P Diddy: Everything you need to know about the Sean Combs trial
Seven months after his high-profile arrest, the trial of hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs is due to start.
A three-time Grammy winner and one of the most influential hip-hop producers of the past 30 years – also known variously as Puff Daddy, P Diddy and “Love” in the years since he rose to fame in the 1990s – the rapper and founder of Bad Boy Records is now facing serious criminal charges in the US, as well as several civil lawsuits.
He has pleaded not guilty to criminal charges, said his sexual relationships were consensual, and strenuously denied all allegations of wrongdoing.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs in 2018. Pic: 20th Century Fox Licensing/Merchandising/Everett/Shutterstock
Combs, 55, was arrested and charged in September 2024, six months after raids by federal agents on two of his properties in Los Angeles and Miami. He has been held in detention in New York since his arrest, having been refused bail as he awaits trial.
Jury selection began last week, with the final stages due to take place once court is in session today – starting at 2.30pm UK time. The court in Manhattan is set to be extremely busy, with opening statements by lawyers expected to begin after this.
Here is everything you need to know.
What is Combs on trial for?
Combs’ first court appearance in September 2024. Court sketch: Elizabeth Williams via AP
Combs is facing five felony charges:
• Racketeering conspiracy
• Two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion
• Two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution
The rapper was initially charged with three offences – racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. Two extra counts – one each of sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution – were added earlier in April.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Racketeering broadly means engaging in an illegal scheme or enterprise, and the charge falls under the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organisations Act (RICO) in the US.
According to the US justice department’s definition of RICO statute, it is also illegal to “conspire to violate” the laws.
The indictment against Combs alleges that between 2008 and 2024, he “led a racketeering conspiracy that engaged in sex trafficking, forced labour, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice, among other crimes”, the US attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York said following his arrest in September.
Who are the accusers?
Pic: AP Photo/Suzanne Plunkett 2000
Prosecutors expect four accusers to testify against Combs during the criminal trial.
Three have requested their identities not be revealed to the press or the public and that they instead be referred to using only pseudonyms.
One accuser, who is referred to as Victim 1 in court documents, is prepared to testify under her own name, prosecutors have said.
When did allegations begin?
Cassie Ventura and Combs, pictured in 2015, reportedly started dating in 2007 and split in 2018. Pic: Reuters
In November 2023, Combs’ former girlfriend, R’n’B star Cassie – full name Casandra Ventura – filed a civil lawsuit alleging she was trafficked, raped, plied with drugs and viciously beaten by the rapper on many occasions over the course of 10 years.
The lawsuit was settled the following day. Terms of the agreement were not made public but there was no admission of wrongdoing from Combs, and he issued a statement saying he “vehemently” denied the “offensive and outrageous” allegations.
Six months later, footage recorded at a hotel in Los Angeles in 2016 emerged, allegedly showing Combs hitting and kicking Cassie in a hallway.
Shortly afterwards, he released a video apology, saying his behaviour in the video was at a time when he had “hit rock bottom” but nonetheless was “inexcusable” and that he was “disgusted” with himself.
The rapper’s lawyers argue the footage was nothing more than a “glimpse into a complex but decade-long consensual relationship”.
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Combs issues apology after assault video emerges
Details of ‘freak offs’
The charges include details of alleged “freak offs” – described as “elaborate and produced sex performances that Combs arranged, directed, masturbated during, and often electronically recorded”.
He allegedly induced female victims and male sex workers into drug-fuelled sexual performances, according to the indictment.
Prosecutors allege victims were given controlled substances during the sometimes days-long events to keep them “obedient and compliant” and Combs subjected them to “physical, emotional, and verbal abuse” to get them to engage.
The indictment also alleges Combs “engaged in acts of violence, threats of violence, threats of financial and reputational harm, and verbal abuse” including kidnapping and arson when witnesses of his alleged abuse threatened his authority or reputation.
Two of Combs homes were raided by Homeland security in March 2024
What happens first?
The hearing at the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, in Lower Manhattan, began with the start of jury selection on Monday 5 May.
After the two additional charges were added in April, Combs’ legal team requested a delay of two months, saying they needed more time to prepare his defence. However, Judge Arun Subramanian, who will hear the trial, denied the request, saying it had been made too close to the start date.
So, the trial will go ahead as planned. Jury selection is scheduled to take a week, but as a high-profile case, this process may be complicated and take some time.
