Sean Diddy's comb admitted he was "a bit nervous" during the criminal trial game as hip-hop tycoons stared into the eyes of potential jurors who would make a verdict on his sexual trafficking and extortion.
The founder of Bad Boys Entertainment pleaded guilty to U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian earlier this week after his team asked to ask potential jurors for the first day in their context.
Prosecutors from the southern New York area claimed that for decades Combs used his billion-dollar empire as a criminal enterprise, including arson, bribery, kidnapping, kidnapping and sexual trafficking of two girlfriends from 2009 to 2024. The comb denies the lawsuits and acquits five Felony charges.
Combs has conducted a quick trial ahead of schedule, rejecting the prosecutor's plea agreement disclosed last month. He strengthened his already stacked criminal defense team, adding three more lawyers to his All-Star lineup, including Brian Steel, the attorney of young Thug, who helped the Atlanta rappers’ deal in another RICO case last October.
Combs has changed dramatically since his arrest in September. The 55-year-old has a completely gray hair and he wears a matching goatee. The comb can only use five button-up shirts, five pants, five sweaters and two shoes instead of the usually tailor-made power suits, strong sunglasses and heavy diamond accessories. Standing in court, the comb's slack drooped slightly because he couldn't wear a belt because it could be used as a potential weapon.
But despite his initial tension, the comb seemed to be filled with good spirits throughout the week. He hugged and chatted with the lawyer, "teaching brothers" to himself, waving the music producer Charlucci Finney, who arrived at the court wearing a "free puff" hoodie.
Here are the main highlights of the jury selection this week:
Final jury selection delay
After prosecutors and Comms' defense team agreed to meet Friday morning, the remaining 43 jurors and six jurors were handed over to the remaining 43 jurors, and the final part was postponed until Monday morning.
Judge Subramanian and Combs' lawyers are worried that some jurors can "frozen" over the weekend and demand forgiveness from the high-profile celebrity case. Both sides will select the final jury member on Monday and then immediately make the opening argument.
Combs is actively involved in the jury selection process, whispering and meetings with his attorneys. He shook his head when a potential juror admitted to watching a recent documentary about him, laughing as a man admitted to having a full trial without using marijuana, nodded when he approved certain people, including a 30-year-old woman, including a 30-year-old woman, arrested for being arrested in Harry Potter.
Celebrity Name
It’s usually a smooth process, and the jury’s choice is to make headlines within minutes of the first juror’s seat. Before potential jurors enter the court, they are given a lengthy list of names, entities and locations that may be mentioned at trial. Jurors are asked to review the list in case they have personal contact with people, companies or venues.
The first juror told Judge Subramanian that he endorsed Michael B.
All day long, jurors kept mentioning that they recognized Jordan’s name. Rolling stones It is confirmed that Jordan will not be called a witness at trial. Rolling stones It was also learned that Jordan and Combs' ex-girlfriend Casandra "Cassie" Ventura spent some time together in 2015, citing him in Ventura's November 2023 lawsuit against combs.
Ventura "started a dramatic relationship with the actor" (now revealed as Jordan - 2015) while resting in her relationship with the R&B singer, according to her lawsuit. When Coms found out, he allegedly "called the actor and threatened him."
Ventura's lawsuit states: "The actor called Ms. Ventura and told her, 'You really need to call (Mr. Combs)'." (The representative of Jordan declined to comment on the record. The Comb previously denied the allegations in the Ventura lawsuit, which was settled within a day after filing.)
Kanye West, Kid Cudi, Yung Miami, Destiny Child's Michelle Williams, actress Lauren London, songwriter Dallas Austin, former BAD Boy Entertainment CEO Harve Pierre and Danity Kane's Aubrey O'Day and Dawn Richard were also mentioned, although this is a role that is not yet clear, and if any, a famous name might play the name. (Kid Cudi, Richard and O'Day have been linked to allegations and lawsuits involving combs.)
"A damn evidence"
It is nearly impossible to find a juror who has not seen or read about the comb and his criminal case. Even those who say they don't usually follow celebrity news say they've been exposed to reports through TMZ-obsessed spouses, group chats with friends, group chats scrolling on social media, and “cooler talks” between colleagues.
At least two potential jurors admitted that they responded to the comb meme on social media, and a woman said she liked posts by a comedian who joked that dozens of bottles of baby oil were allegedly found in the comb house used in the freak.
When prosecutors and Combs’ defense team made it clear that they had heard or read about the case, many jurors said they saw a videotape of a hotel surveillance camera ingesting a comb in 2016. A potential juror described it as “abnormal evidence.” The video is expected to play a major role during the trial period. Combs' primary defense attorney Marc Agnifilo said it was "the most important" evidence against potential jurors who had watched the video and formed a negative view of the combs.
However, all jurors who will be sworn in on Monday told the court that they can hear everything about the case and be unbiased when hearing evidence against the government against the comb.
"Victim 3" MIA
Combs won the last minute victory when prosecutors said they no longer planned to provide some evidence related to the women identified as victim 3 in the indictment. Earlier this year, Combs filed a motion to rule out some of the trial of evidence, deeming it had nothing to do with the alleged offence. ”
It is not yet clear what exactly the scope of Victim 3 in this case. However, she mentioned her prostitution charges during her January shipping. Prosecutors also claimed that the experience of Victim 3 fell on the basis of blackmail, with the comb allegedly coercing her to have sex.
This week, prosecutors marked the judge that although Victim 3 said she would testify under her real name, it was suddenly difficult for them to get in touch with the woman and the lawyer. It is not clear whether Victim 3 will testify in court.
The judge scolds and jokes
Subramanian goes out of his way to keep the atmosphere bright, joke, and get up with potential jurors. When a juror said she was arrested for shoplifting in Harry Potter World, an amused Subramanian asked her about the measures she had taken. "The wand," she replied.
Subramanian took a more serious tone when prosecutors complained about comments made by celebrity attorney Mark Geragos on his podcast, he scolded the Combs’ defensive team. 2 angry men With TMZ's Harvey Levin. Geragos (her daughter Teny is a co-leader attorney for Combs) has not officially entered the criminal case, but is said to advise on the combs. In the podcast episode, Glagos said the team of prosecutors (six women) appeared to be "prosecuting the cause."
In a private conversation Tuesday, Subramanian warned Geragos, warning him not to make other similar comments. According to Subramanian New York Post. “This will not be tolerated in any court of any attorney around the country.”
Subramanian warned that if Geragos made any other inflammatory comments, he would continue to listen to the podcast, but Geragos was not subjected to the subject. “I’ll give it all as long as you subscribe,” Geragos replied.
The next week
After the jury selection is over, the opening statement will be launched on Monday morning and is expected to be an eight-week trial. In the first week, the days will start at 9:00 a.m. and end at 5 p.m., before being shortened to 3 p.m. in the next few weeks.
Prosecutors have not disclosed the names of the witnesses who will testify, but they did inform the court that they expect to place "two short-term witnesses" in the stands, one of whom was described as a male escort. The third "time sensitive" witness will be followed, and their testimony is expected to occupy the rest of the first week. Who is the third witness, but prosecutors have established a large portion of the victim 1 aka Ventura within the months of their third pregnancy.
Ventura's bombshell trafficking lawsuit against combs began in November 2023 is a roadmap for prosecutors, with many incidents in the lawsuit accusing her of being reflected in the indictment. She claimed that he controlled physical abuse during his decade-long relationship with the comb. She claimed that the comb forced her to have sex with a male sex worker during a few days-long, sexually stimulating encounter, and combing her hair was called a "freak."
The comb denied Ventura's allegations and quickly settled the lawsuit within 24 hours.