Sean ‘Diddy' Combs acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges
It could still send Combs, 55, to prison, for as long as a decade, and is likely to end his career as a hitmaking music executive, fashion entrepreneur, brand ambassador and reality TV star.
Combs was convicted of flying people around the country, including his girlfriends, and paid male sex workers to engage in sexual encounters, a felony violation of the federal Mann Act.
But the jury of eight men and four women acquitted Combs of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges, related to allegations that he used his money, power and frightening physical force to manipulate his girlfriends into hundreds of drug-fuelled sex marathons with the men.
Combs and his defence team argued that the women were willing participants and that none of his violence justified the severity of the charges.
The jury foreperson confirmed the verdict reached was unanimous.
After they read the verdict, Combs held his hands up in a prayer motion, looking at the jury, and hugged his defence lawyer Teny Geragos.
After the verdict was read, the judge gave the jury guidance on speaking about the case to the media, to the public and more.
Combs continuing to pump his right fist subtly, seemingly satisfied that he was acquitted on the most serious charges.
Combs seemed buoyant arriving in the courtroom earlier Wednesday, a contrast to his mood a day earlier after he learned that the jury had reached a yet-to-be-disclosed verdict on all but one of the five charges he faced.
Combs smiled and clasped his hands together in the air toward his family and supporters before hugging several of his lawyers and sitting down to await the outcome of the jury's third day of deliberations.
A short while later, Combs, his head bowed, stood several feet from his family for less than a minute as they sat with their heads bowed in prayer.
As they did on Monday, Combs and family members then applauded before he was led from the courtroom. The family later got in a van and left the court.
On Tuesday, US district judge Arun Subramanian had ordered the jury to continue its closed-door discussions for a third day after they said they were unable to reach consensus on the top count: racketeering conspiracy.
Mr Subramanian adjourned the court while he considered whether to grant Combs bail.
Combs, 55, has been behind bars since his arrest in September. His lawyers argued that the acquittal on the most serious counts changed the legal landscape enough that he should get bail.
Combs appeared overwhelmed as the court adjourned for at least a few hours.
He wiped his face, turning and kneeling at his chair, his head bowed in prayer. In the audience, his relatives stood and applauded as he faced them.
'I'll be home soon,' he said, and 'I love you, baby.'
'I love you, mum,' he added.
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Scottish Sun
9 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Diddy's ‘phantom fixer' breaks her cover for 1st time in months just hours after rapper ex-boss cleared of racketeering
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SEAN 'Diddy' Combs' former chief of staff looked relieved as she broke cover for a day out with friends the morning after the rap mogul was cleared of racketeering and sex trafficking. Exclusive photographs and video obtained by The U.S. Sun show Kristina Khorram, 38, chatting with pals in Los Angeles just hours after her former boss was found guilty of prostitution - but cleared of the other three more serious charges. 10 Kristina Khorram, Sean 'Diddy' Combs' former chief of staff, is seen in LA on Thursday morning Credit: The US Sun 10 Khorram was all smiles as she headed to a pilates session after Diddy's trial in New York came to a close Credit: The US Sun 10 Khorram appeared to be having a debrief with her girlfriends for more than an hour after the class Credit: The US Sun She was seen wearing black yoga pants, Hoka sneakers, and an orange bag, as she smiled while texting on her cell phone before joining pals for a pilates class. Khorram, known as "KK" throughout the trial, did not take the stand during Combs' trial but was a key figure mentioned throughout the legal proceedings as being his "right-hand woman." Witnesses gave testimony claiming she helped to assist and cover up his crimes, but she has never been charged with anything. She also previously publicly denied "aiding and abetting the sexual assault of anyone," in a statement to CNN. Read more on Diddy WHAT WENT WRONG How $10m case against Diddy collapsed after prosecutors got greedy An eyewitness told The U.S. Sun that Khorram went to a late morning pilates class on Thursday for an hour before grabbing a smoothie with two friends at nearby SunLife Organics. "The trio then headed back down to Sunset Plaza, and Kristina appeared very animated as they spoke for more than an hour, her friends seemed very supportive," they said. Just 24 hours before, a jury decided to only convict Combs