NEED TO KNOW
- Sean “Diddy” Combs was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering, but convicted of prostitution-related charges
- Combs faces several years in prison, but avoided convictions on the charges that carried the most prison time
- He will remain in jail prior to his sentencing
One of the jurors who found Sean “Diddy” Combs guilty of prostitution and not guilty of more serious charges has spoken out following the controversial verdict.
Combs was convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution but was acquitted on charges of racketeering and sex trafficking, far more serious charges that could have landed him in prison for the rest of his life.
The verdict, which brought an end to a closely watched, high-profile trial of one of the most powerful figures in entertainment, sent shockwaves through the public and left many wondering if Combs’ celebrity influence possibly played a part in the outcome.
The juror, who asked not to be named, told ABC it was “highly insulting and belittling to the jury and the deliberation process” to suggest that Combs’ celebrity status had anything to do with the verdict.
“We spent over two days deliberating,” the juror told ABC. “Our decision was based solely on the evidence presented and how the law is stated. We would have treated any defendant in the same manner regardless of who they are. I have nothing else to say.”
Combs still faces several years in prison, but avoided the most serious charges after a trial that lasted several weeks.
Prosecutors had sought to portray Combs as someone who ran a sprawling criminal enterprise and sex trafficked two former girlfriends, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura and a woman who testified under the name “Jane.”
But the jury remained unconvinced by key points of the government’s case and instead only found the Bad Boy Records guilty on the lesser counts.
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Combs’ sentencing hearing is currently scheduled for October 3, but his lawyers have said they hope to have that date moved up.
Judge Arun Subramanian denied Combs’ attorneys request to have their client released on $1 million bond following the verdict.
The music mogul will remain behind bars, where he’s been since his arrest in September 2024. The jail time he has served will count toward his ultimate sentence.
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