Sean “Diddy” Combs Sex Trafficking Trial Begins in New York: Charges, Evidence, and Key Players

The highly publicized federal sex trafficking trial of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs commenced Monday in New York with the start of jury selection. Twelve jurors and six alternates are being chosen, with opening arguments set to begin on May 12. The proceedings are expected to span a minimum of eight weeks.

Charges Against Combs

Combs is facing several serious charges: one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking through force, fraud, or coercion, and two counts of interstate transportation for prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The allegations cover a 20-year period, from approximately 2004 to 2024. Notably, two additional charges were filed just weeks ahead of the trial.

According to the federal indictment, Combs allegedly manipulated and exploited women with the aid of associates and staff members. The accusations include blackmail, intimidation, kidnapping, arson, and physical violence—all allegedly used to silence victims and maintain control.

Federal prosecutors claim Combs used his fame and influence to lure women into drug-induced sexual encounters involving male sex workers. These encounters were reportedly orchestrated and referred to as “freak offs.”

Prosecutors also disclosed shortly before the trial that Combs declined a proposed plea deal, which might have led to a lighter sentence. The terms of the offer were not made public.

Witnesses and Evidence

While the identities of most alleged victims have not been publicly disclosed, prosecutors stated that four accusers will take the stand during the trial.

One key piece of evidence includes hotel surveillance footage from 2016 showing Combs allegedly assaulting R&B artist Cassie, whose legal name is Cassandra Ventura, in a hallway of a Los Angeles hotel.

Combs’ legal team is expected to argue that the government is misrepresenting consensual adult relationships and sexual behavior. They claim that two of Combs’ long-term partners had consensually involved a male sex worker in their private relationship.

Ventura, who was in a decade-long, on-and-off relationship with Combs, filed a lawsuit in 2023 accusing him of years of abuse, including rape. That lawsuit is widely believed to have triggered the criminal investigation.

The Associated Press typically withholds the names of sexual assault survivors unless they choose to speak publicly, as Ventura has done.

Key Figures in the Trial

The case is being overseen by U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, a Columbia Law School graduate and former clerk for the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. He was appointed to the bench in 2022 by President Joe Biden.

The prosecution is led by a team of eight assistant U.S. attorneys, seven of whom are women. Among them is Maurene Ryan Comey, daughter of former FBI Director James Comey and a key prosecutor in the Ghislaine Maxwell trial.

Combs’ defense is led by Marc Agnifilo, a prominent New York attorney. He is joined by his wife, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, in defending both Combs and Luigi Mangione—the accused killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Another high-profile defense attorney, Brian Steel of Atlanta, known for representing rapper Young Thug, is also part of the team.

Combs’ Courtroom Presence

Since his arrest in September, the 55-year-old Combs has been held at a federal detention center in Brooklyn. Due to jail regulations prohibiting hair dye, his once-black hair has turned almost completely gray.

Known for his fashion sense, Combs has been attending pretrial hearings in standard yellow jail uniforms. However, Judge Subramanian has granted permission for Combs to wear civilian clothing during the trial, including up to five button-down shirts, five pairs of pants, five sweaters, socks, and two pairs of lace-free shoes.

Federal courtroom rules prohibit photography and video recording, but sketch artists are allowed to document the proceedings.

What Will Be Left Out

Since 2023, multiple lawsuits—many involving allegations of drugging and sexual assault—have been filed against Combs by both men and women. Some lawsuits suggest that other celebrities were either witnesses or participants in the alleged abuse.

Combs, through his attorneys, has denied all such claims.

However, most of those allegations are not included in the current criminal case. Federal prosecutors have chosen to focus only on the incidents supported by physical evidence or corroborated witness testimony.