Defense Attorney Josh Kolsrud: What to Expect as P. Diddy’s Federal Sex-Trafficking Trial Begin

Jury Selection Could Take Weeks, Says Defense Attorney Josh Kolsrud Insight on What to Expect as P. Diddy’s Federal Sex-Trafficking Trial Begins

This morning on Fox 10 Phoenix, criminal defense attorney Josh Kolsrud broke down the challenges ahead now that jury selection is officially underway in the federal sex-trafficking and racketeering trial of music mogul Sean “Puffy” Combs. Combs, who has been behind bars since his September arrest, faces five counts that carry the possibility of life in prison if he’s convicted.

“Finding 12 jurors who have never heard of this case and who haven’t already formed an opinion could be challenging,” Kolsrud explained. Drawing a parallel to the historic O.J. Simpson trial in the 1990s—where it took 11 weeks just to impanel a jury—he cautioned that high-profile celebrity cases demand extra time to vet potential jurors. “The system is more efficient now,” he added, “but to assemble an entirely unbiased panel in New York City will still likely take a couple of weeks.”

Why Speed Matters to Both Sides 

From the defense perspective, a swift resolution could limit the number of additional accusers coming forward. Kolsrud reminded viewers that the case began when R&B singer Cassie Ventura filed a civil suit after being physically assaulted by Combs, as seen in a CNN video. Once Ventura spoke out, “other victims started coming forward as well,” he said. Prosecutors have amended the indictment four times so far, and Kolsrud warned, “If they wait another year to go to trial, there could be an additional 10 other victims. By that point, the evidence will be so overwhelming that there will be virtually no defense that can succeed.”

Conversely, the prosecution is eager for a guilty verdict on all counts. Kolsrud noted that a conviction would force the judge to impose a life sentence, effectively ending Combs’s ability to fight subsequent charges. “All the other cases that come after that will be easy,” he observed, “because he'll already be serving life.”

Celebrity Lifestyle Defense vs. Salacious Evidence K

olsrud predicts the defense will emphasize Combs’s “rock and roll lifestyle,” arguing that all encounters were consensual and part of an “alternative lifestyle” he and his partners embraced. However, the prosecution has given notice it plans to introduce at least nine videos—“salacious videos,” as Kolsrud described them—which could feature other well-known figures and further complicate the defense’s narrative.

Will P. Diddy Take the Stand? 

In a rapid-fire closing question, Kolsrud weighed in on whether Combs might testify in his own defense. He pointed out that mounting a diminished-capacity defense—suggesting Combs wasn’t fully aware of his actions—would require an admission that he did something wrong, thereby compelling him to submit to cross-examination. “There’s so much material the prosecutor could impeach him with,” Kolsrud said. “The defense probably doesn’t want him to do it.”

As jury selection gets underway, all eyes will be on the courtroom to see how quickly an impartial panel can be formed—and whether Combs’s team can capitalize on the narrow window before new allegations emerge. With Kolsrud’s insight, at least we know to expect a meticulous, time-consuming process where both sides have everything to gain or lose.