Sean 'Diddy' Combs Gives Thumbs Up in Court
Music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs made a big gesture in court right before a jury was selected in his case.
Combs is standing trial in New York City on a slew of serious federal charges involving trafficking and other accusations. Once a high-flying music entrepreneur known for his infamous white parties, Combs' trial was moving into opening statements on May 12.
Combs gave supporters a "thumbs up" on May 12, 2025, when he entered the courtroom to learn who would sit on his jury, according to The Associated Press. He also hugged his lawyers.
According to AP, Combs' mother and some of his kids were in court for opening statements.
Combs' jury was selected after his defense attorneys struck 10 prospective jurors from the pool and prosecutors struck six, AP noted.
A defense attorney accused prosecutors of striking jurors because they were Black, but a judge rejected the claim, saying the prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey, gave "race-neutral reasons" for striking those jurors, AP reported.
According to USA Today, prospective jurors were struck for a variety of reasons, including a woman who admitted she was biased against Combs and a man who read a news story against orders during the jury selection process.
The Associated Press reported that a line stretched down the block from spectators hoping to get into the trial, which is not televised.
The indictment accuses Combs of having "abused, threatened, and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct. To do so, Combs relied on the employees, resources, and influence of the multi-faceted business empire that he led and controlled--creating a criminal enterprise whose members and associates engaged in, and attempted to engage in, among other crimes, sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice."
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