Jurors in the trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs are entering the third day of deliberations as they consider the racketeering conspiracy charge against the music mogul. On Tuesday, the jury reached a partial verdict on four out of the five charges, which include two counts of sex trafficking and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.
These latter charges involve accusations of arranging the transportation of women and sex workers across state lines. The jury has not disclosed whether they found Combs guilty or not guilty on these four counts.
Before any verdict can be finalized, they must reach a consensus on the first count related to racketeering conspiracy. Combs, aged 55, has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Late Tuesday, the jury communicated with Judge Arun Subramanian, indicating they had reached a verdict on four counts but were deadlocked on the racketeering conspiracy charge. The foreman noted that there were jurors with firmly held views on both sides of the issue.
The judge instructed them to continue deliberating, and they were subsequently dismissed for the day. The racketeering conspiracy charge includes various acts such as kidnapping, arson, bribery, witness tampering, forced labor, and others.
Legal expert Richard Schoenstein remarked that the RICO charge is the most serious and complex, which may explain the difficulty the jury is having in reaching a unanimous decision. As the jury deliberations progressed, they sought to review testimony from Combs’ former girlfriend Cassie Ventura and a male escort involved in alleged “freak-offs.”
After less than 13 hours of deliberation over the course of two days, the jury is still working towards a final verdict. If convicted, the charges could result in significant prison time, with sex trafficking carrying a minimum of 15 years up to life imprisonment.