Judge accepted request from Combs’s attorneys due to concerns that jurors might drop out over the weekend
The final phase of jury selection in the high-profile federal trial of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has been postponed until Monday, May 12, 2025. Judge Arun Subramanian made the decision to delay proceedings to prevent potential juror dropouts over the weekend. The trial, taking place in Manhattan, involves serious charges including racketeering, sex trafficking, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and sexual abuse, with allegations spanning from 2004 to 2024.
Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to all charges and remains in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn since his arrest in September 2024. He has been denied bail multiple times due to concerns about potential witness tampering.
Prosecutors allege that Combs exploited his celebrity status and business empire, including Bad Boy Records, to abuse, intimidate, and exploit women. The indictment describes disturbing events such as drug-induced orgies, referred to as “Freak Offs,” where women were allegedly coerced into sexual acts, which were often recorded.
A key witness for the prosecution is Combs’s ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, who is expected to testify early in the trial. Ventura previously brought similar allegations in a 2023 civil lawsuit, accusing Combs of more than a decade of coercion by physical force and drugs, as well as a 2018 rape.
The defense argues that the encounters were consensual and plans to challenge the credibility of accusers, suggesting mutual violence in Combs’s relationship with Ventura. Notably, a witness referred to as Victim 3 is currently unaccounted for, which may impact the prosecution’s case.
The trial is expected to last approximately eight weeks, with opening arguments commencing next week. If convicted on all counts, Combs could face a minimum of 15 years to life in prison.
