Update on Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Trial
Jurors in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex-trafficking trial are currently reviewing numerous texts that seem to implicate him in abuse, drug use, and other inappropriate behavior, presented by Kristina Khorram, Diddy’s former top aide. Notably, this panel is different from previous weeks in the New York City courtroom.
This morning, Judge Arun Subramanian affirmed his earlier decision to dismiss Juror No. 6, despite objections from the defense. The juror was promptly replaced by an alternate, ensuring that the trial’s proceedings would not be delayed.
Combs, aged 55, faces serious charges including racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation for prostitution, following his arrest in September 2024 in a New York hotel. During this trial in lower Manhattan, testimonies are expected from his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, previous partners, women alleging abuse, male escorts, and law enforcement, putting Combs at risk of a life sentence if convicted by the current twelve-member jury.
The dismissed juror—a 41-year-old Black man employed in state corrections—provided inconsistent information regarding his residency, raising concerns for the court about potential dishonesty. The judge noted these inconsistencies last week and promised to reconsider his decision.
Over the weekend, the defense once again sought a mistrial, alleging racial bias from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. They argued that the motion to dismiss Juror No. 6 appeared more like an attempt to remove a Black male juror than a genuine concern about integrity, as expressed in defense attorney Alexandra A.E. Shapiro’s letter.
In response, U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton defended the court’s decision regarding Juror No. 6, emphasizing that the government’s motion was based on the juror’s inconsistent statements rather than any racial motives. On Monday, Judge Subramanian confirmed the juror’s dismissal, firmly rejecting any claims of bias based on race before the new juror—a 57-year-old White manufacturing architect—began their duties.
The prosecution aims to conclude their presentation later this week, utilizing so-called “summary witnesses.” The defense has projected their case may extend up to four weeks, with uncertainty regarding whether Combs will testify. Although the trial was initially expected to wrap up by the July 4 holiday, this timeline now appears increasingly unlikely.
