The legal proceedings against Sean "Diddy" Combs have officially commenced with the initial phase of jury selection in a Manhattan courtroom.
Over the next three days, a pool of approximately 150 prospective jurors will undergo individual questioning by Judge Arun Subramanian, as well as both the prosecution and defense teams. This process aims to identify individuals qualified to serve on the jury for Combs' upcoming trial.
The 55-year-old former music industry titan is currently embroiled in numerous civil suits and criminal accusations related to r@pe and s£xual assault. He is now facing federal s£x crimes charges, to which he has formally entered a plea of not guilty.
Combs has denied all allegations of abuse outlined in over 50 civil lawsuits filed against him since November 2023. The first of these was brought by his former romantic partner of a decade, R&B artist Casandra Ventura, though that case was subsequently settled for an undisclosed sum.
During a court appearance on May 2nd, Combs confirmed his decision to reject a potential plea agreement offered in the case.
A prior request from the rapper's legal counsel to postpone the trial's commencement was denied by the presiding judge.
If found guilty on the charges, Combs, 55, could potentially face a life sentence.
