Combs Trial: Day Three Of Jury Debate After Partial Verdict Reached
The New York jury of eight men and four women have already come to agreement on four of the five charges -- those that pertain to sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution -- but told the court Tuesday there were "unpersuadable opinions on both sides" concerning the first count of racketeering.
That charge paints Combs as the boss of a decades-long criminal group who directed loyal employees and bodyguards to commit myriad offenses at his behest.
The alleged crimes include forced labor, drug distribution, kidnapping, bribery, witness tampering and obstruction, arson, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.
To find Combs guilty of racketeering, jurors would need to find the existence of a criminal enterprise and that the organization committed at least two of the offenses.
Days ahead of the July Fourth holiday weekend jurors announced the partial verdict -- but Judge Arun Subramanian instructed them to keep working to complete it.
He reiterated instructions that they had a duty to carefully consider the case as a team.
Only jury members know the verdicts they've reached on counts two, three, four and five.
Combs, once one of the most powerful figures in the music industry, vehemently denies all charges.
Jurors began deliberating on Monday late morning after the judge read them nearly three hours of instructions on how to apply the mountain of evidence and testimony in the case to the law.
Up until Tuesday afternoon, all the jury notes concerned legal questions, and a request for portions of testimony.
The note announcing a partial verdict brought new tension to the courtroom. Legal teams scrutinized it before it was read aloud.
The defense team was seen huddling around a visibly anxious Combs.
He alternated between hanging his head, staring straight ahead and rubbing his temples with his hand shielding his eyes.
That jurors have reached a verdict on four of the five accounts is "remarkably efficient," as defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo put it in court after the note was read aloud.
The seven-week trial included at-times disturbing testimony along with thousands of pages of phone, financial and audiovisual records.
Combs is charged with sex trafficking two women: singer Casandra Ventura and a woman who testified under the pseudonym Jane.
Both were in long-term relationships with the entrepreneur and hip hop powerhouse, and they each testified about abuse, threats and coercive sex in wrenching detail.
They both said they felt obligated to participate in Combs-directed sexual marathons with hired men.
Combs's lawyers insist that sex was consensual. They concede domestic violence was a feature of his relationships -- one harrowing example of him beating and dragging Ventura was caught on security footage that has been widely publicized.
Yet while disturbing, that doesn't amount to sex trafficking, the defense says.
But prosecutors in their final argument tore into Combs's team, who they said had "contorted the facts endlessly."
"In his mind he was untouchable," prosecutor Maurene Comey told the court. "The defendant never thought that the women he abused would have the courage to speak out loud what he had done to them." D'Lila Combs (L), and Chance Combs (R), daughters of Sean 'Diddy' Combs, depart federal court as the jury continues deliberations in their father's federal criminal trial AFP The highly publicized charges against Sean Combs could see the one-time rap producer and global superstar spend the rest of his life in prison AFP
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Int'l Business Times
02-07-2025
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Tears, Prayers, Exultation: Diddy Radiates Relief After Partial Acquittal
His gaze to the ceiling in exultation and hands miming prayer, Sean Combs appeared overjoyed as the jury foreman cleared the music mogul's name of sweeping charges that took a life-sentence in prison off the table. Combs, 55, was still convicted on two lesser counts related to prostitution, and could serve time. But he and his lawyers hailed the day as a win. Defense attorney Teny Geragos's eyes welled with tears before jurors had even finished reading the full verdict, clutching Combs's hand before embracing her co-attorney Marc Agnifilo. Combs, who has been seen in court reading books including "The Power of Positive Thinking," contained himself as the judge thanked jurors, but his relief was palpable. His lawyer and prosecutors then made competing arguments as to whether he should be released on bond pending his sentencing. When Judge Arun Subramanian rhetorically asked whether or not Combs wants to return to the notorious Brooklyn prison where he has been held since September 2024, he rapidly shook his head. Before retiring to a courthouse holding cell where he will await the judge's final decision on bond, Combs voiced thanks and love to his family members, who've been a routine presence during the two-month long proceedings. The morning's rapid development also saw him softly pump his fists in his lap and mouth thanks to the jury. It was a jubilant scene for a defense team that spent seven weeks picking apart harrowing testimony from women who said Combs abused and forced them into sexual marathons with escorts. The details were often excruciating, as was photo and video evidence of brutal beatings the women testified Combs subjected them to. The defense never denied the violence, or the sex -- encounters that prosecutors said met legal thresholds for crimes including sex trafficking, forced labor and drug distribution. Combs led a criminal organization of loyal employees who helped him carry out those crimes and many others with impunity, government attorneys said. But the defense denied, and even mocked, those allegations. And jurors took their side. It was a major blow for prosecutors, who appeared somber as they left the room while the defense celebrations were ongoing. Outside the courthouse crowds of Combs supporters along with hordes of influencers and content creators -- who've been a constant feature of the proceedings -- amassed to create a circus of sorts, to the point that police barricaded the plaza just outside the building. Many of those celebrating with an air of "told you so" -- and eagerly crowded the courthouse hoping to catch a glimpse of Combs. Lawyers rapidly drafted opposing arguments as to why he should return home or stay incarcerated as he awaits sentencing at a later date. In the meantime, the US Attorney's Office that brought the charges released a serious statement that stood in stark contrast with the chaos outside. "Sex crimes deeply scar victims, and the disturbing reality is that sex crimes are all too present in many aspects of our society," read the statement. "Victims endure gut-wrenching physical and mental abuse, leading to lasting trauma." "Prosecuting sex crimes requires brave victims to come forward and tell their harrowing stories," they continued. "We and our law enforcement partners recognize the hardships victims endure and have prioritized a victim-centered approach to investigating and prosecuting these cases."