of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution - each has a maximum 10-year prison sentence and no minimum. He has been acquitted of racketeering conspiracy, which carried a life sentence, and two counts of sex trafficking. Combs has been behind bars for ten months since his arrest in September 2024, and his bail was denied ahead of a sentencing hearing. Khorram began working for Combs in 2013 as a senior executive, according to her now-deleted LinkedIn profile, and was promoted to her top role in 2020. Diddy faces just two years in jail after overhyped prosecution but could still go BROKE, says lawyer She has been named in at least three civil lawsuits filed against Combs, which accuse her of knowing about his violent and criminal behavior and enabling it. "If anybody is gate-keeper, Kristina would know everything," a source previously told the New York Post. Combs and Khorram were last seen together at the rapper's Star Island mansion in Miami as the scandal began to unfold, and his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura filed a lawsuit against him in November 2023. Khorram was seen in a white robe sitting on a day bed with the stressed star while she was on her cell phone amid the drama. She later stopped working for him, and he settled Ventura's suit. "I have never condoned or aided and abetted the sexual assault of anyone." Kristina Khorram in a statement The U.S. Sun can confirm Khorram is now based in Los Angeles, but it is not known where she is now working. Despite being named by witnesses involved in the scandal, the prosecution decided not to call Khorram during the trial. Her lawyer has declined interview requests on her behalf, stating that Khorram cannot "tell her story until the criminal trial is over and the civil cases are resolved," according to CNN. 10 Sean Combs pictured with Kristina Khorram in an Instagram photo before his arrest Credit: Instagram 10 Khorram's friends seemed supportive as they all spent time catching up at Sunset Plaza after the trial Credit: The US Sun 10 Combs' former right-hand woman was out enjoying a smoothie after the class with two friends Credit: The US Sun 10 Sean 'Diddy' Combs reacts to the verdicts of the five counts against him in this courtroom sketch Credit: Reuters Khorram also declined to comment this week on the judge's verdict in the criminal case when approached by The U.S. Sun. However, she previously told CNN in a statement, "For months, horrific accusations have been made about me in various lawsuits regarding my former boss. "These false allegations of my involvement are causing irreparable and incalculable damage to my reputation and the emotional well-being of myself and my family. "I have never condoned or aided and abetted the sexual assault of anyone. Nor have I ever drugged anyone," Khorram continued. "The idea that I could be accused of playing a role in – or even being a bystander to – the rape of anyone is beyond upsetting, disturbing, and unthinkable. That is not who I am and my heart goes out to all victims of sexual assault." Khorram was compared to Jeffrey Epstein's "madam" Ghislaine Maxwell by producer Lil' Rod Jones in his $30 million suit, in which he accused Combs of sexual assault and sexual harassment. Jones named Kristina Khorram as a defendant, who has denied any wrongdoing, while Combs' attorney Erica Wolff branded the complaint "pure fiction." Although a judge recently rejected many of Jones's claims, he did not dismiss the allegations against Combs or Khorram. He said the lawsuit includes several specific examples of incidents Combs allegedly "recruited or enticed Jones to solicit and perform sex acts with commercial workers" and allegedly "transported Jones across state and international borders to do so." Meanwhile, Combs fell to his knees on Wednesday when the verdict was read out in a Manhattan courtroom. The U.S. Sun obtained a letter from the prosecution sent to Judge Arun Subramanian regarding the star's sentence. They say the guideline sentence for him is just 51 to 63 months [five and a half years maximum], and he has already been behind bars for nine months. It reads, "The Government notes, however, that the Guidelines applicable at sentencing may be higher than this preliminary calculation. "The Government has not had adequate time to carefully consider all potentially applicable Guidelines provisions." Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani, president of Los Angeles-based West Coast Trial Lawyers, spoke to The U.S. Sun about the verdict. He described it as "nothing less than a complete and total failure by the prosecution in what will go down as the most expensive prostitution trial in American history." 10 Kristina Khorram was seen wearing a white vest top and black yoga pants Credit: The US Sun 10 She beamed as she headed to a friend's car carrying a bottle of water, a smoothie, and her cell phone Credit: The US Sun
The Sun
9 hours ago
- The Sun
Diddy's ‘phantom fixer' breaks her cover for 1st time in months just hours after rapper ex-boss cleared of racketeering
