CNN
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The first day of jury selection in the federal criminal trial that will determine the future for Sean “Diddy” Combs has concluded, with a new batch of jurors to be considered on Tuesday.
Nineteen potential jurors who were questioned Monday are expected to be considered for the panel in the peremptory strike phase, when attorneys for both sides can opt to strike a prospective juror for almost any reason. That phase is expected to commence once a pool of 45 vetted potential jurors has been assembled.
The start of the trial comes nearly seven months after the once-highly influential pop culture figure was indicted for racketeering conspiracy, transportation to engage in prostitution and sex trafficking, crimes that the government claims spanned over two decades.
Combs has denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to all charges.
After an introduction from Judge Arun Subramanian Monday morning, prospective jurors were called to the courtroom one-by-one to review their answers to questions with the court.
Lawyers for both the prosecution and defense can make a motion to strike a juror for cause after they’ve been questioned. They can also call a juror back later in the day for further questioning, if necessary.
After the parties questioned several prospective jurors, Combs’ attorney asked for a bathroom break. The judge, who seemed inclined to move forward with questions, agreed after Combs told the judge, “I’m a little nervous today.”
Prospective jurors were asked about their level of awareness of multiple celebrities, as part of the jury selection process on Monday.
Before entering the courtroom, each juror was asked to review a binder with a list of people and places — some of which could come up during the trial — to identify any with which they were familiar. Subramanian compared the lengthy list to an appendix for “The Lord of the Rings.”
In court, some potential jurors said they did recognize some names on the list, which included celebrities such as Michael B. Jordan, Kanye West and Mike Myers.
It is common for jurors to be asked about any names that might surface during the trial. Judges do that in an abundance of caution to ensure every potential connection is explored to find jurors without conflicts who can be fair and impartial. The list also includes the names of attorneys involved in the case. A name being included on the list does not indicate whether the individual will testify or even be directly involved with the trial, but it is possible that some of the names presented to jurors could come up during witness testimony.
Other names mentioned in court by prospective jurors included Kid Cudi, Yung Miami and Cassie Ventura, the government’s central witness in the case.
Combs was seen physically assaulting Ventura in a 2016 surveillance video published last year by CNN. He apologized for his actions in the video.
The attorneys did not provide an explanation why any person or place was included on the list, which is not available to the public.
CNN has reached out to the celebrities named for comment, aside from Kanye West, who is not currently working with a publicist, manager or agent.
A woman who said she watched the ID documentary called “The Fall of Diddy,” a woman who called the 2016 video of Combs assaulting Ventura ‘damning’ and a female executive at a major publishing company who mentioned she’d reviewed a press release for Al B. Sure’s upcoming memoir, which she said includes allegations against Combs, were among those dismissed during the first day of jury selection.
Prosecutor Maurene Comey asked the judge to dismiss the prospective juror who watched the documentary because Comey expects at least one person who appeared in the documentary to testify at trial.
A man was excused from the jury pool because he said his wife, who is a lawyer, harbored negative opinions of Combs’ after interacting with him during a court case back in the ‘90s.
“She found [Combs’] behavior disturbing” and “in general she does not like him,” the man said in court.
The prospective juror said that his wife’s views wouldn’t get in the way of his ability to be fair and impartial, but Subramanian excused him anyway, agreeing with the defense.
Combs has been held at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn since his September 2024. If convicted on all charges, Combs could face up to life in prison.
Prosecutors allege that between 2004 and 2024, Combs created a criminal enterprise using his business empire where he engaged in sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice.
He is accused of coercing at least three women to engage in sex acts with him and, at times, with male prostitutes, during occasions known as “Freak Offs,” where the victims were allegedly drugged and forced to engage in sex for days. Authorities allege Combs recorded some of the sex acts and controlled his victims by promising financial and career opportunities, as well as through threats of violence and other harm.
He is facing five counts in total with charges related to four victims, including one count of racketeering conspiracy as it pertains to “Victim-1,” “Victim-2” and “Victim-3,” two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion as it pertains to “Victim-1” and “Victim-2” and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution as it pertains to “Victim-1” and “Victim-2.”
Prosecutors have said in court documents that “Victim-4” is a former employee of Combs, who they allege he “obtained forced labor” from.
The four victims that the government identified in court filings had been expected to testify at trial. On Monday, Comey said it had been difficult to get in touch with the lawyer for “Victim-3,” and she might not be called to testify even though she had been subpoenaed.
Subramanian previously ruled that three of the four alleged victims can testify under pseudonyms. The person referred to as “Victim-1” in the indictment, Combs’ former girlfriend Cassie Ventura, has chosen to testify under her own name. “Victim-3” had also previously been expected to testify under her own name.
Ventura filed a lawsuit against Combs in 2023 where she alleged he raped her in 2018 and subjected her to years of repeated physical and other abuses over the course of their relationship. Combs denied Ventura’s allegations at the time and they settled Ventura’s lawsuit the day after it was filed.
In May 2024, Combs was seen striking and dragging Ventura in a 2016 surveillance video first published by CNN. Two days after the video was published Combs apologized for physically assaulting Ventura, saying in a video posted on Instagram that he takes “full responsibility for my actions in that video.”
During a pre-trial hearing in April, Subramanian ruled that footage of the 2016 incident may be shown to the jury at trial.
Mark Agnifilo and Teny Geragos are the two lead attorneys representing Combs. Brian Steel, who represented rapper Young Thug in his recent racketeering trial in Georgia, was added to Combs’ legal team in April.
The US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York indicted Combs in 2024, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meredith Foster, Emily A. Johnson, Christy Slavik, Madison Reddick Smyser and Mitzi Steiner are handling the case for the government, according to a news release from the US Attorney’s Office.
Separately, Combs is also facing dozens of civil lawsuits from in which he is accused of sexual assault. He has denied the allegations and the civil suits are not part of Combs’ federal criminal trial.
