Sean “Diddy” Combs Trial Begins: Charges Include Sex Trafficking, Racketeering
The federal criminal trial of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has begun in New York, with opening statements and jury selection at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Courthouse. Combs, 55, faces multiple charges including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation for prostitution, carrying potential penalties of up to life in prison.
Combs was arrested in September 2024 and has pleaded not guilty to all allegations. Prosecutors claim he ran a widespread sex trafficking network involving kidnapping, coercion, drugs, and threats of violence. Police reportedly found evidence during a raid on his LA mansion, including drugs and over 1,000 bottles of baby oil.
In addition to the criminal case, Combs faces numerous civil lawsuits from over 100 men and women nationwide, including one from ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura. Allegations date back to 1991 and include rape, assault, and intimidation. His legal team dismisses these suits as attempts at financial gain.
The trial is expected to last around eight weeks. Cameras are barred from the courtroom, and public interest remains high, especially after leaked CCTV footage showed Combs kicking Ventura in a hotel hallway in 2016.
If convicted, Combs could face:
- Life imprisonment for racketeering
- 15 years minimum for sex trafficking
- Up to 10 years for transportation for prostitution
Held at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, Combs has been denied bail due to being labeled a flight risk. His lawyers argue the charges are racially motivated and that he lived a consensual “swinger lifestyle.”
Despite the serious charges, Combs maintains his innocence and has rejected a plea deal. The trial continues with testimony from key witnesses this week.