If it goes to plan, the opening statements from the prosecution and defence are set to begin on Monday 12 May.
Potential jurors were questioned on their views regarding sex, drugs, alcohol, and violence, as well as their thoughts on Combs and whether they can remain fair and impartial, in a questionnaire.
In a letter submitted to the judge, the rapper’s legal team said: “Because this trial involves content that is sensitive and private in nature, many individuals are uncomfortable speaking about these issues in front of others and would be more candid writing about them in a questionnaire.”
Read more:
The rise and fall of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs
Diddy – a timeline of allegations
Examples of areas “requiring inquiry” were potential connections to “drug or alcohol abuse… domestic violence, their willingness to watch videos with physical assault and videos that are sexually explicit, and their views towards people with multiple sexual partners”, they said.
They also wanted potential jurors to say if they have watched documentaries released about Combs since the charges were announced.
Hundreds of prospective jurors filled out questionnaires designed to elicit any bias they may have about the case. Combs’ defence lawyers and prosecutors agreed on about 150 who could proceed to in-person questioning by the judge, known as voir dire.
During the first day of jury selection, they were also presented with a list of names, including celebrities, that may come up during the trial. These included actors Michael B Jordan and Mike Myers, rapper Kanye West, Aubrey O’Day and Dawn Richard – former members of girl group Danity Kane, who were signed to Bad Boy – and singer Michelle Williams.
The context in which these people may be mentioned is not yet known.
What has Combs said?
Pic: Charles Sykes/Invision/AP 2023
The rapper has strongly denied all the allegations against him.
Following his initial court appearance in September, one of his lawyers, Marc Agnifilo, said the rapper would “fight this to the end,” that he was “not afraid” of the charges, and was “looking forward to clearing his name”.
“Eventually he’s going to be shown to be innocent,” Mr Agnifilo said.
In a document submitted in February, Combs’ legal team argued for the transportation charge to be dismissed, saying he had been subject to a “racist” prosecution “for conduct that regularly goes unpunished”, and that he was being “singled out” as “a powerful black man” over the use of escorts.
They argued that “no white person” had ever “been the target of a remotely similar prosecution” and said that while the rapper had “complicated relationships with significant others as well as with alcohol and drugs… that doesn’t make him a racketeer, or a sex trafficker”.
Are the criminal charges separate to the lawsuits?
Yes. Combs has also been hit with dozens of civil claims – a few filed before the criminal charges were announced, but the majority afterwards.
These include accusations of sexual abuse by men and women, from alleged victims who were as young as 10 at the time of the alleged incidents.
Many of these have been filed by Texas lawyer Tony Buzbee, whom Combs’ team have accused of seeking publicity.
One particularly high-profile lawsuit, involving rapper Jay-Z as well as Combs, was voluntarily dropped with prejudice, meaning it cannot be brought again, by the accuser in February.
Another lawsuit accuses Combs of raping a woman as alleged payback for her saying she believed he was involved in the murder of rapper Tupac Shakur. Combs is suing the lawyer involved in this case for defamation, over other allegations that have been made against him.
What sentence does Combs face?
The US attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York announced details of potential sentences when Combs was charged, but said the decision would ultimately be determined by the judge.
Racketeering conspiracy carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, the attorney’s office said, as does sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion – which also carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison.
The charge of transportation for purposes of prostitution carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Hamas has released Edan Alexander, an Israeli soldier who holds American citizenship, as part of ongoing efforts to achieve a permanent ceasefire with Israel.
The 21-year-old was believed to be the last living American hostage in Gaza.
In a statement, Hamas said: ” The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades released the captured Israeli soldier, Idan Alexander, a US citizen, a short while ago, following contacts with the US administration. This comes as part of the efforts being made by mediators to achieve a ceasefire, open the crossings, and allow aid and relief to reach our people in the Gaza Strip.
Edan Alexander. Pic: Hostages and Missing Families Forum via AP
“This step comes after important contacts in which Hamas demonstrated positivity and high flexibility.
“We affirm that serious and responsible negotiations achieve results in the release of prisoners. However, continuing the aggression prolongs their suffering and may kill them.
“We affirm the movement’s readiness to immediately begin negotiations to reach a comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire agreement, including the withdrawal of the occupation army, the end of the siege, a prisoner exchange, and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.
