Sean “Diddy” Combs’s sex-trafficking trial is moving forward on May 5, with jury selection starting in earnest at Manhattan federal court. Dozens of prospective jurors will be asked about their questionnaire responses to identify anyone who might not be impartial. The potential panelists who made it to this voir dire stage are a subset of the 600 prospects who filled out questionnaires. While the defense and prosecution have an unlimited amount of “for cause” challenges to dismiss a prospect, Judge Arun Subramanian will ultimately make the final call on if someone should be excused from this high-profile trial. By the end of the week, both sides will be able to exercise what are called “peremptory strikes” to remove a juror without any explanation.
Potential jurors were likely asked on their questionnaires whether they had “read, seen, or heard anything about Mr. Combs or the criminal charges brought against Mr. Combs.” Questioning of jurors will unfold similar to how it did during Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell’s sex-trafficking trial.
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In the end, a total of 12 jurors need to be selected, as well as six alternates. An alternate juror will step up if a member of the jury has to drop out for some reason.
