A juror in the Sean 'Diddy' Combs sex-trafficking trial is expected to be dismissed
A juror in the Sean 'Diddy' Combs sex trafficking trial is expected to be dismissed from the case on Monday over inconsistencies about where he lives.
The issue came up this week, five weeks into the trial, during a conversation Juror No. 6 had with the jury department, indicating he had moved to New Jersey a few weeks ago to live with his girlfriend.
That conversation sparked another discussion among legal counsels, who pressed for more information. Jurors in the case must live in New York state and district courts have broad discretion to replace a juror for any violation.
The juror, a 41-year-old Black male who works in communications at a correctional facility, told court officials he was living in a New York apartment during the work week.
His story later changed to him living with his daughter and fiancée in the Bronx. At some point, he told court officials he lived with his aunt in the Bronx.
Earlier Friday, U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian said he was leaning against dismissing the juror, saying there was likely an innocent explanation for the conflicting answers.
But as more details emerged, Subramanian said there were serious concerns about his candor and it appeared the juror either could not follow simple instructions or there was an effort to be deceptive.
Subramanian warned that removal of the juror may be required.
Defense attorney Xavier Donaldson said the juror answered the question about where he resides as truthfully as possible and suggested bringing him back to court because he wanted to remain on the jury.
Prosecutors argued that the juror's removal is necessary to protect the integrity of the court proceedings.
The juror said during jury selection that he enjoyed listening to reggaeton and '90s hip-hop, and his hobbies included sports and fantasy football.
Combs faces five criminal counts: one count of racketeering conspiracy; two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. Combs has vociferously denied the allegations against him.
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At Sean 'Diddy' Combs' trial, some online content creators are playing by different rules
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A juror in the Sean 'Diddy' Combs sex-trafficking trial is expected to be dismissed
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Juror thrown off panel A juror was dismissed from the panel after he allegedly gave conflicting answers about where he lives. The man had given different answers to questions about where he primarily lives, in either New York or across the Hudson River in New Jersey with his girlfriend. Earlier in the day, Judge Subramanian had said he was leaning against dismissing the juror, saying there was likely an innocent explanation for any conflicting answers. But by the end of the court day, Subramanian said there were "serious question about his candor and ability to follow instructions." Perez 'feels great' about Combs The witness said he left Combs' company but harbors absolutely no ill will toward his former boss. Perez said he wanted to avoid any kind of legal entanglement and thought working for Combs could put him into such a situation. The last time he spoke with Combs was the day the music mogul was arrested last year, he testified. "I feel great about him, the same way I did when I was leaving my employment," Perez said. 'Jane' appeared to be willing participant in 'king night' outings, witness says Adam Reiss, Katherine Koretski and David K. Li Under cross-examination, the witness said he never got the feeling that "Jane" was unhappy or was an unwilling participant in Combs' "king night" evenings. Jane even asked him for advice on fashion so she could look her best for Combs, the witness said. Defense lawyer Brian Steel also got Perez to agree with him that these "king nights" were on Combs' personal, non-work time. That kind of distinction could be key for jurors as they weigh whether Combs used his resources to run a criminal enterprise. Share Ye spent a few minutes in an overflow room Adam Reiss and David K. Li Ye caught a few minutes of Perez's testimony in an overflow room on the 23rd floor. He and Combs' son Christian were close to the monitor and Ye removed his glasses, a local reporter said, to follow along with Perez describing his job with Combs. Ye left without speaking to anyone else gathered in the room. Share Combs is engaged with his defense today The defendant appeared to be particularly engaged with his attorneys today. Combs seemed to be paying very close attention to the testimony of a federal agent describing the raid on his home in Los Angeles. Combs even handed his attorney a note while the lawyer was cross-examining the agent. Combs could be fighting some congestion, perhaps an allergy, today as he grabbed tissues and forcefully blew his nose at one point in the morning. Share Witness testifies he found sex tape on iPad Adam Reiss, Katherine Koretski and David K. Li Perez recounted how he found a sex tape — showing "Jane" engaged with another man as Combs watched in the background — on a company iPad. The employee said he immediately brought the issue to Combs and his chief of staff Kristina Khorram. Judge Subramanian declared a recess and asked jurors to return to court before 1:30 p.m. ET. Share Assistant testifies staff had to prepare for a 'king night' Combs' staff would typically get between two and 24 hours to prepare for a "king night," an evening their boss would spend in a hotel with a woman, the witness said. Food, a change of clothes, condoms, lubricants and red lights were among the items commonly packed, Perez said. Ye leaves the courthouse Ye walked out of the front doors of the federal courthouse, got into a car and was driven away. He spent about 