The Sean' Diddy' Combs jury finally reached a verdict on all five counts in his federal trial in New York, returning a shocking mixed verdict, finding the disgraced music mogul guilty on just two of them.
On Wednesday, the jury read the verdict in Combs' sex trafficking and racketeering (RICO) trial, acquitting him of three of the more serious charges he faced while finding him guilty on both counts of transportation to engage in prostitution (of former girlfriends Cassie Ventura and "Jane”). Ventura and Combs dated from 2007-2018 and she was the prosecution's star witness in the trial.
As our sister site Townhall.com reported, the jurors came back with a mixed verdict:
BREAKING: DIDDY FOUND GUILTY ON 2/5 COUNTS!
GUILTY:
- Two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution
NOT GUILTY:
- Racketeering conspiracy
- Two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion
After the verdict was read, the judge joked with Combs that he would most likely not want to return to the federal detention center in Brooklyn when the discussion of his detention was brought up. Combs made it clear he wouldn't before being spotted appearing to pray and mouthing the words "thank God" and "I love you," Fox News reported.
Each of the guilty counts carries a maximum of 10 years in prison. The outlet reported that defense attorneys then hugged, while Comb's family was spotted embracing as well.
In a statement following the verdict, Ventura's lawyer credited her with having the "courage to file her civil complaint in November 2023," which led to the entire criminal process against Combs.
"Although the jury did not find Combs guilty of sex trafficking Cassie beyond a reasonable doubt, she paved the way for a jury to find him guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution. By coming forward with her experience, Cassie has left an indelible mark on both the entertainment industry and the fight for justice. We must repeat – with no reservation – that we believe and support our client who showed exemplary courage throughout this trial. She displayed unquestionable strength and brought attention to the realities of powerful men in our orbit and the misconduct that has persisted for decades without repercussion. This case proved that change is long overdue, and we will continue to fight on behalf of survivors."
Speaking to Fox News after the verdict was read, Harvey Weinstein's former lawyer, Donna Rotunno, said that the case fell apart because it was "overcharged by the government."
"We've been saying all along in this case that it's been overcharged by the government, that they were taking these very nuanced relationships and trying to make them criminal," Harvey Weinstein's former lawyer, Donna Rotunno, told Fox News. "I think Marc [Agnifilo] did a really good job in his closing arguments, highlighting that to the jury. Overall, this is a huge loss to the government, the money that they spent on this prosecution, the amount of press, notoriety, this is a definite win for Mr. Combs."
The United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York also released a statement about the verdict. It can be read below:
On Tuesday, the jury had told the court that it had reached a verdict on four of the five counts, being unable to agree on the first count (the RICO violation). The judge instructed them to go back and continue deliberating, being told it is their job to come to a consensus on all the charges.
Following his arrest in 2024, Combs denied the allegations, and a trial date was set for May 2025. After seven weeks of trial testimony from the prosecution, because the defense did not call any witnesses, the case went to the jury on June 30, Fox News noted.
Update: When Diddy returned to court hours after the verdict, the judge denied bail, the NY Post reported. He will remain in custody until his sentencing hearing in October.
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