Sean "Diddy" Combs Trial: Prosecution Seeks Removal of Juror in Case
Originally appeared on E! Online
The prosecution is raising its concerns.
As day 21 of Sean 'Diddy' Combs' sex tracking trial began, assistant U.S. attorney Maurene Comey shared June 11 that her team is seeking to remove one of the 12 members of the jury, according to NBC News reporters in the courtroom.
'We were very reluctant to put in this letter,' she told Judge Arun Subramanian before the jury entered the New York City courtroom. 'It appeared to be a lack of candor with the court that raises serious issues with us.'
The lead prosecutor added, 'We did not want to do this. We were compelled to do that.'
Defense attorney Alexandra Shapiro—who said that Juror No. 6 is among the panel's Black members—asked for one or two days to 'respond in writing' and 'go over case law.'
The conversation comes after concerns about the juror were first brought forward yesterday by the prosecution in a sealed conversation with the judge. However, in the partial transcript obtained by NBC News, Shapiro said the defense opposed removing the juror and wanted the 'opportunity to be heard' before any decisions were made.
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Judge Subramanian said today that he will 'reserve on handling logistics' about the juror—who also stayed the full duration of day 20—until a decision is made.
With the jury seated, Combs' ex-girlfriend—who is going by 'Jane' during the trial and was identified as 'Victim-2' in the indictment—returned for her second day of cross-examination. The witness has continued to testify to the alleged emotional, physical and financial abuse she suffered during their relationship.
She said that participating in 'hotel nights,' details of which are nearly identical to the 'freak offs' his ex recalled in her testimony, felt like a responsibility since she was financially dependent on him. With Combs paying her rent since April 2023, Jane admitted that she felt resentful after being 'introduced' to a lifestyle that was 'built under a lot of emotional manipulation and pressure.'
'I was already so hooked from the beginning,' she testified June 10. 'I fell in love with somebody who I didn't understand the terms and conditions of what our relationship would be like.'
She also testified that Combs had physically assaulted her during arguments, including in one instance where she accused him of kicking and punching her after learning that he was seeing another woman.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, as well as transportation to engage in prostitution.
For more live updates from Diddy's trial, keep reading.
(E! News and NBC News are part of the NBCUniversal family.)
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Has Heated Exchange With Defense Team During Cross-ExaminationSean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Says She Wondered What Was 'Driving Him' SexuallySean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Mentions Koby Bryant, Shaquille O'Neil and Michael Jordan During TestimonySean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Says Mogul's Chief of Staff 'Influenced a Great Deal' of Their RomanceJudge Denies Sean 'Diddy' Combs' Defense Team's Second Motion for a MistrialSean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Details Hourslong 2024 BeatingSean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Says Attack By Rapper Left Her 'Golfball-sized' WeltsSean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Details Homeland Security Raid at Her HomeSean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Says He Threatened To Release Sex TapesSean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Says She Fainted After Reading Cassie Ventura's LawsuitSean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Says She Threw Up 3 Times During 'Hotel Night' Without DrugsSean 'Diddy' Combs' Legal Team Makes Second Request For MistrialSean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Says He Is Still Paying Her RentSean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Testifies About Physical Toll of 'Hotel Nights'Sean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Says He Surprised Her With an Escort On Her BirthdaySean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Details Alleged Birthday 'Hotel Night' Session in Emotional TestimonySean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Says Longest 'Hotel Night' Lasted Over Three DaysSean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Says He Didn't Want to Use Protection During 'Hotel Nights'Sean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Says Her First 'Freak Off' Opened 'Pandora's Box'Sean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Accuses Him of Financially Threatening HerAlleged Victim "Jane" Says Sean "Diddy" Combs Made Her Have Sex With Multiple Men During "Hotel Nights"Judge Threatens to Throw Sean "Diddy" Combs Out of the CourtroomCassie Ventura's Friend Accused Sean 'Diddy' Combs of Dangling Her Off Balcony in $10 Million LawsuitSean 'Diddy' Combs Accused of Dangling Cassie Ventura's Friend From 17th Floor Balcony
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