.”
Potential juror who knows Diddy trial judge dismissed
One potential juror had an obvious conflict of interest: he was friendly with Judge Subramanian after serving as his co-counsel in several cases, meaning they previously represented clients together. They have known each other for about 10 years.
When the potential juror walked in, Subramanian amiably asked him: “What is your opinion of the judge in this case?” The prospective juror responded, “He is fair, he is gregarious and he is brilliant.”
One of the prosecutors said she was worried he would have an “outsize influence on other jurors” because of his position. He was dismissed.
Judge admonishes lawyer for racial remarks
The judge overseeing Combs’ sex-trafficking trial admonished a lawyer close to the hip-hop mogul’s defense team for referring to the prosecutors in the case as a “six-pack of white women” in comments on a podcast.
The lawyer, Mark Geragos, said in a May 2 episode of “Two Angry Men,” a podcast he co-hosts with TMZ founder Harvey Levin, that the racial and gender composition of the six-member prosecution team was “interesting.” Geragos said race may be an “undercurrent” at the trial but would not be a focus of Combs’ defense.
“That’s something that you shouldn’t, that no one should be saying as an officer of the Court and a member of the bar,” Judge Subramanian told Geragos in a private conversation in his robing room on May 6 before jury selection resumed, according to a trial transcript.
“Referring to the prosecution in this case as a six-pack of white women is outrageous,” said the judge, who is of South Asian descent.
Is Mark Geragos one of Diddy’s lawyers?
No, Mark Geragos, the famed attorney who has represented prominent people ranging from Michael Jackson to the Menendez brothers, isn’t officially part of Combs’ legal team.
His daughter, Teny Geragos, is serving on Combs’ defense. Mark Geragos has been seen in the courtroom since jury selection started earlier in the week.
Prosecutors called out his presence in a letter to Judge Subramanian, accusing Combs’ defense of trying to consult with the longtime lawyer and saying he should abide by the rules set for attorneys in the case if he’s working with Combs.
Mark Geragos has denied his involvement, saying in a statement to CNN, “I’m here to support my daughter. (Combs) is a friend.”
Lawyer representing multiple accusers weighs in on jury selection
Lisa Bloom, an attorney representing two accusers in civil cases against Combs and one in his criminal case, pointed to the “sad” number of potential jurors who have told the court they or a loved one is a sexual assault survivor.
Jurors have repeatedly been asked about sexual assault and harassment due to the nature of Combs’ case, and almost all have said they have some personal connection to the crimes. “It’s still quite a large number,” Bloom told NewsNation’s “Banfield.” “And if you break it down to the female jurors, even larger.”
Bloom is representing Danity Kane member Dawn Richard, a prominent Combs collaborator who accused him of physical and sexual abuse in a 2024 lawsuit.
Richard claimed the producer stole her work, withheld payment and subjected her to “inhumane” working conditions, which included assault, groping and false imprisonment, for nearly a decade. Combs’ attorney denied the allegations at the time the lawsuit was filed.
Why is Diddy on trial?
Combs is facing federal sex crimes and trafficking charges in a sprawling suit that has eroded his status as a power player and kingmaker in the entertainment industry.
He was arrested in September and has been charged with racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to all five counts.
His indictment emerged alongside dozens of separate civil suits suggesting a pattern of abusive behavior and exploitation spanning decades, including accusations of rape, sexual assault and physical violence.
How long will Diddy’s trial be?
Now that all parties have agreed on the 45-member jury pool, the prosecution and defense will spend May 8-9 finalizing the jury and preparing for opening statements, which begin May 12.
Is Diddy in jail?
Despite repeated attempts at bail, Combs was ordered to remain in custody at the Special Housing Unit in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center ahead of trial — a ruling his legal team has challenged in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. He’s been jailed since his arrest on Sept. 16, 2024.
How can I watch Diddy’s trial?
The trial will not be televised, as cameras are typically not allowed in federal criminal trial proceedings.
USA TODAY will be reporting live from the courtroom.
Gray hair, blue sweater worn by Diddy
Cameras aren’t allowed in the courtroom where Combs is on trial for sweeping sex-crimes charges, but courtroom sketches are available of the one-time mogul.
As his trial kicks off, Combs has been depicted with graying hair and often wearing a blue sweater over a white collared shirt.
The outfits are intentional: Combs is allowed five shirts, five sweaters, five pairs of pants and two sets of laceless shoes to wear in the Manhattan federal courtroom, according to an order signed by Judge Subramanian on April 30.
That means he doesn’t have to wear a jumpsuit assigned to him in the detention center where he has been held since his September 2024 arrest.
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