Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial began on Monday in Manhattan. While opening arguments haven’t started, and in fact jury selection isn’t even fully complete, a whole lot has happened in the course of week one. Here are some of the key developments.
There’s a jury…almost
Jury selection ran throughout the week, beginning on Monday. A pool of over 700 jurors was narrowed down to just the ones deemed worthy of an in-person interview. Monday uncovered several potential jurors with surprising connections to the mogul, including one whose wife ran up against him back in the early 1990s when she was an attorney in a legal action involving the infamous and tragic CCNY disaster.
More importantly, the jury selection process revealed that a wide list of celebrities may be mentioned during the trial (in unclear contexts). The list is all over the map, from Mike Myers to Michael B. Jordan to Michelle Williams — and that’s just the M’s.
By the end of the week, the crew of potential jurors was narrowed down to 45 people. On Monday morning, the final list of 12 jurors and six alternates will be selected.
Dad, don’t get me in trouble!
Diddy’s attorney Teny Geragos has a famous father who’s also a celebrity defense attorney — and is longtime friends with the Bad Boy founder. Mark Geragos isn’t officially one of Diddy’s lawyers. But he was in court during jury selection anyway, openly consulting with the defense.
Because of that relationship, Judge Arun Subramanian strongly objected to some of the elder Geragos’ public comments about the case. In particular, the judge was not a fan of him referring to the prosecution as “a six-pack of white women” on a podcast he hosts with TMZ’s Harvey Levin. The judge called the comment “outrageous.”
Speaking of famous dads, lead prosecutor Maureen Comey has one as well: she’s the daughter of former FBI head James Comey.
Issues over witnesses
One of Diddy’s alleged victims expected to testify has apparently gone MIA, with prosecutors admitting during the week that they are not sure if she’ll actually show up. There is also an additional alleged victim, briefly mentioned in earlier court proceedings, who may show up to testify specifically about alleged acts Diddy is not charged with in the current case.
Flashbacks
The trial has made some people who’ve crossed paths with Diddy throughout the years reflect on what they’ve seen when in the mogul’s orbit. One of those is veteran journalist Rob Kenner, who told us what he once saw at a Diddy party.
50 Cent is still trolling Diddy
Unsurprisingly, 50 Cent has continued to troll Diddy amid his mounting legal troubles.
