Diddy Trial

The federal criminal trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs got underway with opening statements Monday morning shortly after the final jury pool was seated ... and we've got details about the 12 members and 6 alternates.

The jury consists of 8 men and 4 women, and the alternates are 4 men and 2 women. All are identified only by number and will remain anonymous. The jurors are not sequestered -- they'll be allowed to go home every night, with strict instructions to avoid news coverage of the trial and the internet ... and not to discuss the case with anyone else.

During last week's jury selection, we got some insight into each individual from their questioning on the stand and the questionnaire each filled out.

The full jury pool for the federal criminal trial in NYC of Sean "Diddy" Combs has officially been selected ... there are 12 jurors and 6 alternates and opening statements are set for Monday morning.

That pool has been whittled down from more than 45 candidates ... and we have the final list, approved by Judge Arun Subramanian.

This morning as court proceedings began, the prosecution and defense teams began calling out their choices of individuals to strike. Diddy's defense attorney Marc Agnifilo noted prosecutors struck 7 Black people, noting a "pattern." AUSA Maurene Comey pointed out the prosecution's reasons, including individuals' issues with law enforcement, knowledge of the case, limited English -- even one accused of having an "agenda." The judge denied the defense's challenge, determining the exclusions were not based on racial discrimination.

Diddy’s fam pulled up to court in full force Monday -- locked in, loyal, and leaving no doubt they’re riding with him as his criminal trial gets underway.

The rapper’s kids -- Quincy, Justin, and twins Jessie and D’Lila -- rolled up hand-in-hand to the NYC courthouse, with his mother Janice and baby mama Dana Tran right behind them.

None of them said a word as they walked in -- dodging questions and brushing past flashing cameras. Diddy’s legal team wasn’t far behind ... check out what they had to say in the video.

The list of alleged Diddy victims involved in his sex trafficking trial is expanding ... because we've learned the feds also have a witness they're calling "Victim 5."

Prosecutors buried the existence of a 5th alleged victim in legal documents last month, but "Victim 5" just came up in court Friday as Diddy's trial proceeds.

Now, this person's identity is still unknown, but that could soon change ... because Judge Arun Subramanian ruled Friday "Victim 5" will NOT be granted anonymity in the trial.

Diddy's defense team is leaning in hard that the music mogul was abusive toward his ex, Cassie ... but they're also saying Cassie was no angel either ... because she allegedly got violent with him, too.

Day 4 of the Diddy trial saw prosecutor Emily Anne Johnson and Diddy attorney Marc Agnifilo having a very interesting exchange with Judge Arun Subramanian in an NYC federal courtroom.

It kicked off with Johnson telling the judge that Victim 1 -- who is believed to be Cassie -- will not be cross-examined about certain medical issues.

The judge then said if prosecutors open the door on the rest of the issues, the defense can walk through it and cross-examine the witnesses.

Mark Geragos won't answer the question -- Is he a member of Diddy's defense team? -- and it made for some lively discussion on TMZ's new Tubi weekly show ... "TMZ Presents: United States V. Sean Combs: Inside the Diddy Trial."

Geragos joined Nancy Grace, Ashleigh Banfield and Eboni K. Williams, when Harvey pressed him on his association with Diddy. It's true, Geragos has repped Diddy on various legal issues in the past, but the question now is whether he's part of the current defense team.

Geragos tried to skirt the issue, but then TMZ producer Brian Andrews popped up and laid out what he saw in the courthouse -- Geragos sitting behind the defense team and passing notes to Diddy's chief lawyers Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos (Mark's daughter), Geragos chatting it up with Diddy's lawyer during lunch breaks in the courthouse cafeteria, and Geragos coming out of the judge's chambers as Agnifilo had his arm around Mark's shoulder.

Diddy's federal trial officially got underway earlier this week ... and, we'll be rounding up all the action from court each week on our new show "TMZ Presents: United States V. Sean Combs: Inside the Diddy Trial" on Tubi.

Our own Harvey Levin and a panel of famous guests will dive into exclusive details about the trial of the year ... breaking down all the dish from inside the courtroom that ain't even out yet.

As we've told you, the trial isn't televised -- but, this is the next best thing as our crew keeps you updated on every development and delivers exclusive info on what is going on behind the scenes.

The panel will rotate week to week ... and, the first episode -- releasing Friday, May 9 -- will feature famed attorney and cohost of our "2 Angry Men" podcast Mark Geragos, legal commentator Nancy Grace, reality star and lawyer Eboni K. Williams, and host of Banfield on NewsNation & the "Drop Dead Serious" podcast Ashleigh Banfield.

Federal prosecutors are taking a big gamble with one of their star witnesses in Diddy's sex trafficking trial, because the woman they call "Victim 3" has always made it clear she does NOT want to testify ... TMZ has learned.

