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Michael R. Sisak/AP
This story may contain accounts and descriptions of actual or alleged events that some readers may find disturbing.
This is week five of testimony in the trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs.
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Sean Combs trial reaches an end with mixed verdict
The highly anticipated trial of hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs has reached an end.
The jury found Sean Combs not guilty of racketeering conspiracy, the most serious charge.
The jury found Combs guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution (in connection with his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura) and guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution (in connection with his ex-girlfriend who testified under the pseudonym "Jane").
He was found not guilty of both charges of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion in connection with Ventura and "Jane."
Combs was accused of being the ringleader of an alleged enterprise that "abused, threatened and coerced women" into prolonged, drug-fueled sexual orgies with male prostitutes, which he called "freak-offs," and then threatened them into silence. Combs has said that all of the sex was consensual and that while his relationships sometimes involved domestic violence, he wasn't engaged in trafficking.
Combs' lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, said Combs was simply part of the swinger lifestyle and that he "vehemently denies the accusations made by the SDNY."
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'Is that all I’m worth?': 'Jane' asked about payments from Combs in re-direct examination
After a cross-examination that included dozens of "Jane’s" effusive and suggestive text messages to her then-boyfriend Sean Combs, prosecutors sought during their re-direct questioning to reframe how to interpret those messages.
"Jane," who's testifying under a pseudonym, read aloud a text she sent, which read, “I know what you want, baby,” and “Don’t want to make you mad” before a sexual encounter with a male escort named Paul.
Prosecutor Maurene Comey showed the jury a message that Combs sent to Paul not long after: “Imma need you to persuade her,” the message said.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters
Did you know that Sean had sent this text to Paul saying ‘Imma need you to persuade her?’” Comey asked on redirect.
“I’ve never seen these messages,” "Jane" testified in response.
“Did you derive physical pleasure from sex with entertainers?” Comey asked.
“No,” "Jane" testified. “I was putting on a show.”
"Jane" told the court she did not orgasm during such encounters but routinely faked it, “Because I was putting on a show.” She also began sobbing when Comey asked about her jealousy of other women that Combs was seeing during their relationship.
“I was just made to be, just carry this impossible pressure and they weren’t asked to hold any of that, that pressure, like I did,” "Jane" testified through tears and sobs. “I just thought it was unfair. All the nights with these men.”
"Jane" also wept while telling the court, “Why do I have to break all my boundaries and compromise myself and they don’t have to? It was never about the women -- it was, 'why am I being treated like this?'”
After the defense, during cross-examination, pointed out texts between "Jane" and Combs about tender moments after the June 2024 episode of physical violence in her house, Comey sought to remind jurors of the night’s brutality.
“Was Sean vulnerable with you when he forced you to perform oral sex on Anton?” Comey asked, referring to the male escort who showed up after the fight ended.
“No,” "Jane" testified.
“Was Sean affectionate with you at all?” Comey asked.
“No,” "Jane" testified.
“What was his demeanor the entire time Anton was in the home?” Comey asked.
“Evil,” "Jane" testified.
“How do you compare in strength to Sean?” Comey asked.
“I don’t." "Jane" told the court.
“What was his tone when he told you to ‘Get in the f------ outfit?’” Comey asked, referring to earlier testimony.
“Angry,” "Jane" told the court.
“Did you want to have sex with Anton that night?” Comey asked.
“No,” "Jane" testified.
“What did Sean say to you?” Comey asked.
“That I better get out there and [perform oral sex],” "Jane" told the court. “That I wasn’t going to ruin his night.”
On re-cross examination, defense attorney Teny Geragos pointed out that the violence occurred while "Jane" knew Combs was under federal investigation, suggesting that she could have reported it.
Geragos asked whether "Jane" would be willing to give up her home, for which Combs allegedly still pays the monthly rent.
“That’s where me and my child live,” "Jane" testified. “That’s a very hard question for me.”
“You receive almost $5,000 a month in child support?” Geragos asked.
“Yes,” "Jane" testified, adding she also makes about $10,000 per month on OnlyFans.
“You have the ability to pay for the home yourself?” Geragos asked.
“I’m catching up on three years of debt,” "Jane" testified.
