Sean "Diddy" Combs, the music mogul accused of sexually assaulting, trafficking and otherwise exploiting women in recurring incidents over multiple decades, is standing trial in New York City this month.Jury selection begins Monday, and opening statements are scheduled to follow on May 12.Combs, 55, faces multiple charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.
He has been jailed since September, when he was ordered held without bail.He has pleaded not guilty and at his final pre-trial hearing, rejected a plea deal.As the trial gets underway in Manhattan federal court, here's what to know.Combs will be tried on 5 chargesOne of the most powerful figures in hip-hop, Combs is accused of running a criminal enterprise, with help from associates and employees, since at least 2004 that engaged in or attempted to engage in sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, obstruction of justice and other offenses, according to an indictment.Combs was initially charged in September 2024 with one count of racketeering conspiracy, one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and one count of transportation for purposes of prostitution.
A superseding indictment brought two additional counts — one of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and one of transportation for purposes of prostitution — against him in early April.The indictment alleges Combs "engaged in a persistent and pervasive pattern of abuse toward women and other individuals," which was "verbal, emotional, physical, and sexual." It accuses him of manipulating women into participating in commercial sex acts with him and sometimes with male sex workers.
He allegedly arranged for women and the sex workers to be flown to him.The acts with sex workers, which prosecutors say Combs called "Freak Offs," are described in the indictment as elaborate performances that Combs directed and often filmed with or without participants' consent.Prosecutors have alleged t...