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The jury in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking and racketeering trial reached a verdict on four of the five counts against the rapper on Tuesday around 4:18pm ET.
The jury indicated they couldn’t reach a unanimous decision on the racketeering charge, one of the most serious counts against the disgraced music mogul.
There are three options now left for the jury. The judge instructed the jury to continue deliberating for now. A second option would be to give supplemental jury instructions. Lastly, the jury could return a partial verdict. However, Judge Arun Subramanian said he is not considering the third option at this point.
DIDDY DEFENSE CLAIMS HE WAS UNFAIRLY TARGETED, WHILE PROSECUTION SAYS RAPPER THOUGHT HE WAS ‘UNTOUCHABLE’
A sketch portrays Sean “Diddy” Comb and his defense team in federal court during his trial in New York City, New York, U.S., July 1, 2025. (Jane Rosenberg)
Jurors began deliberating on Monday, June 30, after hearing seven weeks of trial testimony. The prosecution chose to rest the case on June 24. Special Agent Joseph Cerciello was the final witness to take the stand for the prosecution, making him the 34th person to testify.
Diddy’s defense called no witnesses.
Diddy pleaded not guilty to charges of racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. If convicted, Diddy faces life in prison. The disgraced music mogul was arrested in September 2024, months after Homeland Security Investigations raided the Los Angeles and Miami homes of the rapper.
During closing arguments, Diddy’s attorney, Marc Agnifilo, insisted the rapper was innocent. He noted that it takes courage for a juror to acquit. “Return him to his family who have been waiting for him.”
He also accused the prosecution of bringing a “fake trial” against Diddy, claiming the government went after his “private sex life.”
According to his lawyer, none of the prosecution witnesses testified to engaging in racketeering. Agnifilo pointed out the disgraced music mogul’s former employees all described working for him as hard, but also said it was like “going to Harvard Business School.”
“That’s the fake trial I’m talking about,” Agnifilo told the jurors, claiming the prosecution failed to prove the government’s theory of racketeering.
The jury in Diddy’s trial heard testimony from prosecution witnesses over the course of seven weeks. (Jane Rosenberg)
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Agnifilo then brought up the raids on Diddy’s homes, pointing out the seizure of Astroglide and baby oil. There was nothing about the rapper’s businesses to make this a criminal case, the defense attorney stated.
“Where is the crime scene? The crime scene is your private sex life,” Agnifilo said.
The defense attorney also claimed the rapper never participated in sex trafficking. Agnifilo claimed what happened between Diddy and his ex-girlfriend Cassie was domestic violence, not sex trafficking. “Owning the domestic violence, we own it,” he said in court. “That’s not charged.”
WATCH: DEFENSE ATTORNEY BREAKS DOWN ‘TROUBLING’ TREND WITH DIDDY DEFENSE TEAM
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Before the defense’s closing arguments, the government explained how the trial testimony proved each charge against Diddy – two counts of sex trafficking, racketeering and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution – over the course of roughly four hours.
The government emphasized in their argument that Diddy ran an alleged criminal enterprise with full control. The prosecution pointed out that the jury heard testimony, saw texts, viewed bank records and heard audio allegedly showing the “Last Night” rapper committing crime after crime for decades.
According to the prosecution, the government showed Diddy didn’t take no for an answer. “Up until today, Diddy was able to get away with crime because of money and power,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Slavik said. “That stops now.”
Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested in September 2024. (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Philymack)
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The U.S. Attorney’s Office provided photo evidence of the alleged abuse Cassie Ventura endured. (SDNY)
A 12-person jury comprised of eight men and four women made the decision on whether to convict Diddy of federal crimes, or let the fallen music mogul walk free following a seven-week trial.
Throughout the past two months, the jury heard from 34 prosecution witnesses. Diddy’s ex-girlfriends, Cassie and Jane, testified about the alleged physical abuse they experienced at the hands of the rapper. Diddy’s former personal assistants also told the jury about the long hours they worked and the drugs they allegedly bought for the musician.
A woman named Mia, testifying under a pseudonym, claimed she was raped by Diddy while working for him.
WATCH: PROSECUTORS ACCUSED DIDDY OF RUNNING A ‘CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE’
Prosecutors argued the disgraced music mogul used his inner circle, money and influence to cover up the alleged crimes he committed.
“Over the last several weeks, you’ve learned a lot about Sean Combs,” Slavik said at the start of closing statements. “He’s a leader of a criminal enterprise. He doesn’t take no for an answer.”
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