“We urge the Trump administration to continue its efforts to end this brutal war waged by the war criminal Netanyahu against children, women, and defenceless civilians in the Gaza Strip.”
Mr Alexander was transferred to Israel Defence Forces via the Red Cross.
A sign outside a Jewish community centre in Edan Alexander’s home town of Tenafly, New Jersey. File pic: Reuters
An IDF statement said: “The returning hostage is currently being accompanied by IDF special forces on his return to Israeli territory, where he will undergo an initial medical assessment and meet with his family.
“The commanders and soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces salute and embrace the returning hostage as he makes his way home to the State of Israel.
“The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit asks everyone to respect the privacy of the returning hostage and his family.”
Mr Alexander’s parents, who live in the US, made the journey to Israel ahead of the expected release.
The family said they were deeply grateful to US President Donald Trump and his administration for its work to secure the release – and have urged the Israeli government to continue efforts to free all hostages.
Mr Alexander, who is from New Jersey, was 19 when he was taken from his base on the border with Gaza in southern Israel during the Hamas attacks on 7 October 2023.
It has been an extraordinary few hours which may well set the tone for a hugely consequential week ahead.
In the time that it took me to fly from London to Saudi Arabia, where President Donald Trump will begin a pivotal Middle East tour this week, a flurry of news has emerged on a range of key global challenges.
• On the Gaza war: The Trump administration has confirmed it’s holding talks with Hamas, which says it will release a hostage amid renewed hopes of a ceasefire.
• On the Ukraine war: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he is prepared to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Istanbul – this announcement came minutes after Trump urged Zelenskyy to agree to the meeting.
• On the China-US trade war: The White House says the two countries have agreed to a “trade deal”. China said the talks, in Geneva, were “candid, in-depth and constructive”.
All three of these developments represent dramatic shifts in three separate challenges and hint at the remarkable influence the US president is having globally.
This sets the ground for what could be a truly consequential week for Trump’s presidency and his ability to effect change.
With his unique style, Trump is seeking to align numerous stars as he embarks on his first foreign diplomatic trip of his second presidency.
For days, it’s been unclear how the week ahead would unfold and which global challenge would be dominant.
The Saudi government has been instrumental as a broker in the Ukraine-Russia conflict and Qatar has been a mediator in the Gaza war.
Trump will visit both countries this week.
President Donald Trump on Air Force One earlier this month. File pic: AP
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Putin under pressure?
On Ukraine, Putin held a late-night news conference at the Kremlin on Saturday at which he made the surprise proposal of talks with Zelenskyy in Istanbul this Thursday.
But he rejected European and US calls for an immediate ceasefire.
The move was widely interpreted as a delay tactic.
Trump then issued a social media post urging Zelenskyy to accept the Russian proposal; effectively to call Putin’s bluff.
The American president wrote: “President Putin of Russia doesn’t want to have a Cease Fire Agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday, in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the BLOODBATH. Ukraine should agree to this, IMMEDIATELY. At least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible, and if it is not, European leaders, and the U.S., will know where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly! I’m starting to doubt that Ukraine will make a deal with Putin, who’s too busy celebrating the Victory of World War ll, which could not have been won (not even close!) without the United States of America. HAVE THE MEETING, NOW!!!”
Within minutes, Zelenskyy responded, agreeing to the talks.
“We await a full and lasting ceasefire, starting from tomorrow, to provide the necessary basis for diplomacy. There is no point in prolonging the killings. And I will be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally. I hope that this time the Russians will not look for excuses,” Zelenskyy wrote on X.
The prospect of Putin and Zelenskyy together in Istanbul on Thursday is remarkable.
It raises the possibility that Trump would want to be there too.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomes other world leaders to Kyiv. Pic: Presidential Office of Ukraine/dpa/AP Images
Israel’s war in Gaza
On Gaza, it’s been announced that US envoy Steve Witkoff will arrive in Israel on Monday to finalise details for the release of Idan Alexander, an Israeli-American hostage being held by Hamas.
The development comes after it was confirmed that Mr Witkoff has been holding discussions with Israel, Qatar and Egypt and, through them, with Hamas.
The talks focused on a possible Gaza hostage deal and larger peace discussions for a ceasefire.