“And in those three years, he has wired you $150,000,” Geragos said, referring to Combs.
“Is that all I’m worth in three years?” "Jane" retorted in her testimony.
"Jane’s" testimony is now over.
Court has adjourned for the day. It will resume on Friday with testimony from a federal agent; from Jonathan Perez, a Combs assistant; and an additional witness.
Court adjourned for the week
Court was just adjourned for the week without addressing the "sensitive matter" discussed in a closed courtroom.
The judge also said nothing further about juror #6.
The parties spent the last hour discussing evidence outside the presence of the jury.
Federal prosecutors said they expect to rest no later than Friday of next week and as soon as Wednesday.
The next two witnesses are summary witnesses, followed by Combs' former assistant, Brendan Paul, and another summary witness. The last witness for the prosecution will be a law enforcement agent
The defense said it would take the weekend to think about the substance and duration of its case.
Juror 6 dismissed over 'inconsistencies' about where he lived: Judge
At the conclusion of court on Friday, Judge Arun Subramanian dismissed juror #6 over "inconsistencies" in statements he made about where he lived, and he said they raised questions of candor and ability to follow instructions.
In an "offhand" remark to court staff, the juror mentioned he had moved in with his girlfriend in New Jersey and had been living there most of the time.
When questioned by the court, "the juror said actually he was spending four to five nights in his New York apartment," Subramanian said. In follow up questions, the juror said he moved to where his daughter lives, with his girlfriend in New Jersey.
During jury selection, "this juror had answered, in response to the simple and straightforward questions, ‘Where do you live and who do you live with,’ Bronx, with his fiancé and daughter," Subramanian said.
The judge said it raised concerns about the juror’s basic qualifications, the juror’s candor and whether he made a deliberate attempt to get himself onto the jury.
"The changing answers and inconsistency give the court worry about deception and lying, which further implicate the veracity of other answers, including to questions that go to the heart of the case," Subramanian said. "Removal of the juror is required in this court’s view."
Defense attorney Xavier Donaldson lamented the dismissal of a Black juror because he said there are not enough Black and Hispanic individuals serving on juries.
Three separate defense attorneys stood to object to the juror’s removal for different reasons.
"It is going to be a less diverse jury. That is a fact," Donaldson said. "I don’t generally play the race card. I’m not saying I’m playing it now."
The dismissed juror would be replaced with an alternate.
"There are differences between principal jurors and alternate jurors," Marc Agnifilo said.
Subramanian promised to think about what the defense lawyers said and advise the parties if he changes his mind.
Subramanian called the attorneys to the bench and then announced the court had a "sensitive matter" to discuss.
He ordered the courtroom closed to all but the parties.
He did not say what the sensitive matter is.
Combs’ assistant testifies personal errands were part of his job
On re-direct examination, Sean Combs’ former personal assistant Jonathan Perez testified that personal errands were part of his job.
"Who told you to set up king nights?" prosecutor Madison Smyser asked. "KK," Perez testified, referring to Combs’ chief of staff, Kristina Khorram.
"Did you set up those king nights for free?" Smyser asked. "No," Perez told the jury.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters
"Ever set up king nights on vacation?" Smyser followed up. "No," Perez told the jury.
Perez testified that part of his job involved doing personal things for Combs like writing cards to his girlfriends and buying them flowers.
Perez has concluded his testimony, thus concluding five weeks of testimony.
The judge dismissed jurors for the weekend with customary instructions not to talk to anyone about the case and turn off news notifications.
Combs' assistant testified he set up hotel rooms, procured drugs
On cross-examination, Sean Combs’ former personal assistant Jonathan Perez testified that setting up hotel rooms and procuring drugs were personal errands and not work-related tasks.
"It had nothing to do with your work?" defense attorney Brian Steel asked. "No," Perez responded on the stand. Combs is accused of conspiring with his employees as part of a criminal enterprise.
Perez told the jury under cross-examination that he performed those tasks 1% of the time compared with his business-related duties.
"You just did it because you’re a nice person?" Steel asked. "Yes," Perez testified.
Perez testified that he helped "Jane" -- a former Combs girlfriend who took the stand under a pseudonym -- with outfits for hotel nights because she trusted his fashion sense.
"She would ask you to go out and go shopping for her?" Steel asked. "Yes," Perez told the jury.
