A federal judge has postponed the final phase of jury selection in the trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs, with proceedings now set to resume early next week, just ahead of the opening statements. Combs, 55, faces serious allegations involving racketeering and sex trafficking, dating from 2004 to 2024.

Current Status of the Trial

Judge Arun Subramanian agreed to a request from Combs’ defense team to delay the jury selection process, which is anticipated to take less than an hour. Prosecutors raised objections but were overruled.

Earlier this week, potential jurors underwent questioning to assess their ability to remain impartial, particularly regarding explicit evidence that may be presented. This includes videos of sexual encounters that could be disturbing for some jurors.

Next Steps in Jury Selection

The court will convene on Monday to finalize the jury, with prosecutors allowed to dismiss six prospective jurors compared to ten strikes for the defense. Generally, the reasons for dismissals do not need to be disclosed.

Charges Against Combs

If found guilty on all counts—including racketeering, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and sex trafficking—Combs could face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, with life imprisonment possible.

Allegations suggest that Combs leveraged his status in the hip-hop industry to exploit women, including claims of orchestrating drug-fueled orgies and maintaining abusive behaviors towards victims.

Evidence and Past Incidents

A pivotal piece of evidence in the case is video footage showing Combs assaulting a former girlfriend in a hotel in 2016. Following the video’s broadcast on CNN last year, Combs stated, “I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I was disgusted then when I did it. I’m disgusted now.”

Many prospective jurors disclosed having seen this video, with some being deemed unsuitable for jury service due to their reactions to it.