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Diddy verdict: A trial on fame, consent and #MeToo – DW – 07/02/2025
The Sean "Diddy" Combs' trial tested the limits of fame, power, consent and of the #MeToo movement in an era of AI misinformation and manosphere backlash. Despite not being televised like some other infamous trials involving famous people in the US, the trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs nevertheless kept people riveted — perhaps due to the scurrilous allegations he'd faced. On July 2, the 55-year-old — once a titan of the 1990s and 2000s hip-hop scene — was found guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution but was acquitted of the most serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking. His seven-week trial began on May 12, where a jury of 12 heard testimonies of 34 witnesses, including ex-girlfriends, former employees of Combs, male escorts and federal agents. At the time of writing, lawyers of the Bad Boy Records founder were working to get him released on bail. Different parties also weighed in throughout the trial: legacy media, TikTokers, YouTubers, influencers, even AI (steered, as yet, by humans looking to make a quick buck). Thus, the trial of the United States of America v. Sean Combs, a/k/a "Puff Daddy," a/k/a "P. Diddy," a/k/a "Diddy," a/k/a "PD," a/k/a "Love" (the case's full name) was't just about an entertainment mogul charged with serious federal and sexual offences. It has also trained the spotlight on issues of sexual consent, power imbalances and "truth" in diverse echo chambers. According to the 17-page indictment against Combs, he "abused, threatened and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation and conceal his conduct." Prosecutors alleged Combs used his wealth and influence to coerce two girlfriends to take part in drug-fueled, days-long sexual performances, also known as "freak offs." Cassandra "Cassie" Ventura, a singer and Combs' ex-partner of 11 years, testified that she was manipulated and assaulted during their relationship. A 2016 video showing Combs attacking Ventura in a hotel hallway was presented in court, prompting Assistant US Attorney Christy Slavik to describe Combs as "a leader of a criminal enterprise who doesn't take no for an answer." Yet Combs' legal team countered that the relationships and parties were consensual. Yes, they said, his "swinger lifestyle" was unconventional — but not illegal. Instead, they accused Ventura and others of financial motives, citing her $20 million settlement in 2023 besides other alleged hush money agreements. This "Why didn't she just leave?" stance also ignited debate among online communities and advocacy groups. Some media figures associated with the "manosphere" — a loosely defined network of male-centric commentators — had voiced skepticism about Ventura's allegations, suggesting instead that she was looking to cash in. For instance, YouTuber Greg Adams said on his Free Agent Lifestyle channel, "There's no accountability on her part. Everything is: 'My brain still ain't developed, he slipped me a drug, he tricked me,' when it should've been: 'I was 21, Diddy was a damn near millionaire kabillionaire and I was upgrading.'" Speaking to ABC News, Carolyn West, a professor of clinical psychology at the University of Washington, said that perpetrators may psychologically manipulate their partners into thinking that they're overexaggerating the abuse being experienced. She added that where the perpetrator is someone with a high profile, the survivor may be fearful of leaving because they may be seen as less credible than their abuser, and the high-profile person may have money or power that they can use to control their abused partner, including coercing them to remain in the relationship against their will. The Combs trial also coincided with the rape and sexual abuse retrial of filmmaker Harvey Weinstein, against whom sexual abuse allegations were made in October 2017 that sparked the #MeToo movement. Some have since questioned the movement's efficacy, citing the outcome of the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard trial or the fact that Donald Trump was found liable for defaming and sexually abusing writer E. Jean Carroll over an alleged incident in the 1990s. Speaking at the sidelines of the Combs case, Gloria Allred, who has represented clients in the Weinstein case, told ABC News: "People keep saying to me the #MeToo movement is dead. There's no evidence of that… It's alive and well." The non-televised trial of Combs has also provided fodder for influencers and YouTubers. Alongside traditional media, they have been livestreaming their takes on the case from the Manhattan federal courthouse. According to a 2024 Pew Research Center study, one in five Americans get news from influencers online; for people under 30, the share is 37%. Speaking to news agency AFP, Reece Peck, a professor of political communication and journalism at the City University of New