Rap artist and producer Sean “Diddy” Combs is now doubt breathing a sigh of relief as the jury in his trial found him not guilty on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering on Wednesday . Still, he didn’t escape completely unscathed.
The jury found him guilty on both counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. How this resulted in his not being guilty of human trafficking likely comes down to legal semantics, but the rapper will still face some consequences for his actions.
Here’s a summary of his charges and the jury’s verdicts via Fox News:
- COUNT 1 – RICO: NOT GUILTY
- COUNT 2 – SEX TRAFFICKING, CASSIE VENTURA: NOT GUILTY
- COUNT 3 – MANN ACT TRANSPORTATION, CASSIE VENTURA: GUILTY
- COUNT 4 – SEX TRAFFICKING, JANE: NOT GUILTY
- COUNT 5 – MANN ACT TRANSPORTATION, JANE: GUILTY
If a person is found guilty on a RICO violation, they could end up serving two decades in prison. The transportation to engage in prostitution carries a potential sentence of 10 years, while sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion also comes with a possible 20 year sentence.
“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, said in an interview with 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 jury was seemingly convinced that his relationships were authentic, according Paul Mauro, a contributor for Fox News.
“At the end of the day, the jury did not believe that the sex trafficking was coercive,” the former NYPD inspector remarked. “They seemed to believe the relationships were genuine and/or transactional. That took those charges and the RICO with it. It argues that the case was overcharged under the evidence the government had.”
Parties will be granted a few hours to arrange arguments regarding Diddy’s detention. The judge joked that he assumed Diddy does not want to return to MDC Brooklyn. The rapper shook his head very exaggeratedly and then looked up with his hands together as if praying. After the judge left, Diddy knelt down with his arms on the chair in front of him. He then got up, faced the gallery and started clapping. The courtroom opened up in applause and cheers for him.
Combs could be heard saying “thank God” and “I love you” several times. The lawyers all hugged. Defense attorney Teny Geragos was crying as she hugged Combs’ family. The family all embraced sharing hugs and handshakes. People in the courtroom shouted “dream team” to the lawyers.
The lawyer representing Cassie Ventura reacted to the verdict on behalf of his client. Cassie, a former girlfriend of Diddy’s for years, gave testimony during the trial for sex trafficking and racketeering.
“This entire criminal process started when our client Cassie Ventura had the courage to file her civil complaint in November 2023. 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.”
After 14 hours of deliberation, the jury finally reached a verdict, They admitted they couldn’t come to a unanimous decision concerning the racketeering case.
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.”
The attorney stated that none of the prosecution’s witnesses gave testimony indicating they had participated in racketeering. Agnifilo then noted how former employees for Diddy said working for him was difficult, but also stated it was like “going to Harvard Business School.”
"*" indicates required fields