During jury selection this week, lead prosecutor Maurene Comey admitted the feds do not know whether the alleged victim -- one of Diddy's ex-girlfriends -- intends to appear in court to testify against him. Comey said the woman does not live locally, there's an issue getting in touch with her attorney ... and she may not even show up to court despite a subpoena.

Our sources with direct knowledge say the woman has never cooperated with prosecutors, and never gave them an indication she would be willing to take the stand during the trial.

Gloria Estefan says Diddy was nice to have as a neighbor ... but that doesn't mean they had any "Freak Off" parties together.

We got Gloria leaving iHeartRadio in New York City on Thursday and our photog asked her about a lawsuit she was named in last month ... where a man claimed he was sexually assaulted, raped and humiliated at a "freak off" party in Miami attended by Jay-Z, Beyoncé, LeBron James, Diddy, and Gloria.

Gloria says the guy behind the lawsuit is "not well in the head" ... and she's doubling down on her vehement denial of some serious allegations against her.

Cassie is set to testify against Diddy in his federal trial ... and, it better be sooner rather than later -- 'cause it looks like she may need to rest, recuperate and get ready for baby number 3 soon!

Photogs snapped Cassie out in New York City Wednesday ... standing on a stoop in a gray sweater that just barely covers her massive baby bump.

It's hard to tell exactly how far along the singer-songwriter is here, though she did announce she's with child back in February ... but, it's clear she's deep in pregnancy mode now -- and, she'll be waddling up to the witness stand soon to testify.

Mark Geragos may not like that Diddy's lawyers are subject to a gag order -- and so is he ... but, a prominent prosecutor from L.A. says prosecutors need it to avoid a possible appeal.

Kirsten Brown-Neil -- a deputy district attorney for L.A. County -- spoke with us on "TMZ Live" about Judge Arun Subramanian warning Geragos to watch what he says on our "2 Angry Men" podcast.

When asked about Geragos citing a Supreme Court ruling saying defendants and their attorneys have the right to speak publicly about the case, Kirsten said she thinks Geragos is taking a very narrow view of the ruling.

Diddy's third day of jury selection featured a couple people with close ties to the case ... this despite the judge's direction to both sides to better vet prospective jurors.

Proceedings in Diddy's case are moving forward ... with more potential jurors called Wednesday as both sides worked to put together the 45-person jury pool -- and, it seems they weren't vetted with a fine-tooth comb.

Juror 317 took the stand ... which got Judge Arun Subramanian laughing immediately -- 'cause he and the man used to work on anti-class action cases together.

Diddy's federal trial may begin without one of the biggest witnesses for the prosecution ... 'cause the feds still can't get in touch with the woman known as "Victim 3."

The third day of jury selection in Diddy's federal case wrapped up just a short time ago ... and, the prosecution told the judge they still haven't been able to locate this unidentified person or get through to their attorney.

As we told you ... the prosecution, led by Maurene Comey, admitted Monday that Victim 3 does not live near New York City -- and, try as they might, they're worried about getting her to show up in person.

The judge in Diddy's criminal trial is issuing a warning to Mark Geragos over his public comments about the case, and vows he'll be watching and listening weekly to his podcast, "2 Angry Men."

Judge Arun Subramanian called Geragos into chambers Tuesday -- on day 2 of jury selection -- for a tête-à-tête about the famed attorney referring to the federal prosecuting team as a "6-pack of white women" during last week's episode of the podcast he co-hosts with TMZ's Harvey Levin.

Prosecutors alerted the judge to the comment, which they claimed violated court rules because Geragos appears to be consulting with Diddy's defense team. The rule bars prosecutors and attorneys involved in a trial from making public comments that could influence the jury.

Diddy judge Arun Subramanian looked more like a student heading into a building to attend class today -- instead of his day job, which is presiding over the disgraced music mogul's federal sex trafficking trial.

On Wednesday morning, TMZ shot video of Judge Subramanian as he zipped inside the federal courthouse in lower Manhattan, where he's overseeing Diddy's infamous trial, which is in its third day of jury selection.

Subramanian is in his mid-40s, but he appears much younger, with a thin build and a spring in his step. What's more, Subramanian is wearing a backpack with chunky headphones over his ears, giving off more of a college vibe.

Nicole Westmoreland -- the newest lawyer on Diddy's team -- is a survivor of sexual assault ... because she was allegedly raped back in 2001.

The powerhouse attorney -- who officially joined Diddy's team this morning -- was just 19 years old back in 2001 when she worked for a company that helped people reinstate suspended driver's licenses.

According to Westmoreland, Bryan Williams -- vice president of Cash Money Records -- and a man named “Stone” met her and asked her to make a sales pitch to the company at Patchwerk Recording Studio in Atlanta.