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The trial of Sean "Didi" comb on the sex trafficking allegations will begin within one year and six months of his settlement of the lawsuit filed by his ex-girlfriend, accusing him of rape and abuse.
The 55-year-old rapper faces allegations of extortion, force, fraud or coercion of sexual trafficking and transportation of prostitution.
If convicted, the singer "I Will Miss You" faces at least 15 years in prison.
Here is a schedule of how he landed in a popular seat.
Celebrity Attorney Mark Geragos
The trial of Sean "Didi" comb on the sex trafficking allegations will begin within one year and six months of his settlement of the lawsuit filed by his ex-girlfriend, accusing him of rape and abuse. (Jane Rosenberg; Getty Images)
Diddy's trial began in the federal district court in Lower Manhattan, where he faced charges of sexual trafficking, rackets, fraud and prostitution.
In court Friday, Justice Aron Sabramanian said Monday that 45 prospective jurors and six alternates will be cut to 12 jurors before the opening ceremony begins.
The trial is expected to last about eight weeks as rappers and tycoons face the possibility of life imprisonment for all charges.
The jury began attending Diddy’s trial last Monday, with both sides questioning the potential jury pool to narrow down to 12, six alternating.
The Sean "Didy" comb sat at the defense table before the jury selection held in New York on Monday, May 5, 2025 by the Federal Court of Manhattan. (Elizabeth Williams via AP)
Potential jurors range from belief in infidelity and musical taste to recognition of celebrities like Kanye West and Mike Myers.
On Tuesday, Judge Subramanian directed the attorney to choose a jury that “will continue in the next few days”, with a trial scheduled to begin on May 12 with an opening statement. He directed the jurors "Don't discuss the case or read about it. Remove the news alerts. No one is allowed to talk to you."
James Comey's daughter is key to Diddy's suing
“Ask jurors if they recognize certain celebrity names to help determine their contact with media coverage or their personal opinions on individuals who may be involved in the case,” Victor Balladares told Fox News Digital with Offit Kurman. "Familiarity with key figures may affect the juror's perspective, consciously or subconsciously. Determining this connection ensures that selected jurors can evaluate the case based solely on the evidence presented without external influence."
Diddy was arrested for sexual trafficking and extortion last September, revealing in an unsealed indictment accusing him of forcing women to engage in sexual acts through his business empire. Didi pleaded not guilty and denied all charges against him.
Diddy was at a hearing in November 2024. (Elizabeth Williams)
Officials confirmed to Fox News Digital Digital Officials at the time that he was arrested after his home in Los Angeles and New York.
Prosecutors filed two new charges against Diddy in the indictment on April 3 after federal prosecutors claimed that the rapper began engaging in sexual trafficking in 2024 in 2024.
On May 17, 2024, CNN released a surveillance video showing Diddy wearing a towel and beating his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in the corridor of his hotel room in Los Angeles.
Still images of Los Angeles surveillance video show Sean Diddy's comb attacked then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in 2016. (Available by CNN only)
Two days after the release of the video shot in 2016, Didi shared a camera apology in his now deleted Instagram post, though he did not mention Ventura.
"It's hard to reflect on the darkest period of your life, but sometimes you have to do it. I'm f --- ed - I hit the bottom of the rock - but I don't have an excuse." "I'm unforgivable for the behavior of the video. I'm full of responsibility for the behavior in that video."
Didi admitted: "I was disgusted by that time. I'm disgusted now. I went, I asked for professional help. I went to get treatment, I went to recover."
"I had to ask God for his mercy and grace. I'm sorry. But I promise to be a better person every day. I'm not going to forgive. I'm really sorry."
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Didi and his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura. (Getty Image)
The Los Angeles District Attorney's Office said at the time that the charges could not be filed against DIDDY because the restrictions had been raised.
Didi's apology is skeptical about Ventura's legal team.
"Combs' latest statement is more important than many of the people he's injured," said Meredith Firetog, a partner at Wigdor LLP, a legal firm representing Ventura.
She added: "When Cassie stepped up with several other women, he denied everything and suggested that his victims were looking for a payday. Once his repeated denials proved false, he would only be forced to 'apologize', which shows his sad despair and no one would be shaken by his stupid remarks."
Diddy apologizes in a video showing him defeating his girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, and her legal team is in doubt. (Getty image of Shareif Ziyadat/Sean "Diddy" comb)
Last March, federal agents with the Department of Homeland Security raided Diddy's home in Los Angeles and Miami as part of an investigation.
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The day after the raid, the rapper yelled out loud, calling them "worthy allegations."
In March, homeland security officials attacked the Sean "Didy" comb. (Getty Image)
His attorney, Aaron Dyer, said it was “over-over-used military-level force due to the execution of a search warrant at Mr. Coms’ residence.”
“There is no excuse to show that the authorities exhibited too much force and hostility or the way they treated his children and employees,” he added. “Mr. Coms was never detained, but talked with the authorities and collaborated.”
Didi's ex, Cassie Ventura, was a R&B singer with Cassie, filed a lawsuit against the rapper in November 2023, accusing him of years of abuse, assault and rape.
The rapper settled the lawsuit with an undisclosed amount after a day denied the charges through a lawyer.
After years of growing relationships, Sean "Diddy" Combs and Cassie's last split in 2018. (Getty Image)
Cassie claimed in the lawsuit that he raped her at his home and put her up with “decade of” demands of “violence and uneasy”, including forcing her to have sex with male prostitutes while watching and filming.
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Two other women stepped forward a week later and accused Didi of sexual abuse in the lawsuit.
Later, more men and men accused Diddy of taking similar actions. He denied all the charges.
Fox News' Tracy Wright, Lauryn Overhultz and Ashley Hume and the Associated Press contributed to the report.