40 minutes in the courthouse but never made it into Judge Subramanian's courtroom to show support for the defendant, Combs. Share Former Combs assistant takes the witness stand Jonathan Perez, a former personal assistant to Combs, took the witness stand for prosecutors. The 35-year-old native of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, wore a brown suit, black shirt and black tie. Share Oils were a surprising find for agent The agent said he'd never found large amounts of baby oil in his previous human trafficking investigations. Asked if he'd ever walked out of a trafficking raid with boxes of baby oil, LeMon told Combs' defense: "It's only been this one." "That's what I thought," Combs defense lawyer Agnifilo said, perhaps insinuating that the presence of lubricants signals consensual sex acts. Share Prosecutor complains to judge about Combs 'nodding emphatically' +2 Adam Reiss, Daniel Arkin and David K. Li Maurene Comey, one of the prosecutors, complained to Judge Arun Subramanian that Combs was 'nodding emphatically' as his ex-girlfriend 'Jane' and the Homeland Security agent testified. Brian Steel, one of Combs' lawyers, pushed back on that characterization, saying his client has been 'nothing but professional.' Subramanian, who scolded Combs' team last week after the rapper apparently made facial expressions at jurors, told Comey it would be 'impossible to police' everyone in the courtroom but made clear 'we will keep an eye out' for any inappropriate behavior. Large number of guns found at Combs' L.A. home, witness testifies +2 Adam Reiss, Katherine Koretski and David K. Li Combs kept an arsenal of firearms and ammunition — designed to pierce armor — according to the federal agent who led the raid on his L.A. home. Long guns, AR-15-style weapons, Smith & Wesson rifles, a Ruger rifle and a Glock pistol were among the firearms discovered at Combs' Mapleton Drive home, LeMon testified. Agents also found 59 rounds of green tip ammunition, which is manufactured to penetrate body armor, the witness said. Share Hundreds of bottles of lubricants found at Combs' L.A. home, witness testifies +2 Adam Reiss, Katherine Koretski and David K. Li Federal agents found 900 bottles of Astroglide and 200 bottles of baby oil when they raided the defendant's home in Los Angeles last year, LeMon said. The lubricants were frequently used during "hotel nights" and "freak offs," when Combs directed women to have sex with other men as he watched, witnesses have testified at this trial. In a nightstand, agents also found six envelopes marked with "K" on them all, LeMon said. Those envelopes tested positive for ketamine, attorneys stipulated. Share Defense wants to limit or bar testimony about guns The defense told the court that it'll likely object to questions about guns found during raids during Combs' arrest. Combs attorney Marc Agnifilo called firearms a 'divisive issue' that he'd rather not have on the minds of jurors. "I am not seeing how guns in a security room are relevant to any of the charges in this case," Agnifilo said. Share Judge wants to settle juror issue U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian said he wants to settle the government's objections to one of the jurors, though there doesn't appear to be enough evidence yet to remove the panelist. Subramanian revealed the issue could be about where the juror lives. The government, earlier this week, said that panelist should be removed over "lack of candor." "My preference would be to hear from the juror and it is likely we will hear a perfect innocent explanation," Subramanian said, adding that he wants to "quickly resolve this issue" and "put it to bed." Here's what 'Jane' said yesterday Yesterday, "Jane" testified that she felt jealous of other women in Combs' life. She thought it was unfair that they appeared to get more from their relationships with him than she did, despite her folding to the pressure of "hotel nights." Jane reiterated how much Combs pushed her for "hotel nights" even after telling him she didn't want to do it. "All the time," Jane said. The constant need to have sex for Combs' entertainment made Jane 'sore, tired, exhausted and overwhelmed,' she testified. While she witnessed positive changes in Combs after Cassie's lawsuit in November 2023, Jane said she and Combs physically fought at her residence in Los Angeles in 2024. In that incident, she said she pushed Combs' head into a marble countertop when she was angry that he went on a family trip to Turks and Caicos with another woman. She claimed Combs later assaulted her in the hallway. Share 'Jane' was composed on the last day of her marathon time on the stand +3 Adam Reiss, Chloe Melas, Katherine Koretski and David K. Li " Jane" came across as firm and composed on her sixth day of testimony, only fighting back tears near the end of the day. Combs, clad in what appeared to be the same orange sweater and khaki pants he wore the day before, hugged members of his defense team when he walked into the courtroom yesterday morning. During an afternoon break, Combs grabbed tissues and dabbed an eye before leaving the room. Combs' former girlfriend finally off the stand after 6 days of testimony Combs' former girlfriend, identified in court by the pseudonym "Jane," finished her sixth and final day of testimony yesterday. During her time on the stand yesterday, she faced a series of questions about her relationship with Combs, including how it played out after he became the subject of a headline-grabbing criminal investigation in 2024. Jane told jurors she saw positive changes in Combs after Cassie Ventura, his former partner, filed her November 2023 civil lawsuit alleging physical and sexual abuse. Responding to questions from defense lawyer Teny Geragos, Jane agreed that Combs became more apologetic and attentive, less egotistical and cold.