Read more:
Trump faces criticism over Kashmir post
Pope addresses major wars in first Sunday message
Gaza after around a year and a half of Israeli attacks. Pic: Reuters/Mahmoud Issa
Just days ago, Israel announced a new military plan to move back into Gaza.
When do candid talks become a trade deal?
Meanwhile, officials from the United States and China have been holding talks in Geneva, Switzerland, to resolve their trade war, which was instigated by Trump’s tariffs against China.
Late on Sunday evening, the White House released a statement claiming that a trade deal had been struck.
In a written statement, titled “U.S. Announces China Trade Deal in Geneva”, treasury secretary Scott Bessent said: “I’m happy to report that we made substantial progress between the United States and China in the very important trade talks… We will be giving details tomorrow, but I can tell you that the talks were productive. We had the vice premier, two vice ministers, who were integrally involved, Ambassador Jamieson, and myself. And I spoke to President Trump, as did Ambassador Jamieson, last night, and he is fully informed of what is going on. So, there will be a complete briefing tomorrow morning.”
Beijing Global Times newspaper quoted the Chinese vice premier as saying that the talks were candid, in-depth and constructive.
However, the Chinese fell short of calling it a trade deal.
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A Qatari gift
In a separate development, US media reports say that Qatar is preparing to gift Trump a Boeing 747 from its royal fleet, which he would use as a replacement for the existing and aging Air Force One plane.
The Qatari government says no deal has been finalised, but the development is already causing controversy because of the optics of accepting gifts of this value.
US
Hamas says it will release American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander as part of ceasefire efforts today
Hamas has said it will release Edan Alexander, an Israeli soldier who holds American citizenship.
The group announced on Sunday that the 21-year-old, who is believed to be the last living American hostage in Gaza, will be released as part of ongoing efforts to achieve a permanent ceasefire with Israel.
Hamas, the militant group with which Israel has been at war since 7 October 2023, said Mr Alexander would be released on Monday.
The group said in a statement: “Hamas has been in contact with the US administration over the past few days.
“The movement has expressed a high degree of positivity, and the release of Israeli soldier Edan Alexander, a dual US citizen, will be part of the steps being taken to achieve a ceasefire, open the crossings, and allow aid and relief to reach our people in the Gaza Strip.”
Donald Trump posing for photos with family members of Edan Alexander in New York last year. File pic: AP
Mr Alexander, who is from the US state of New Jersey, was 19 when he was taken from his base on the border with Gaza in southern Israel during the Hamas attacks on 7 October 2023.
His expected release has been described as a “gesture of goodwill” by Steve Witkoff, Mr Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, who has been heavily involved in peace talks between Hamas and Israel.
He confirmed to Sky News’ US partner network NBC News that he is travelling to Israel to secure Mr Alexander’s release.
“We are picking him up probably tomorrow,” Mr Witkoff said. “There was a long negotiation with lots of people to thank.”
The Hostages Families Forum said it is “embracing and supporting” Mr Alexander’s family. It said his release should “mark the beginning of a comprehensive agreement that will secure the freedom of all remaining hostages”.
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From 7 May: Israeli military strikes kill dozens in Gaza
US special envoy Adam Boehler described the announcement as a “positive step forward” adding that the US would encourage Hamas to also “release the bodies of four other Americans that were taken”.
The announcement was made hours after a senior Palestinian official told Reuters that the US administration was involved in wider talks with Hamas alongside Egypt and Qatar in a “pursuit of an agreement”.
Mr Trump is also set to travel to the Middle East later this week, visiting Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The four-day trip is expected to focus heavily on business deals and new investments.
‘A goodwill gesture’
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was told by the US that Mr Alexander’s release was “a goodwill gesture toward the Americans without compensation or conditions”.
It said the US told Israel the move is expected to lead to negotiations for the release of hostages, according to the original “Witkoff framework” – which Israel has already accepted.
The “Witkoff framework” was proposed in March. It involves Hamas releasing half of its remaining hostages – the militant group’s main bargaining chip – in exchange for a ceasefire extension and a promise to negotiate a lasting truce.
Read more from Sky News:
What could Israel’s plan for Gaza be?
Israeli embassy in London ‘was target of alleged terror plot’
Hamas has always refused to accept the deal. It said it is willing to free all remaining hostages and agree to a permanent ceasefire if Israel pulls out completely from Gaza.
Around 59 hostages are still inside Gaza, around a third of them believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals.
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