Diddy Combs trial: Jury reaches consensus on four charges, but split on most serious racketeering charge
NEW YORK: In the trial of hip-hop rapper Diddy, jurors have reached a consensus on four of the five charges. But they could not reach a consensus on the most serious charge of racketeering.
The 12 jurors in a New York federal court announced their verdict, but the court did not say which charges they had reached a consensus on. However, they could not reach a decision on the racketeering charge, which carries a possible life sentence.
Mr. Combs, 55, has denied all charges against him. He faces two counts of sex trafficking, two counts of prostitution, and one count of racketeering.
The jury will resume deliberations on Wednesday morning.
The atmosphere in court Tuesday was solemn and tense. Diddy sat in silence with his head bowed, his hands folded in his lap, while his lawyers patted his shoulders.
The jury has heard from 34 witnesses over the past two months. They include former girlfriends, former employees, male escorts and federal agents close to Mr. Combs.
In the case, Combs is charged with conspiracy to commit a sex trafficking offense, two counts of prostitution and two counts of prostitution.
The jury announced at 4:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday after two days of deliberations that they had reached a verdict on four of the five charges.
According to the jury panel, they could not reach a consensus on the racketeering charge, as the jurors’ opinions were at odds.
In this situation, Judge Arun Subramanian, after hearing the prosecution and defense arguments, said that the jury should continue to try to reach a unanimous decision. However, their verdicts on the four charges have not yet been made public.
The prosecution has requested the court to use the ‘Allen suggestion’, which can put pressure on the jury. Allen suggestions are often controversial because experts believe they can pressure members with minority views to agree with the majority.
The jury is due to reconvene on Wednesday. However, July 4 is a public holiday, so deliberations are likely to continue on July 3.
Robert Mintz, a criminal defense attorney and former federal prosecutor who reviewed the case, told the BBC that the unanimous verdict on four charges in two days was a positive sign for the prosecution.
In the racketeering case, however, Mr Combs would have to prove that he formed a criminal organization — that is, that he and someone else committed at least two crimes over a period of several years.
“This charge is always considered the most difficult for prosecutors,” Mintz said. “It’s a charge that comes up frequently in organized crime trials. That’s why it’s the most difficult for juries.”
If convicted on the charge, Diddy could face life in prison. If convicted on the sex trafficking charge, he would face another statutory minimum sentence. The maximum sentence for trafficking for prostitution is 10 years.
Mr. Combs, also known by the names Diddy, Puff Daddy, P. Diddy, Love, and Brother Love, has used his name commercially to launch the popular fashion brand “Sean John”. He has also appeared on several reality TV shows.
In 2023, he released his fifth album, “The Love Album: Off the Grid”. The album also earned him his first solo Grammy nomination. He was also named Global Icon at the MTV Awards.