One prospective juror in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ trial was dismissed after telling the judge she believed the mogul could “possibly buy his way out of jail.”
The admission was made on the second day of jury selection, during which potential jurors are screened, on Tuesday, May 6 in federal court in Manhattan.
“Diddy has a lot of money to use at his discretion and possibly buy his way out of jail,” Juror 48, a woman, said in court.
When U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian asked the woman what she meant, she responded by saying, “I don’t know how to explain it.”
The prospective juror also said someone once attempted to rape her and appeared to criticize the police response.
“The cops could do a lot more but there’s only so much you can,” she said. “Just got to have a clean slate about everything.”
The woman was subsequently dismissed.
Combs is charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution and has pleaded not guilty.
The Bad Boy Records founder was arrested in Manhattan and indicted in September 2024.
On the first day of jury selection, Combs, now sporting gray hair, told the judge he was a “little nervous” and was granted a two-minute bathroom break.
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Potential jurors were also asked if they were familiar with celebrities like Kanye West, Michael B. Jordan, Mike Myers, and Kid Cudi, though that doesn’t necessarily mean any of them will testify.
Also mentioned was Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, Combs’ ex, who is set to testify under her real name.
Sources told PEOPLE that Jordan would not be called to testify at the trial and confirmed that his name was mentioned because of a brief former relationship with Ventura in 2015 that she referenced in a lawsuit.
The indictment centers around alleged “freak offs,” which prosecutors claim were “elaborate and produced sex performances” organized by Combs involving women they say were forced or coerced and male sex workers.
If convicted, Combs could potentially spend the rest of his life in prison.
In the months since his arrest, Combs has been behind bars, having been denied bail three different times.
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