A juror in the Sean “Diddy” Combs trial is breaking their silence after the trial has come to an end.
“We spent over two days deliberating,” the juror, who opted to remain nameless, said in a statement to ABC News on Thursday, July 3. “Our decision was based solely on the evidence presented and how the law is stated.”
The juror added that the notion that Diddy’s celebrity status influenced their decision-making was “highly insulting and belittling to the jury and the deliberation process.” The jury consisted of 12 people, which included eight men and four women.
“We would have treated any defendant in the same manner regardless of who they are. I have nothing else to say,” the statement concluded.
Diddy, 55, was on trial following his September 2024 arrest. He was charged with sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution. The disgraced music mogul pleaded not guilty to all charges and has denied all of the allegations against him.
“We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” Diddy’s attorney Marc Agnifilo said in a statement at the time. “He is an imperfect person, but he is not a criminal. To his credit Mr. Combs has been nothing but cooperative with this investigation and he voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of these charges. Please reserve your judgment until you have all the facts. These are the acts of an innocent man with nothing to hide, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court.”
Diddy was held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn ahead of the trial, which began in May. His four requests for bail were denied by Judge Arun Subramanian.
After weeks of testimony, the jury deliberated for days. On Wednesday, July 2, news broke that Diddy was acquitted on racketeering and sex trafficking charges but was found guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.
Following the trial’s outcome, Diddy’s lawyer asked for the immediate release of the rapper. Agnifilo proposed that Diddy would return to his Miami Beach home on Star Island, pay $1 million bail and surrender his passport.
However, Judge Subramanian ruled that Diddy will remain behind bars until his sentencing, which is scheduled for October 3.
After leaving court on Wednesday, Diddy’s lawyers held a press conference outside the New York City building. Agnifilo shared that while the outcome was a “great victory,” they are “not nearly done fighting.”
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support. If you or someone you know is a human trafficking victim, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
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