SEAN 'Diddy' Combs' former chief of staff looked relieved as she broke cover for a day out with friends the morning after the rap mogul was cleared of racketeering and sex trafficking. Exclusive photographs and video obtained by The U.S. Sun show Kristina Khorram, 38, chatting with pals in Los Angeles just hours after her former boss was found guilty of prostitution - but cleared of the other three more serious charges. 10 10 She was seen wearing black yoga pants, Hoka sneakers, and an orange bag, as she smiled while texting on her cell phone before joining pals for a pilates class. Khorram, known as "KK" throughout the trial, did not take the stand during Combs' trial but was a key figure mentioned throughout the legal proceedings as being his "right-hand woman." Witnesses gave testimony claiming she helped to assist and cover up his crimes, but she has never been charged with anything. She also previously publicly denied "aiding and abetting the sexual assault of anyone," in a statement to CNN. An eyewitness told The U.S. Sun that Khorram went to a late morning pilates class on Thursday for an hour before grabbing a smoothie with two friends at nearby SunLife Organics. "The trio then headed back down to Sunset Plaza, and Kristina appeared very animated as they spoke for more than an hour, her friends seemed very supportive," they said. Just 24 hours before, a jury decided to only convict Combs of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution - each has a maximum 10-year prison sentence and no minimum. He has been acquitted of racketeering conspiracy, which carried a life sentence, and two counts of sex trafficking. Combs has been behind bars for ten months since his arrest in September 2024, and his bail was denied ahead of a sentencing hearing. Khorram began working for Combs in 2013 as a senior executive, according to her now-deleted LinkedIn profile, and was promoted to her top role in 2020. She has been named in at least three civil lawsuits filed against Combs, which accuse her of knowing about his violent and criminal behavior and enabling it. "If anybody is gate-keeper, Kristina would know everything," a source previously told the New York Post. Combs and Khorram were last seen together at the rapper's Star Island mansion in Miami as the scandal began to unfold, and his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura filed a lawsuit against him in November 2023. Khorram was seen in a white robe sitting on a day bed with the stressed star while she was on her cell phone amid the drama. She later stopped working for him, and he settled Ventura's suit. "I have never condoned or aided and abetted the sexual assault of anyone." Kristina Khorram in a statement The U.S. Sun can confirm Khorram is now based in Los Angeles, but it is not known where she is now working. Despite being named by witnesses involved in the scandal, the prosecution decided not to call Khorram during the trial. Her lawyer has declined interview requests on her behalf, stating that Khorram cannot "tell her story until the criminal trial is over and the civil cases are resolved," according to CNN. 10 10 10 10 Khorram also declined to comment this week on the judge's verdict in the criminal case when approached by The U.S. Sun. However, she previously told CNN in a statement, "For months, horrific accusations have been made about me in various lawsuits regarding my former boss. "These false allegations of my involvement are causing irreparable and incalculable damage to my reputation and the emotional well-being of myself and my family. "I have never condoned or aided and abetted the sexual assault of anyone. Nor have I ever drugged anyone," Khorram continued. "The idea that I could be accused of playing a role in – or even being a bystander to – the rape of anyone is beyond upsetting, disturbing, and unthinkable. That is not who I am and my heart goes out to all victims of sexual assault." Khorram was compared to Jeffrey Epstein's "madam" Ghislaine Maxwell by producer Lil' Rod Jones in his $30 million suit, in which he accused Combs of sexual assault and sexual harassment. Jones named Kristina Khorram as a defendant, who has denied any wrongdoing, while Combs' attorney Erica Wolff branded the complaint "pure fiction." Although a judge recently rejected many of Jones's claims, he did not dismiss the allegations against Combs or Khorram. He said the lawsuit includes several specific examples of incidents Combs allegedly "recruited or enticed Jones to solicit and perform sex acts with commercial workers" and allegedly "transported Jones across state and international borders to do so." Meanwhile, Combs fell to his knees on Wednesday when the verdict was read out in a Manhattan courtroom. The U.S. Sun obtained a letter from the prosecution sent to Judge Arun Subramanian regarding the star's sentence. They say the guideline sentence for him is just 51 to 63 months [five and a half years maximum], and he has already been behind bars for nine months. It reads, "The Government notes, however, that the Guidelines applicable at sentencing may be higher than this preliminary calculation. "The Government has not had adequate time to carefully consider all potentially applicable Guidelines provisions." Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani, president of Los Angeles-based West Coast Trial Lawyers, spoke to The U.S. Sun about the verdict. He described it as "nothing less than a complete and total failure by the prosecution in what will go down as the most expensive prostitution trial in American history." 10 10
