The rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs appeared in court dressed in a black jersey, white shirt, and prescription glasses in front of more than 30 potential jurors. He is facing five charges, including conspiracy for extortion, sex trafficking, and transportation for prostitution. He is accused of organizing elaborate "sex shows" known as 'freak offs', forcing women to engage in relations under the influence of drugs.
The trial will begin next Monday and is expected to last eight weeks. On the third day of jury selection, a lawyer for Combs was able to exclude an HBO employee from the panel, arguing that the platform is working on a documentary that portrays the singer as a "monster" and includes interviews with witnesses from the Prosecutor's Office. The judge agreed to exclude the employee from the process.
Judge Subramanian plans to complete jury selection on the same day, despite having preselected 36 candidates. The panel will consist of twelve jurors and six alternates. Candidates are questioned individually and are permitted to answer some questions in meetings apart from the media.
