Jury selection begins today, May 5, in the highly publicized “sex trafficking trial” of music mogul Diddy, also known as the founder of Bad Boy Records. He has been detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn since his initial arrest last September, having been denied bail multiple times.
The jury selection phase is expected to span approximately one week, with opening statements projected to begin on May 12. Once underway, the trial itself is anticipated to continue for about eight to ten weeks.
Diddy has maintained a plea of not guilty to all charges and asserts that “all sexual activity was consensual.” He has opted to go to trial rather than accept a plea deal previously offered by the government. When questioned in court, he confirmed this decision with a simple, “Yes, I did,” acknowledging the potential for a longer sentence if convicted.
In a recent legal victory, Diddy obtained the right to wear regular clothing in court instead of his prison-issued uniform. Court documents detail that he is permitted to wear five button-down shirts, five pairs of trousers, five sweaters, five pairs of socks, and two pairs of laceless shoes throughout the proceedings.
Previously, he appeared in court wearing his jail attire during pretrial hearings. His legal defense argues that his involvement in what they describe as a “swingers” lifestyle should not be construed as criminal. His attorney, Marc Agnifilo, emphasized, “There’s a lifestyle, call it swingers or whatever you will, that he thought was appropriate because it was common. Many people think it’s appropriate because it’s common.”
Meanwhile, prosecutors have requested that the court allow testimony from an alleged victim who reportedly underwent a “medical procedure” linked to the “sex trafficking” allegations. The specifics of the procedure have not been disclosed, and the judge has not yet decided whether the testimony will be permitted.
