Sean “Diddy” Combs‘ sex trafficking trial is set to kick off in earnest Monday, May 12, with opening statements following the completion of jury selection.
Opening statements in the high-profile trial were expected to begin first thing Monday morning. But they were postponed until later on Monday because Judge Arun Subramanian, who is overseeing the case, worried seating jurors on Friday might lead to drop-offs if some become uneasy at the prospect of a multi-week trial squarely in the public eye.
The decision came after a potential juror emailed the court requesting to be excused due to “issues of personal well-being,” according to the defense.
As such, the pool of dozens of prospects will be winnowed down to 12 jurors and 6 alternates, who will be sworn in on Monday morning ahead of opening statements.
Combs is fighting charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty.
The powerful hip hop mogul was arrested in Manhattan in September 2024 and indicted in the Southern District of New York.
Prospective jurors were asked if they were familiar with several celebrities, including Kanye West, Michael B. Jordan, Mike Myers, and Kid Cudi, though they are not necessarily going to be called to testify.
Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, Combs’ ex, who was also mentioned, is expected to testify under her real name.
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Sources told PEOPLE that Jordan would not be called to testify at the trial but confirmed that his name was mentioned because of a brief 2015 relationship with Ventura she referenced in a lawsuit against Combs.
Several other people are expected to testify against Combs, though under pseudonyms.
If convicted, Combs could face up to life prison. He has consistently denied the allegations laid out in the indictment. He has been held pretrial at the Metropolitan Detention Complex in Brooklyn, the same facility as Luigi Mangione, and has been denied bail three times.
Credit: dotdashmeredith.com
