The jury for Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal sex-crimes trial has been finalized, but not without some controversy. Combs’ defense team raised concerns about the exclusion of Black jurors by prosecutors during the final juror selection on May 12. “Your honor, the government has struck seven Black individuals out of nine strikes, which we believe indicates a pattern,” stated Combs’ lead defense attorney, Marc Agnifilo, to Judge Arun Subramanian. Lead prosecutor Maurene Ryan Comey defended the selections, stating they were “very diverse” with “many non-white” jurors and denying any bias.
During the selection process, Comey provided neutral reasons for striking certain jurors, such as lack of candor with police, inconsistent answers, and attempts to retract statements. Despite the defense’s objections, Judge Subramanian denied their applications, stating they had not shown purposeful discrimination.
Combs’ defense team has previously argued discriminatory conduct, particularly in relation to the transportation to engage in prostitution charge, citing a lack of similar prosecutions against white individuals. The charges against Combs include a violation of the Mann Act, which prohibits transporting individuals across state or international lines for prostitution, a law his lawyers claim has a history of racial bias.
Additionally, Combs’ team accused prosecutors of leaking damaging information to the press to discredit him. Despite their efforts, the judge rejected a request to dismiss the charge, stating there was no evidence of racial bias or discriminatory intent in the prosecution’s actions.
The trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs continues to draw attention and scrutiny as it progresses.
