Diddy trial latest: Jury pool narrows to 45 as court ends for the day
Diddy mouths 'how are you' to pregnant FOX 5 NY reporter: Latest in the trial
Jury selection in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal sex trafficking trial could wrap up today, following two days of progress in court. FOX 5 NY's Michelle Ross has the latest.
NEW YORK - Jury selection in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal sex trafficking trial continued Wednesday, with 45 prospective jurors remaining in the pool by day’s end.
Judge Arun Subramanian spent the last two days questioning dozens of candidates to identify potential biases.
Attorneys will return Friday without potential jurors to begin the strike process and seat 12 jurors and six alternates.
Combs is accused of using force and coercion to make victims participate in dayslong sex acts he called "Freak Offs," which were often filmed. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
On Wednesday, Diddy appeared alert and engaged in court, wearing a white shirt, blue sweater, and navy pants. At one point, he mouthed "how are you" to FOX 5 NY's Michelle Ross, who is several months pregnant.
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His defense argues the alleged victims are former girlfriends and compares Combs to a "swinger," claiming the case centers on consensual relationships involving a male escort.
Here's the latest on the trial:
Diddy trial today
Another dozen prospective jurors were expected to be questioned.
2:26 p.m. — Diddy jury pool narrows to 45 as court ends for the day
There are now 45 people in the jury pool.
Attorneys will return Friday without potential jurors to begin the strike process and seat 12 jurors and 6 alternates.
A final pretrial hearing will also be held to address outstanding issues around evidence and witness testimony.
Adeja Shivonne
11:55 a.m. – Defense: Documentary features government witnesses
Defense attorneys also pointed out that three government witnesses expected to testify in the trial appeared in the "Downfall of Diddy" docuseries and claimed those individuals were paid to participate. "The documentary depicts my client in a negative light, almost like a monster," one attorney told the court.
Adeja Shivonne, Michelle Ross, Jonah Schweitzer
11:54 a.m. – HBO employee juror raised red flags for defense
At the start of today’s session, lawyers discussed a juror who was struck Monday due to their employment at HBO. The defense argued that the network aired the "Downfall of Diddy" documentary, which they say is likely to come up during trial.
Adeja Shivonne, Michelle Ross, Jonah Schweitzer
11:47 a.m. – Two eager jurors struck despite conflicts
Two prospective jurors appeared eager to serve despite red flags.
One juror admitted she had seen the hotel security video of Combs and initially assumed he was guilty of abuse. However, she told the court today that it wouldn’t bias her, claiming uncertainty about whether drugs were involved.
Adeja Shivonne, Michelle Ross, Jonah Schweitzer
What happened in court Tuesday?
On Monday and Tuesday, the judge assembled a pool of 35 potential jurors, 10 individuals short of the group of 45 would-be jurors that are one step from sitting on the jury for a trial projected to last up to two months.
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Juror dismissed after saying they couldn't abstain from marijuana during the trial
Numerous possible jurors were disqualified on Tuesday after answering questions that made lawyers and the judge believe they could not be fair and unbiased.
One man was dismissed after admitting that he probably couldn't follow an order by the judge not to smoke marijuana for the duration of the trial.
"He was honest," the judge said, as laughter spread throughout the courtroom.
Others were dismissed from the jury pool after saying they had seen news coverage about the case, including the 2016 video of Diddy hitting and kicking Cassie in a hotel hallway.
Who are the jurors in the Diddy trial?
The potential jurors come from a wide range of backgrounds, including a middle school gym teacher, a Taskrabbit mover, and a massage therapist who’s also an actor and member of SAG-AFTRA and Actors’ Equity.
One prospective juror works as a photo producer for HBO, with credits on promotions for "The White Lotus," "The Last of Us," and "Real Time With Bill Maher."
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That connection raised concerns for Combs’ defense, since HBO’s streaming partner, Max, aired the Investigation Discovery docuseries "The Fall of Diddy," which they described as "negative."
When is the Diddy trial?
What's next:
Opening statements in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal trial are set for Monday, May 12.
The trial is expected to last about two months.
Before it begins, both sides will make final strikes from the jury pool: a step that doesn’t require them to give reasons.
Prosecutors will argue that Combs ran a criminal enterprise that used his fame to abuse women, while his defense says any sexual activity was consensual.
How many years does Diddy face?
The RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) charge against Diddy is central to the prosecution’s case, accusing him of running a long-term criminal operation involving sex trafficking, drugs, and coercion.
If convicted, he could face serious penalties and potentially spend the rest of his life behind bars.