Diddy Trial Update: Jury Stalls on Racketeering Verdict \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The jury in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking trial delivered verdicts on four of five counts Tuesday, while remaining deadlocked on the racketeering conspiracy count. Judge Arun Subramanian denied a partial verdict, directing jurors to continue deliberating on the RICO charge. The jury requested key witness testimony, including Cassie’s hotel abuse videos, before resuming on Wednesday.
Quick Looks
- Partial verdict reached on four counts; racketeering conspiracy remains unresolved.
- Judge denies partial verdict, instructs continued deliberation on RICO count.
- Jury requested testimony from Cassie and Daniel Phillip’s abuse-related evidence.
Deep Look
After two full days of deliberation, jurors in the high-profile sex trafficking and racketeering trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs announced Tuesday that they had reached a verdict on four of the five charges brought against the music mogul. However, they remain divided on the most serious charge—racketeering conspiracy—under the federal RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) Act. The jury communicated that they are struggling to reach a unanimous decision on this count due to entrenched differences among members.
Rather than allowing the jury to deliver a partial verdict, U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian instructed them to continue their deliberations on the unresolved RICO charge. He reaffirmed that the jurors must work together to reach consensus and reminded them of their obligation to consult and deliberate with the aim of achieving a verdict on all counts. Deliberations are scheduled to resume on Wednesday.
The deadlock emerged in a note sent by the jury late Tuesday afternoon, which indicated that “unpersuadable views” were preventing agreement on the racketeering conspiracy count. As the judge discussed the note with attorneys and explained it to the courtroom, Combs stood silently, hands in pockets, while appearing deeply concerned. His defense lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, was seen showing him a note explaining the situation. Members of Combs’ family, including his mother and several of his children, were present in the courtroom, visibly anxious as proceedings unfolded.
The charge in question—racketeering conspiracy—is notoriously complex. Under RICO, prosecutors must prove that Combs led or was part of a criminal enterprise and that he committed or conspired to commit a series of predicate crimes, including kidnapping, drug trafficking, and arson. This legal tool, often used against organized crime syndicates and drug cartels, now lies at the center of the government’s case against the hip-hop star.
In seeking clarity, the jury requested to review critical testimony from one of the prosecution’s central witnesses—R&B singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, Combs’ former longtime girlfriend. The panel asked to reexamine her detailed account of a 2016 assault at a Los Angeles hotel, during which she claimed Combs beat, kicked, and dragged her across the floor. That incident was captured on hotel security footage and has become one of the most damning pieces of evidence in the trial.
Jurors also asked for Cassie’s account of a separate 2013 altercation aboard a yacht during the Cannes Film Festival. She testified that Combs accused her of stealing drugs and kicked her off the vessel, later threatening to release sexually explicit videos of her as retaliation. These testimonies are pivotal to the government’s argument that Combs used intimidation, drugs, and threats to control women within what prosecutors describe as a violent, manipulative enterprise.
Additionally, the jury reviewed the testimony of Daniel Phillip, a stripper who described witnessing Cassie in a deeply distressed state at a New York hotel between 2012 and 2014. Phillip testified that Cassie appeared “terrified” and visibly shaken, telling him, “It’s OK. I’m fine, I’ll be OK,” after apparently escaping a violent episode in an adjacent room. Phillip said he feared for her safety, warning her that she was in real danger.
These testimonies support the prosecution’s broader narrative that Combs operated a coercive and abusive network that exploited women under the guise of a hedonistic celebrity lifestyle. Prosecutors allege Combs orchestrated what insiders reportedly referred to as “freak-offs” or “hotel nights”—drug-fueled sex marathons involving male sex workers and women who were under his control.
Earlier in the week, the jury requested clarification on what legally constitutes “drug distribution,” another component of the racketeering charge. Judge Subramanian responded by reiterating previously issued instructions, emphasizing the importance of applying legal standards to the facts presented during trial.
As deliberations dragged on Monday, tensions within the jury room were already surfacing. The foreperson sent a note just an hour into the session, voicing concern that one juror was unable to follow the judge’s legal instructions. The judge addressed this by reminding all jurors of their duty to deliberate respectfully and thoughtfully, and to abide by the legal framework set forth by the court.
Throughout the trial, which has captivated national attention, Combs has denied all charges. His defense team has portrayed the prosecution’s case as a misguided attempt to criminalize his consensual sexual lifestyle and alleged that, if misconduct occurred, it was more in the realm of domestic disputes than federal crimes. Notably, Combs did not testify in his own defense. Instead, his legal team mounted a strategy centered on aggressive cross-examination of prosecution witnesses, including several former employees who testified only after being granted immunity.
If convicted on all charges, Combs, 55, could face a sentence ranging from 15 years to life in federal prison. The jury’s eventual decision on the unresolved racketeering count will determine whether the trial ends in a full verdict or potential mistrial on that key count.
Diddy Trial Update Diddy Trial Update
You must Register or Login to post a comment.