York, called the competition among content creators "Darwinian." "They're so scared of losing their clientele or their audience. And so with that logic, that you have to constantly create content, the news cycle is such an attractive source of material," adding that Combs' trial is a fount: "It's sex, it's violence and it's celebrity." AI-generated misinformation — often called "AI slop" — also surged around the Diddy trial, as nearly two dozen anonymous YouTube channels published around 900 videos using fabricated thumbnails, fake celebrity quotes and deepfakes related to the case. A report by and found these clips amassed roughly 70 million views, often falsely claiming singers like Justin Bieber or Jay-Z "testified" or made shocking revelations. One creator admitted that launching a "Diddy channel" was "probably the quickest route to making $50,000," underscoring how such content is monetized. Although YouTube removed or demonetized several channels, sensational, low-quality AI media has the potential to cloud people's understanding of trials, and maybe even overshadow actual judicial proceedings.
Int'l Business Times
02-07-2025
- Int'l Business Times
Combs Trial: Day Three Of Jury Debate After Partial Verdict Reached
Jurors in the trial of music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs head back into deliberations Wednesday, aiming to reach a unanimous decision on the case's most serious charge of leading a criminal organization. The New York jury of eight men and four women have already come to agreement on four of the five charges -- those that pertain to sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution -- but told the court Tuesday there were "unpersuadable opinions on both sides" concerning the first count of racketeering. That charge paints Combs as the boss of a decades-long criminal group who directed loyal employees and bodyguards to commit myriad offenses at his behest. The alleged crimes include forced labor, drug distribution, kidnapping, bribery, witness tampering and obstruction, arson, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. To find Combs guilty of racketeering, jurors would need to find the existence of a criminal enterprise and that the organization committed at least two of the offenses. Days ahead of the July Fourth holiday weekend jurors announced the partial verdict -- but Judge Arun Subramanian instructed them to keep working to complete it. He reiterated instructions that they had a duty to carefully consider the case as a team. Only jury members know the verdicts they've reached on counts two, three, four and five. Combs, once one of the most powerful figures in the music industry, vehemently denies all charges. Jurors began deliberating on Monday late morning after the judge read them nearly three hours of instructions on how to apply the mountain of evidence and testimony in the case to the law. Up until Tuesday afternoon, all the jury notes concerned legal questions, and a request for portions of testimony. The note announcing a partial verdict brought new tension to the courtroom. Legal teams scrutinized it before it was read aloud. The defense team was seen huddling around a visibly anxious Combs. He alternated between hanging his head, staring straight ahead and rubbing his temples with his hand shielding his eyes. That jurors have reached a verdict on four of the five accounts is "remarkably efficient," as defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo put it in court after the note was read aloud. The seven-week trial included at-times disturbing testimony along with thousands of pages of phone, financial and audiovisual records. Combs is charged with sex trafficking two women: singer Casandra Ventura and a woman who testified under the pseudonym Jane. Both were in long-term relationships with the entrepreneur and hip hop powerhouse, and they each testified about abuse, threats and coercive sex in wrenching detail. They both said they felt obligated to participate in Combs-directed sexual marathons with hired men. Combs's lawyers insist that sex was consensual. They concede domestic violence was a feature of his relationships -- one harrowing example of him beating and dragging Ventura was caught on security footage that has been widely publicized. Yet while disturbing, that doesn't amount to sex trafficking, the defense says. But prosecutors in their final argument tore into Combs's team, who they said had "contorted the facts endlessly." "In his mind he was untouchable," prosecutor Maurene Comey told the court. "The defendant never thought that the women he abused would have the courage to speak out loud what he had done to them." D'Lila Combs (L), and Chance Combs (R), daughters of Sean 'Diddy' Combs, depart federal court as the jury continues deliberations in their father's federal criminal trial AFP The highly publicized charges against Sean Combs could see the one-time rap producer and global superstar spend the rest of his life in prison AFP
