Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty on all counts, insisting that any sex acts were consensual, but prosecutors say for years he coerced victims into drug-fueled sex parties using threats and violence.
“Come on up, don’t be shy,” judge Arun Subramanian said as the first batch of prospective panelists entered.
Jurors were given a supplementary 14-part questionnaire about their ability to fairly hear evidence from hip-hop artists, sex workers, and people involved in the use and distribution of drugs.
Combs faces one charge of racketeering conspiracy, the federal statute known by its acronym RICO that was once primarily used to target the mafia but in recent years has been wielded in cases of sexual abuse, including against the fallen R&B star R Kelly.
It allows government attorneys to project a long view of criminal activity rather than prosecuting isolated sex crimes.
If convicted, the one-time rap producer and global superstar, who is often credited for his role in ushering hip-hop into the mainstream, could spend the rest of his life in prison.
He was arrested by federal agents in New York in September 2024 and denied bail multiple times. (AFP)