"Would you look for her for lingerie?" "Yes," Perez testified on the stand.
"Would you look for her for dresses?" "Yes," Perez told the jury.
"The goal for her was to look good for Mr. Combs?" "Yes," Perez replied on the stand.
"Did you ever get the feeling that she was hesitant of joining the king nights?" Steel asked, using Perez’s term for "hotel nights" or "freak offs." "No," Perez testified.
Steel followed up, asking, "Did it always appear to you that she was willing?" "Yes," Perez told the jury.
Steel tried to emphasize Perez's testimony, asking, "Did ‘Jane’ ever appear to you, from your observation, that she was upset or unhappy after the king nights?" "No," Perez testified.
'Is that all I’m worth?': 'Jane' asked about payments from Combs in re-direct examination
After a cross-examination that included dozens of "Jane’s" effusive and suggestive text messages to her then-boyfriend Sean Combs, prosecutors sought during their re-direct questioning to reframe how to interpret those messages.
"Jane," who's testifying under a pseudonym, read aloud a text she sent, which read, “I know what you want, baby,” and “Don’t want to make you mad” before a sexual encounter with a male escort named Paul.
Prosecutor Maurene Comey showed the jury a message that Combs sent to Paul not long after: “Imma need you to persuade her,” the message said.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters
Did you know that Sean had sent this text to Paul saying ‘Imma need you to persuade her?’” Comey asked on redirect.
“I’ve never seen these messages,” "Jane" testified in response.
“Did you derive physical pleasure from sex with entertainers?” Comey asked.
“No,” "Jane" testified. “I was putting on a show.”
"Jane" told the court she did not orgasm during such encounters but routinely faked it, “Because I was putting on a show.” She also began sobbing when Comey asked about her jealousy of other women that Combs was seeing during their relationship.
“I was just made to be, just carry this impossible pressure and they weren’t asked to hold any of that, that pressure, like I did,” "Jane" testified through tears and sobs. “I just thought it was unfair. All the nights with these men.”
"Jane" also wept while telling the court, “Why do I have to break all my boundaries and compromise myself and they don’t have to? It was never about the women -- it was, 'why am I being treated like this?'”
After the defense, during cross-examination, pointed out texts between "Jane" and Combs about tender moments after the June 2024 episode of physical violence in her house, Comey sought to remind jurors of the night’s brutality.
“Was Sean vulnerable with you when he forced you to perform oral sex on Anton?” Comey asked, referring to the male escort who showed up after the fight ended.
“No,” "Jane" testified.
“Was Sean affectionate with you at all?” Comey asked.
“No,” "Jane" testified.
“What was his demeanor the entire time Anton was in the home?” Comey asked.
“Evil,” "Jane" testified.
“How do you compare in strength to Sean?” Comey asked.
“I don’t." "Jane" told the court.
“What was his tone when he told you to ‘Get in the f------ outfit?’” Comey asked, referring to earlier testimony.
“Angry,” "Jane" told the court.
“Did you want to have sex with Anton that night?” Comey asked.
“No,” "Jane" testified.
“What did Sean say to you?” Comey asked.
“That I better get out there and [perform oral sex],” "Jane" told the court. “That I wasn’t going to ruin his night.”
On re-cross examination, defense attorney Teny Geragos pointed out that the violence occurred while "Jane" knew Combs was under federal investigation, suggesting that she could have reported it.
Geragos asked whether "Jane" would be willing to give up her home, for which Combs allegedly still pays the monthly rent.
“That’s where me and my child live,” "Jane" testified. “That’s a very hard question for me.”
“You receive almost $5,000 a month in child support?” Geragos asked.
“Yes,” "Jane" testified, adding she also makes about $10,000 per month on OnlyFans.
“You have the ability to pay for the home yourself?” Geragos asked.
“I’m catching up on three years of debt,” "Jane" testified.
“And in those three years, he has wired you $150,000,” Geragos said, referring to Combs.
“Is that all I’m worth in three years?” "Jane" retorted in her testimony.
"Jane’s" testimony is now over.
Court has adjourned for the day. It will resume on Friday with testimony from a federal agent; from Jonathan Perez, a Combs assistant; and an additional witness.
