Sean Diddy Combs found not guilty in sex trafficking trial
Sean “Diddy” Combs’ children have revealed how they are feeling after the superstar rapper was found not guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking charges that could have seen him face a life sentence in prison.
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Superstar rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs children are celebrating after he was acquitted of sex trafficking offences.
“First thing I’m gonna do is hug my Pops!” Christian Combs, 27, cheered at the Manhattan federal courthouse, according to the Daily Mail.
He said he and his six siblings were feeling “hopeful”.
His brother Justin Combes, 31, said he was “so happy” with the verdict.
Combs older children have stood by his side throughout the trial.
Earlier the rapper told his family “I’ll be home soon” and “I love you” as he was escorted from the courtroom.
Combs was found not guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking offences but guilty of two prostitution charges.
Combs was denied bail and will remain in a Brooklyn jail until his sentencing, Judge Arun Subramanian ruled.
Each prostitution count he was convicted of has a maximum sentence of 10 years and could theoretically be added together for a 20-year sentence.
Following the verdict, Combs reportedly pumped his right fist in celebration, embraced his family and legal team, and said “Thank you. Thank you”.
He also reportedly smiled and placed his hands together in prayer.
Combs was later captured by a sketch artist having fallen to his knees, his face buried in the chair he sat in for two months listening to weeks of testimony.
The judge noted that Combs’ own team admitted to the domestic violence claims but said the “confession was unnecessary because defendant’s violence was starkly depicted in the 2016 video at the InterContinental Hotel.”
The notorious footage showed Combs kicking and dragging Ventura in the hotel hallway.
“For present purposes, the defendant is unable to meet his burden,” Subramanian said.
The judge said the defense didn’t prove there wasn’t a lack of danger to any person or the community given the evidence committed at trial.”
“Under these circumstances, it’s impossible for the defendant to show he poses no danger to any person,” Judge Subramanian said.
Judge Subramanian initially said Combs would be sentenced on October 3, but the rapper’s lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, asked for a rushed date.
“We would like the sentencing as soon as we can get the sentencing,” Mr Agnifilo said.
The judge said that the pre-sentencing report takes time and needed to be completed before sentencing since both sides disagree on the sentencing guidelines for Combs - with prosecutors saying the guidelines recommend at least four to five years imprisonment.
Subramaniam set a hearing date for July 8 to nail down the date.
The bail denial came after the shock verdicts were handed down.
The rapper nodded his head repeatedly and said “thank you” to a juror as a verdict clearing him on the most serious charges was read out in court.
He then held his hands in the prayer gesture and waved them in the direction of the jury approvingly.
The rapper’s lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, had hoped Combs might walk free today, asking the judge to release the rapper from jail now that he’s been acquitted of the most serious charges in the case against him.
“My proposal would be that he be released today, that he be permitted to live at his home in Florida,” Agnifilo said. “It would be a bond of whatever size your honour sees fit, maybe
US$1 million?”
The defence also asked Combs be permitted to travel between Miami, Los Angeles, and New York while he awaits sentencing.
They said they would hand over his passport to court officials.
“He would be nothing short of a fool, which he is not, to violate any conditions the court set,” defence attorney Marc Agnifilo said, adding that Combs “treasures” the “opportunity he has been given.”
Lead prosecutor Maurene Comey opposed Mr Agnifilo’s bond request on that basis, accusing the defence of trying to “downplay the seriousness” of the convictions.
In a letter filed to the court, prosecutors said he should remain behind bars until his sentencing, calling him a flight risk with a history of violence and abuse against women and a “habitual drug user.”
Ms Ventura’s lawyer Douglas Wigdor also filed a letter to the court on behalf of his client, urging the judge not to grant bond and to consider that “Combs is likely to pose a danger to the victims who testified in this case.”
Judge Arun Subramanian asked Combs if he wanted to go back to the notorious Brooklyn lock up that he’s been held in since his September arrest.
The question came after Combs’ lawyer argued that he should be released to home confinement since he was acquitted on the most serious charges in the case.
“Mr Combs, you don’t want to go back to the MDC?” Subramanian asked.
The hip-hop mogul shook his head several times and held up his hands in a prayer gesture toward the judge.
Prosecutors filed a letter arguing that detention is mandatory for Combs since he was convicted on two prostitution charges.
The feds also claimed that Combs could be a flight risk and threat to the community as they argued the sentencing guidelines call for a four- to five-year sentence.
