Diddy’s trial is underway, currently in jury selection. Among the lawyers that make up Diddy’s team is Nicole Westmoreland, a sexual assault survivor who was raped in 2001.
According to TMZ, Westmoreland was 19 when she was invited to Patchwerk Recording Studio in Atlanta by Bryan Williams, Vice President of Cash Money Records, to make a sales pitch. She attended the session with three friends, and a large gathering took place.
Westmoreland revealed she encountered a man named Alfred Cleveland, claiming to be a friend of Ronald Williams, Bryan’s brother, and then president of the label. Westmoreland claims she was forced into a bathroom by Cleveland and raped. Cleveland attempted to pass Westmoreland off to another man who watched the door.
Cleveland was arrested and charged with rape. He pled guilty to aggravated assault with intent to rape.
Diddy appeared for day one of his sex-trafficking trial in Manhattan federal court. The opening day focused on jury selection. Diddy, who was wearing a blue sweater and white button-down shirt, remarked that he was nervous. “I’m sorry, your honor. I’m a little nervous today,” Diddy said to Judge Arun Subramanian, according to the NY Post.
During jury selection for Combs’ trial, a juror who liked a comedian’s joke about evidence was kept, while a publisher of Al B. Sure’s memoir (ex of Combs’ former partner) was excused. Celebrities like Kanye West might be mentioned. Jurors faced questions about hip-hop and sexual relationships before 12 are chosen to decide if Combs ran his company as a “criminal enterprise.”
Diddy pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution. His argument will highlight his “Freak-Off” events were consensual encounters of a kinky lifestyle.