Sean “Diddy” Combs, the famous hip-hop mogul, is currently facing trial in New York for sex trafficking allegations. The trial has recently resumed in a lower Manhattan courtroom, with testimony kicking off on Monday afternoon. It’s been a long road to get to this point, with a final phase of jury selection and opening statements from both sides now completed.
Combs, sporting a white sweater and his hair now gray, showed up in court looking solemn but ready to fight his case. He greeted his lawyers with hugs and even gave a thumbs-up to his supporters seated on the wooden benches behind him. Despite the serious nature of the charges against him, Combs has maintained his innocence, pleading not guilty to all accusations.
The prosecution is aiming to convince the jury that Combs allegedly transformed his hip-hop empire into a criminal enterprise that exploited women for his own sexual gratification over a span of two decades. The charges against him include racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and transportation for the purpose of engaging in prostitution. If found guilty on all counts, Combs could be looking at a minimum of 15 years behind bars. The trial is expected to be closely watched as it unfolds in the coming days, shedding light on the details of the case and the arguments presented by both the prosecution and the defense.
