Jury selection is scheduled to begin Monday in federal court for the highly anticipated trial of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, who faces serious sex trafficking and racketeering charges in a case that has rocked the entertainment industry.
The 55-year-old hip-hop producer and entrepreneur, once a fixture on red carpets and known for his trailblazing role in bringing hip-hop into the mainstream, has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Combs has maintained that all sexual encounters were consensual, with his attorney, Marc Agnifilo, recently offering a glimpse of the defense strategy by describing the artist’s open and unconventional lifestyle.
Prosecutors Allege Pattern of Abuse and Coercion
Federal prosecutors allege that Combs led a criminal enterprise that used intimidation, violence, and drugs to coerce victims into participating in so-called “freak-offs” — drug-fueled, non-consensual sex parties that were sometimes filmed. The accusations date back years and culminated in a sweeping federal indictment following a series of high-profile civil suits and a raid on Combs’ luxury homes in Miami and Los Angeles.
Among the most pivotal figures in the trial is singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, Combs’ former girlfriend. Ventura is expected to be a key witness and central figure in the case. In 2023, she filed a civil lawsuit against Combs alleging over a decade of abuse, which was swiftly settled, but triggered a wave of additional allegations from other accusers.
A disturbing surveillance video aired by CNN last year — showing Combs physically assaulting Ventura in a hotel hallway — is expected to be admitted in part as evidence, though its quality and scope remain points of contention between legal teams.
Met Gala to Courtroom: A Stark Contrast for Diddy
The timing of jury selection carries symbolic weight. The proceedings begin on the first Monday of May, the same day as New York’s famed Met Gala, an event where Combs was once a regular presence. This year, however, he will be far from the celebrity-filled red carpet, seated in a downtown Manhattan courtroom as potential jurors undergo questioning.
Combs has been held without bail at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center since his September 2024 arrest. The notoriously troubled facility has previously housed high-profile inmates like R. Kelly, Ghislaine Maxwell, and cryptocurrency mogul Sam Bankman-Fried.
Observers note Combs has appeared visibly aged during pre-trial hearings, a stark contrast from his past public image as a style icon and nightlife impresario.
A Landmark Case for the Music Industry
The indictment includes a racketeering conspiracy charge under the federal RICO statute — a powerful legal tool once primarily aimed at organized crime families but increasingly used in sexual abuse cases. Prosecutors argue that Combs orchestrated a long-running criminal operation, with crimes ranging from sex trafficking to assault, as part of a broader pattern of predatory behavior.
If convicted, Combs could face life in prison.
Industry analysts and legal experts are closely watching the trial, viewing it as a potential turning point for the music business, which, aside from the case of R. Kelly, has largely escaped the kind of widespread #MeToo reckoning that reshaped Hollywood.
Trial Timeline and Next Steps
Jury selection is expected to take about a week, with opening statements currently slated for May 12. The trial promises to be one of the most closely watched legal battles in recent music history, with significant implications for the future of accountability in the entertainment industry.
