NYC Courthouse Makes Changes Amid Ongoing Diddy Trial

The Federal District Courthouse in Lower Manhattan is apparently ready for its closeup during the trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs. 

With hordes of media expected to descend on the building this week, the exterior of the courthouse received some touchups over the weekend, according to TMZ. Security barricades were repainted, and other areas were altered as well to give the facility "a cleaner, sharper look."

"A fresh coat of black paint was applied to the front-facing barricades, where much of the media has been and will continue to be staged as the world watches," TMZ said.

Additionally, a park across the street from the courthouse has been christened "media row" because of all the television cameras already jockeying for position.

Opening statements in the sex trafficking trial of Combs are expected to begin Monday after U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian finalizes jury selection. Originally, the 12-person jury, along with six alternates, were scheduled to be picked on Friday but Subramanian postponed the process because he reportedly worried some jurors would drop out of over the weekend.

The final stage of jury selection Monday will reportedly take less than an hour, opening the way for the trial to finally commence.

Combs, 55, is accused of one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking and two counts of transportation for prostitution--all felonies. The Bad Boy Records founder has pleaded not guilty on all counts; if convicted, Combs faces a minimum of 15 years and up to life in prison.

In September 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice issued an indictment alleging that over an extended period of time, Combs built a widespread criminal enterprise that "engaged in sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice, among other crimes." 

The music mogul is also said to have "abused, threatened, and coerced women and others."