Lawyers representing Sean “Diddy” Combs are requesting that prospective jurors in his upcoming federal sex trafficking trial be questioned about their personal views on sex, drugs and violence.
The legal team submitted a proposed jury questionnaire to a Manhattan federal judge ahead of the trial, which is set to begin on May 5. In a letter filed late Friday, Combs’ attorneys said they want to assess jurors’ openness to viewing graphic evidence, including sexually explicit videos and footage of physical assault. They also seek insight into jurors’ opinions on individuals with multiple sexual partners.
Prosecutors criticized the proposed questionnaire, calling it overly lengthy and laden with questions that they argue should be addressed, if at all, during in-person voir dire led by the judge. The defense’s list includes 72 questions, some with subparts which prosecutors said were largely irrelevant to determining juror eligibility.
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Citing a cautionary example, prosecutors referenced the 2021 sex trafficking trial of Ghislaine Maxwell. After her conviction, a juror later revealed that he failed to disclose he was a victim of sexual abuse, attributing the oversight to being “distracted” and having “skimmed way too fast” while completing the questionnaire.
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Judge Arun Subramanian has stated that questionnaires will be distributed to hundreds of prospective jurors in late April, with jury selection beginning on May 5 and opening statements expected on May 12.
The 55-year-old music mogul and founder of Bad Boy Records has pleaded not guilty to charges accusing him of engaging in sexual abuse over a 20-year span. He has been held without bail since his arrest in September.
According to the indictment, Combs allegedly used his power and influence in the music industry to lure women into his orbit under the guise of romantic interest. He then allegedly coerced, intimidated, or threatened them into engaging in commercial sex acts.
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Prosecutors claim that Combs subjected his victims—including three women named in the court filings to physical violence, verbal abuse, and threats of reputational and financial harm. A key piece of evidence in the trial is expected to be surveillance video allegedly showing Combs assaulting his former girlfriend and protégé, R&B singer Cassie, in a hotel hallway.
Defense attorneys argue the charges unfairly portray consensual acts between adults as criminal. They also contend that intense media coverage has tainted public perception of Combs, making it critical to understand potential jurors’ exposure and reactions to that coverage.
“The defense believes it is important that we allow potential jurors to write candidly about the unprecedented and negative media attention that they may have been exposed to, related to Mr. Combs,” the lawyers stated.
They also asked the court to include questions about whether potential jurors have viewed any recent television programs such as The Fall of Diddy, Diddy Do It?, The Downfall of Diddy, or Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy—all of which, they say, could bias a juror’s perspective before entering the courtroom.
