The federal criminal trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs is inches away from kicking off, following a vivid and intricate jury selection process. However, the prosecution's case against the rap tycoon may have suffered a setback as federal authorities conceded that one out of four crucial witnesses lined up to testify in the New York federal court might not materialize to take the stand. On Friday, both the prosecution and defense will have a second chance to delve deeper into the backgrounds of potential jurors, exploring their experiences with violence and their capacity to weigh evidence pertaining to sexual assault and abuse while maintaining unwavering impartiality.
Combs faces a five-count indictment encompassing sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation for prostitution. He has steadfastly pleaded not guilty, flatly denying any veracity to the accusations leveled against him.
As part of the meticulous selection process, potential jurors were handed a pamphlet brimming with personal questions aimed at gauging their impartiality and beyond. They were also presented with a list featuring A-list celebrities and locations, with jurors being queried on their ability to stay unbiased should these names arise. The list included actor Michael B. Jordan and rapper Kid Cudi, both of whom have romanced Combs' former on-again, off-again partner Cassie Ventura; the enigmatic inclusion of actor Mike Myers' name also raised eyebrows.
Judge Arun Subramanian conducted one-on-one interviews with the jurors, dismissing one woman who deemed the notorious video of Combs assaulting Ventura in a hotel hallway in 2016, which was leaked on CNN last year, as potentially "incriminating evidence." The impact of this video was palpable throughout the selection process, prompting defense attorney Marc Agnifilo to voice his frustration regarding its influence. Another juror made the cut despite admitting to having "liked" a video on social media where comedian Dave Chapelle joked about the vast quantity of baby oil found at Combs' residence during a federal raid last year; the juror dismissed it as mindless social media scrolling.
On Wednesday, one juror confessed that he was too engrossed in binge-watching Disney+'s "Andor" to complete his questionnaire. "I was tired," the potential juror responded, according to USA Today. "I was hooked on the new Star Wars series 'Andor.' It had just premiered." When the judge inquired about his ability to focus on the trial or if he'd be "too busy binge-watching 'Andor,'" the juror's honesty might have earned him some brownie points as he replied, "Like I said, I was binge-watching — I was just being lazy."
After three days of rigorous jury selection, the trial is progressing with 45 potential jurors selected to move forward. On Friday, the prosecution and defense will whittle down this group to 12 men and women who will serve on the trial jury, plus six alternates.
It was during Wednesday's jury selection that prosecutors informed Judge Subramanian that they might have lost one of the four victims scheduled to testify against Combs. Named Victim 3 in the indictment, this witness was poised to recount how Combs had "coerced her into sexual acts" and how she was "sexually exploited" by him. The prosecution admitted they were uncertain about Victim 3's appearance in court.
"We're unsure of her intentions to appear, and we're making every effort to find out because communicating with her counsel has proven challenging," prosecutor Maurene Comey stated on Wednesday, as reported by the New York Post. She added that this admission came after the court pressed for an update on the matter. Comey told the court that the woman, whom the prosecution refers to as Victim 3, "does not reside locally" and "might not show up, even if we enforce the subpoena and wish to call her." This revelation follows a week after federal prosecutors stated they had spoken with her lawyer, and she was now willing to use her real name in court.
The prosecution team will provide an update on Friday morning regarding the status of the situation. Three other alleged victims of Combs are poised to testify in the trial, which will commence with opening statements on Monday.