But prosecutors admitted there would be a fierce debate between them and Combs’ defence about what the guidelines sentence should be for him.
Deonte Nash, a former Combs stylist and pal of Cassie Ventura, wrote in a letter included with the prosecutor’s arguments that the Bad Boy Records founder’s release would send the “dangerous message: that wealth and influence can shield someone indefinitely from accountability.”
“It will also endanger those who co-operated with this investigation under subpoena, who are already living in fear of retaliation,” Nash wrote.
His daughters – twins D’Lila and Jessie, and Chance, all 18 – were left disappointed after sitting in a van parked outside the Manhattan federal courthouse, hoping the judge would grant their father’s request to walk out a free man.
Following the verdict, Judge Arun Subramanian thanked the jury for their hard work before releasing them from duty.
“I want to thank all of you for your hard work and dedication,” the judge said. “I know you’ve given a lot to be here over the last 10 weeks.”
“It’s taken a tremendous amount of sacrifice. I want you to know it’s inspiring to all of us,” Subramanian continued. “You did so with no reward, other than the reward of answering the call of public service.”
After the judge left the room, Combs got on his hands and knees on the floor and appeared to pray to himself.
His family and supporters then erupted in loud cheers after he stood up and blew a kiss toward them.
Several of his attorneys hugged each other.
Combs then exited the room through a side door as his family gave loud supportive whistles.
Diddy’s mother, Janice Combs, 85, gave a big thumbs up to the crowd outside the courthouse as she and the mogul’s children walked out hand-in-hand.
But the Bad Boy Records founder’s reputation has been permanently scarred by the gruelling two-month trial in a Manhattan federal court where more than 30 witnesses gave damning and humiliating evidence against him.
Prosecutors alleged Combs used his fame and fortune to commit crimes including kidnapping, rape and the firebombing of a love rival’s car.
But the bulk of the case focused on Combs’ horrific treatment of two girlfriends whom prosecutors alleged he forced into days-long drug-fuelled sex parties with male escorts that he filmed and used to control the women for years, threatening to release the videos if they did not comply with his directions.
Both women were regularly beaten by Combs who would fly into a rage when he didn’t get his way, punching, kicking and pushing them.
Prosecutors alleged he coerced the women into having sex with male escorts, sometimes multiple men, in days-long events he dubbed “freak offs” where they were forced to cover themselves in baby oil while he directed and filmed them as he masturbated.
Combs’ defence team argued both women were “strong and capable” and willingly participated in the sex marathons.
In now infamous footage repeatedly played throughout the trial, Combs was caught on camera at a swanky Los Angeles hotel beating Ms Ventura in a hallway when she tried to escape a freak off early, throwing her to the ground and dragging her back to the room.
At the outset of the trial, Combs’ lawyers conceded he was guilty of offences including domestic violence and assault, but said that was not what he was charged with.
“You’re not here to judge him for his sexual preferences,” Defence lawyer Teny Geragos said.
Members of the jury watched hours of the freak off sex tapes and prosecutor Christy Slavik warned them not to be fooled into thinking the women were enjoying themselves, saying they were performing for Combs to keep him happy.
“Don’t be fooled into thinking it’s anything more than that – a performance,” she said.
Combs held extraordinary power over the women.
He paid single mother Jane’s rent and would threaten to leave the woman and her child homeless if she did not join freak offs.
In one audio message from Combs to Jane, he was heard threatening her: “I’m about to really disappear on you. I don’t have no time for this, baby girl. You got to get on your job,” he said, referring to a freak off.
Ms Ventura was signed to his record label and he had the power to destroy her career.
Text messages shared throughout their decade long relationship showed multiple instances when she objected to freak offs but he insisted.
When he found out she had started a relationship with rapper Kid Cudi, he allegedly firebombed his love rival’s car in a fit of jealous rage. He was never charged with that crime.
Prosecutors alleged Combs used the vast resources of his business empire to commit the crimes, using his employees to track down the women, and to set up hotel rooms for freak offs to his exact specifications including stocking it with illegal drugs and bottles of lubricant and baby oil.
The 55-year-old was found not guilty of charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking.
If convicted, he could have faced a sentence of life imprisonment.
Instead, he was found guilty of two prostitution charges which carry a maximum sentence of 10 years each – a penalty legal experts say is highly unlikely to be handed to him in full.
Combs has been in custody since his arrest in September, 2024.
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