Sean “Diddy” Combs, the hip-hop artist turned mogul who was once the picture of Black male excellence, will face a jury next week on allegations that he used his money and power to commit sex trafficking and other crimes.

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan indicted Combs on one count of racketeering conspiracy, one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and one count of transportation to engage in prostitution in September 2024. Last month, they also tacked on two additional charges of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and transportation for purposes of prostitution.

They allege that Combs’ enterprise, which includes Bad Boy Entertainment, Combs Enterprises and Combs Global, was a criminal organization with illegal activity dating back to at least 2008. Combs and his associates used their power and prestige to engage in sex trafficking, forced labor, prostitution, narcotics offenses, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice, the indictment alleged.

It added that Combs coerced victims through “physical violence, promises of career opportunities, granting and threatening to withhold financial support, and by other coercive means, including tracking their whereabouts, dictating the victims’ appearance, monitoring their medical records, controlling their housing, and supplying them with controlled substances.”

Combs rejected an unspecified plea deal last week and has denied the charges against him. The 55-year-old is now facing life in prison if convicted in this high-profile, high-stakes trial, which is expected to be around eight weeks long.

The Jury Selection Process

Jury selection started Monday. The process involved chiseling down 150 potential jurors to 12 final jurors and six alternates. The potential jurors have been asked about their experiences with sexual assault and abuse, their perspectives on law enforcement and government and their music taste, among other things.

They’ve also been asked if they are familiar with certain celebrities. That list of celebrities includes, in part, Kid Cudi, Yung Miami, Dawn Richard, Michael B. Jordan, Aubrey O’Day and Ye, formerly known as Kanye West.

Multiple reports said Combs asked the judge to take a short bathroom break amid jury selection because he was “a little nervous.”

What’s Next

Opening statements for the trial, which will not allow video cameras or photography in the courtroom, are set to begin on Monday, roughly seven months after Combs’ indictment and arrest landed him at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center in September 2024.

Court documents indicate that at least three people who’ve made accusations against Combs and one former employee will take the stand.

Combs’ defense team includes attorneys Marc Agnifilo, Teny Geragos, Alexandra Shapiro, Xavier R. Donaldson, Anna Maria Estevao, Jason Driscoll, Linda Moreno and Nicole Westmoreland. Brian Steel, who worked on Young Thug’s defense in the RICO trial against him, is also on Combs’ defense team.

According to Reuters, the defense team faces an “uphill battle” in their goal to discredit the accusers’ stories and credibility.

His attorneys have argued that Combs is being “singled out” because he’s a Black man and that the transportation to engage in prostitution charge is racist.

“It is not uncommon for couples using such services to bring a third person — including, as alleged here, a man — across State lines and into their intimate relations,” his attorneys said, according to court documents.

“Yet no other person, and certainly no white person, has ever previously been prosecuted under the White-Slave Traffic Act for hiring male escorts from another State. Mr. Combs has been singled out because he is a powerful Black man, and he is being prosecuted for conduct that regularly goes unpunished.”

Prosecutors have claimed that they also have “images and videos of the freak-offs with multiple victims.”

The indictment claims that the freak-offs “were elaborate and produced sex performances that Combs arranged, directed, masturbated during, and often electronically recorded” during which Combs used drugs to “keep the victims obedient and compliant.” They often lasted multiple days, and those involved required IVs for recovery from the physical exertion and drug use, the indictment added.

However, the defense insists that the videos show consensual sex acts.

“Any fair-minded viewer of the videos will quickly conclude that the prosecution of Mr. Combs is both sexist and puritanical,” Combs’ lawyers wrote. “It is sexist because the government’s theory perpetuates stereotypes of female victimhood and lack of agency.”

Combs’ Career

Since coming to fame in the ’90s, Combs has gone by many names, including P. Diddy, Puffy, Puff, Puff Daddy, Brother Love and Love. He founded the label Bad Boy Records in 1993, which has featured iconic artists like The Notorious B.I.G., Faith Evans, 112, Mase and more.

Combs is also known for hit songs like “I Need a Girl,” which has multiple iterations and features, and “Bump, Bump, Bump” with B2K, as well as the reality competition series “Making the Band.” He also founded the media company Revolt in 2013.

Eventually, he became known commonly as a sort of pinnacle of Black male excellence who threw extravagant A-list parties, but federal authorities claim Combs’ “multi-faceted business empire” had transformed into a “criminal enterprise.”

Other Lawsuits And Evidence

These aren’t the first set of charges against Combs. He has been embroiled in several instances of violence throughout his career.

However, the tides officially turned against Combs when his ex-girlfriend, singer-songwriter Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, filed a damning lawsuit against him in November 2023. Her 35-page complaint accused him of domestic violence, abuse and blowing up Kid Cudi’s car, with whom Ventura briefly had a fling. But the suit was quickly settled the next day.

Her lawsuit paved the way for other accusers to come forward, with dozens more lawsuits following. Several accusers have claimed that the alleged abuse occurred when they were minors.

Many of the other suits against him include claims of freak-offs.

Combs publicly denied the accusations in December 2023.

“Enough is enough,” Combs said at the time.

“Sickening allegations have been made against me by individuals looking for a quick payday,” he said. “Let me be absolutely clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged. I will fight for my name, my family and for the truth.”

More accusers emerged over the months, as did documentaries about his legal troubles.

Then, in March 2024, Homeland Security Investigations agents raided his homes in Los Angeles and the Miami area. Ultimately, they uncovered drugs, a disturbing amount of baby oil and lubricant, ammunition and numerous guns, including three AR-15s.

Months later, CNN released harrowing video footage of him attacking Ventura, through kicking, hitting, and dragging, in a Los Angeles hotel hallway.

Combs then addressed his actions in a video where he didn’t utter “I’m sorry” or mention Ventura’s name.

“I was fucked up,” he said. “I mean, I hit rock bottom. But I made no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York declined HuffPost’s request for comment. Combs’ team did not respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.