Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs declared he was ‘a little nervous’ as he appeared in the court room for his sex trafficking trial.
Months after the 55-year-old was arrested in Manhattan last September, his long-awaited trial began in Manhattan with jury selection earlier today.
The I Need A Girl rapper was charged with five counts of racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution following a federal investigation.
Appearing in federal court, the disgraced mogul reportedly asked for a bathroom break around an-hour-and-a-half into the proceedings.
When Judge Arun Subramanian initially denied his request, People Magazine reports that he raised the question again, pleading: ‘I’m sorry, your honor, I’m a little nervous today.’
Judge Subramanian then granted Combs a two-minute break to use the bathroom before jury selection continued.
The trial is expected to last several weeks – if not months – and could see him spending the rest of his life behind bars if convicted.
Combs’ team was dealt a severe blow last month when US District Judge Arun Subramanian denied their motion to delay the hearings.
He was arrested last September and initially charged with the three offences – but two extra counts of sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution were added in April, bringing the total to five.
If found guilty, he could face a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, with a maximum sentence of life – he has denied all allegations against him.
Since his arrest, Combs has been behind bars and is currently being held in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
He was denied bail by three different judges following his incarceration.
His lawyer issued a statement about the federal criminal charges, telling BBC: ‘Mr Combs and his legal team have full confidence in the facts and the integrity of the judicial process.
‘In court, the truth will prevail: that Mr Combs never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone – man or woman, adult or minor.’
The trial continues.
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