Sean “Diddy” Combs, the hip-hop icon who is currently behind bars awaiting trial, has been accused of sexual assault and sex trafficking. Combs’ trial is around the corner, and his defense attorneys have a new angle they are hoping to convince the judge to allow. The team wants to be able to question potential jurors about explicit topics related to the crimes of which Combs is accused. This includes opinions on sex, drugs, and violence.
Diddy Accused of Sexual Assault and Sex Trafficking
Sean Combs, a hip-hop mogul who has had one of the most successful careers of the last three decades, has been accused of heinous acts throughout his illustrious career. Victims spread over the last two decades have accused “Diddy” of repeated acts of sexual abuse. Prosecutors claim that Combs would use his influence and power to take advantage of victims, some of whom were minors, throughout his career. Often, these assaults would take place at infamous “Diddy” parties he would host.
Combs would allegedly find men, women, and minors who were looking for opportunities to advance their careers with the hip-hop talent icon. According to court filings, he would lure these individuals into his orbit and then threaten them, either with physical violence and threats of violence, verbal assaults, or threats to derail their career or financial well-being. Using these different behaviors, he would then force the victims into sexual encounters and assaults, even forcing victims into sex work.
Combs is also accused of forcing himself onto victims without ever promising a romantic partnership, including young men and women who were present at his parties. Many victims report other individuals helping Combs complete his assault, or being involved in what victims have described as a “gang rape”. Celebrities have been named in lawsuits, but no other individual has faced criminal charges at this time. Jay-Z, Odell Beckham, and both Combs’ sons are among those named in lawsuits.
Diddy’s Lawyers Petition Judge In Trial
The lawyers of Sean “Diddy” Combs suggested on Friday, April 11, via a letter to the courts, that prospective jurors should be asked questions about their opinions on sex, drugs, and violence, and submitted a potential questionnaire that could be given to the jurors. According to the defense attorneys, it is essential to understand if jurors can watch videos in which violence is depicted, talk about individuals with multiple sexual partners, and remain unbiased.
Prosecutors pushed back on the motion in their response letter. They state that many questions listed on the questionnaire are “irrelevant” to the jurors’ ability to remain impartial. Moreover, they claim that long questionnaires can hurt juror understanding, not help, and cite the Ghislaine Maxwell trial as evidence. For the judge’s part, Judge Arun Subramanian has stated that a questionnaire will be provided to jurors before the May 5 trial date, although the contents of the questionnaire are yet to be determined, hence the defense’s suggestions.
Diddy has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has maintained his innocence. A known piece of evidence the prosecution will be showing is a video of Combs with his former girlfriend, singer Cassie, punching her and then throwing her to the ground. The defense, meanwhile, has claimed that the prosecution’s charges are based on societal views of certain sex acts, attempting to paint certain consensual experiences as morally wrong.
According to defense attorneys, “The defense believes it is important that we allow potential jurors to write candidly about the unprecedented and negative media attention that they may have been exposed to, related to Mr. Combs.” They also asked that jurors mention if they have watched any of the following shows: “The Fall of Diddy,” “Diddy Do It?” “The Downfall of Diddy” and “Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy.”
Combs has been held in prison without bail since his arrest in September 2024. The jury selection for this momentous trial will begin on May 5, with opening statements likely to begin a week later on May 12. As more information is released by the judge or either legal team, the story will be updated.
