NEW YORK — Sean “Diddy” Combs appeared visibly unsettled Monday as jury selection began in his high-profile federal sex trafficking trial, briefly interrupting court proceedings to admit to the judge, “I’m a little nervous.”
The 55-year-old music mogul, seated beside his legal team in a gray sweater and slacks instead of jail-issued clothing, was allowed a bathroom break shortly after the questioning of potential jurors got underway. Combs has been held at a federal detention center in Brooklyn since his arrest last September and appeared with gray hair and a matching goatee — the result of restrictions on personal grooming products behind bars.
The proceedings in Manhattan federal court marked the start of a potentially explosive trial centered on allegations that Combs led a sprawling criminal enterprise involving sexual exploitation, coercion, and violence spanning two decades. The first day was limited to jury screening, with Judge Arun Subramanian warning candidates that evidence would include graphic, sexually explicit content and violent acts.
Despite the serious charges — which include sex trafficking and racketeering — much of Monday’s courtroom attention focused on the demeanor of the defendant himself, a global celebrity long surrounded by both acclaim and controversy.
“He looked worried,” one observer noted as Combs repeatedly conferred with his attorneys.
By day’s end, roughly half of the initial 36 prospective jurors had been dismissed, including individuals who cited financial hardship or admitted bias. Several acknowledged having seen media coverage, particularly a 2016 surveillance video showing Combs physically assaulting R&B singer Cassie in a hotel hallway — footage expected to be key evidence for the prosecution.
Combs has admitted to the assault but denies all criminal wrongdoing in the broader case. His legal team insists that all sexual activity was consensual and that no one was coerced or trafficked.
The indictment portrays Combs as the leader of a calculated, violent sex ring that prosecutors allege used drugs, threats, and promises of career advancement to manipulate women into “Freak Off” sex parties. If convicted, Combs could face up to life in prison.
Opening arguments are expected to begin next week, but jury selection will continue into Tuesday and likely through midweek. Federal rules prohibit live coverage of the trial, leaving sketch artists and courtroom transcripts as the public’s only access to developments inside.
AP
