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Jury selection in Sean Combs’ sex trafficking and racketeering criminal trial began Monday, as both the hip-hop mogul’s high-powered defense team and Southern District of New York prosecutors quizzed prospective jurors on if they personally knew certain celebrities, Combs’ self-described “swinger” lifestyle, and if they had been following news reports about the high-profile case.
Both sides began the process of whittling down 150 people into a final jury pool of 12 men and women and six alternates for the celebrity criminal trial that is expected to last at least eight weeks. Jury selection is expected to last three days, and opening statements are set for May 12.
Greyed and sporting a goatee, the 55-year-old Combs was present in court, wearing black-framed eyeglasses and a dark sweater over a white collared shirt. Sitting between his defense attorneys Teny Geragos and newly hired Brian Steel — who recently represented Atlanta rapper Young Thug in a separate criminal trial —Combs was attentive throughout the selection process, whispering to his counsel on potential jurors he approved or disapproved of.
Around noon, his team requested for a quick bathroom break, with Combs confessing he was a “little nervous today.” The Bad Boy Entertainment founder has pleaded not guilty to five felony counts of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution following his arrest last September. He faces 15 years to life in prison if convicted on the charges, and he has already rejected a plea deal.
Potential jurors were brought in one by one in front of U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, who began today’s voir dire by giving general instructions and presenting a brief overview of the charges to the pool. The heart of the government’s case alleges that Combs used his sprawling, billion-dollar business as a “criminal enterprise” that allegedly used physical violence, threats, and coercion to fulfill Combs’ “sexual gratification,” which included the alleged sex trafficking of two former girlfriends between 2009 and 2024.
During the proceedings, potential jurors were provided a lengthy list of names and places that may come up at trial. Several prospective jurors flagged that they knew Kanye West, Mike Myers, Kid Cudi, Yung Miami, and Michael B. Jordan, although they clarified they did not know the celebrities personally.
It’s unclear what role, if any, any of the five may have, thoughRolling Stonehas confirmed that Jordan will not be called as a witness in the trial. Rolling Stone has also learned that Jordan and Ventura spent time together in 2015 and is referenced in Ventura’s November 2023 lawsuit against Combs. During a break in Combs’ relationship with the R&B singer, Ventura “began a flirtatious relationship with an actor” — now revealed to be Jordan — in 2015, according to her lawsuit. When Combs found out, he allegedly “called the actor and threatened him.”
“The actor proceeded to call Ms. Ventura and tell her, ‘you really need to call [Mr. Combs],’” Ventura’s lawsuit alleged. (A rep for Jordan declined to comment on the record. Combs previously denied accusations in Ventura’s lawsuit, which was settled within a day of its filing.)
Ventura was also included on the list of names given to prospective jurors. She is expected to testify against her longtime ex-boyfriend Combs. Ventura has been at the center of prosecutors’ case (identified in court papers as Victim-1), who was allegedly sex trafficked between 2008 and 2018. The timeline aligns with dates that Ventura detailed in her since-settled civil lawsuit against Combs.
During the last few minutes of Monday’s jury selection, prosecutors noted to the judge that Victim-3 in their case may not testify, after they had issues contacting her and her attorney.
Before today’s selection, the jury pool were given a lengthy questionnaire about their general knowledge of the case. Many acknowledged they knew some information through widespread news reports, social media and documentaries about Combs.
One woman admitted she had liked a post on social media of a comedian joking about the 1,000 bottles of baby oil prosecutors said they found inside Combs’ home. One man was excused after he admitted his wife previously worked at a law firm that handled depositions connected to litigation in the deadly City College stampede of 1991. “She found his behavior disturbing,” the man said. “In general, she does not like him.”
Potential jurors were asked if they watched crime shows, where they gathered their news from, and if they had an opinion on hip-hop. Other questions included whether prospective jurors had ever experienced a traumatic event and if they “believe that wealthy people get away with things that the less wealthy do not.”
Combs’ defense team’s questions also probed people’s thoughts regarding what some would consider taboo or nontraditional sexual habits. The line of questioning seems to be central to Combs’ defense. His lawyers have claimed that the alleged criminal sexual encounters — referred to as “freak-offs” —were not only consensual, but part of his alternative lifestyle. “There’s a lifestyle, call it swingers or whatever you will, that he thought was appropriate because it was common,” Combs’ lead defense attorney Marc Agnifilo argued in a pretrial conference last month. “Many people think it’s appropriate because it’s common.”
Prosecutors have painted Combs as dangerous and abusive, claiming Combs forced at least two romantic partners to submit to his will and sexual fantasies through manipulation, coercion, threats, and violence, including once attempting tobeat down a woman’s door with a hammer. He is also accused of forced labor and abusing his staff, maintaining control over certain employees’ lives by leading them to “believe they would be harmed —including by losing their jobs —if they did not comply with his demands,” according to prosecutors.
Combs’ team denied the accusations, saying they have former employees who could speak of their positive working experience with Combs. They also have claimed that despite Combs’ self-admitted history of violent behavior in regard to his treatment of Ventura, that Combs is coming to court a changed man. The father of seven is said to have sought professional help and gone to rehab years prior to address his substance-use issues. However, a Rolling Stone investigation from January found Combs was still volatile, still taking altering substances, and was still allegedly sexually abusive up until his arrest. Rolling Stone also previously uncovered a pattern of abusive behavior dating back to Combs’ time at Howard University.
This story has been updated to reflect the conclusion of Monday’s jury selection, and to include Kanye West, Mike Myers, Kid Cudi, and Michael B. Jordan were on a list of names for potential jurors.