Telegraph
19 hours ago
- Telegraph
The nepo baby millennial lawyer who spared Diddy from life behind bars
As the verdict was read out in courtroom 26A in lower Manhattan, Sean 'Diddy' Combs, tightly squeezed Teny Geragos's hand and raised it in the air. Nearly two months ago, the lawyer sitting to his left had glided over to the wooden podium to deliver a controversial opening statement in which she admitted her client was a violent domestic abuser. She did not deny that he had done some terrible things, but that wasn't what Combs was on trial for, she told the court. It was a risky move, but as the jury foreman delivered the verdict on Wednesday morning, it was clearly one that had paid off. Combs was acquitted on the most serious offences of sex trafficking and racketeering and found guilty of two charges of transporting prostitutes. As Combs put his head in his hands and fell to the ground to celebrate, Ms Geragos dabbed at her tears with a tissue and hugged his family members. The three not guilty verdicts were not just a partial victory for Combs – it was a career-defining win for Ms Geragos, who was one of his 'dream team' of lawyers led by Marc Agnifilo. Following in the footsteps of her father Mark Geragos, the celebrity lawyer who has defended stars including Chris Brown, Michael Jackson and Winona Ryder, it was the moment in which the 34-year-old carved out her own name as defender for the deep-pocketed. In court she faced lead prosecutor Maurene Comey, the daughter of James Comey, the former head of the FBI, in what appeared to be the battle of the 'nepo babies'. The prosecution had alleged Combs used force and financial control to coerce his ex-girlfriends Cassie Ventura and a witness testifying under the pseudonym Jane into days-long drug-fuelled sex parties during which they would allegedly be made to sleep with male prostitutes. In her opening statement Ms Geragos claimed that Combs's alleged victims were in consensual relationships and while he had beaten his girlfriends, this did not amount to sex trafficking. 'Sean Combs is a complicated man. But this is not a complicated case. This case is about love, jealousy, infidelity and money,' Ms Geragos told the court. 'Sean Combs has a bad temper and sometimes he gets out of control,' Ms Geragos said. 'We take full responsibility for the domestic violence. Domestic violence is not sex trafficking.' Later, when commenting on the allegations involving Jane, she added: 'Being a willing participant in your own life is not sex trafficking.' Months before she began attempting to convince the jury Combs was not a sex trafficker or the masterminds of a decades-long criminal enterprise, Ms Geragos had been batting for her client on a rather different platform. Via a TikTok account with the bio 'criminal defence attorney breaking down the latest news' she posted a series of videos about civil lawsuits filed against him, insisting he was innocent. 'All right, here we go again, Diddy sued by a former bandmate; I'm his lawyer and here's why you should care,' Ms Geragos said during one clip. Her father, Mr Geragos, 67, who was an adviser to Combs's legal team, was admonished by the judge at the start of the trial for using another platform to talk about the case. He was called out by Judge Arun Subramanian for calling the prosecution a 'six-pack of white women' on his podcast. Ms Geragos's career so far appears to be on a similar trajectory to her father's. After graduating with a degree in art history and media, culture and communications from New York University, Ms Geragos went on to study at the Loyola Law School in Chicago, the same law school where her father trained. Ms Geragos worked as a judicial extern for a Supreme Court Justice in Kings County, New York, while studying for her degree before becoming licenced by both the New York and California state bars in 2017. She worked as a law clerk at the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office and her father's firm, Geragos & Geragos, before joining New York City based firm Brafman & Associates PC as a trial attorney. She left the firm after nearly eight years to join Agnifilo Intrater LLP as a founding partner. She has represented defendants in federal and state trials in cases involving sexual assault, fraud and public corruption, according to the firm's website. Her expertise is in cases involving sexual misconduct. Ms Geragos met her husband Ashwinn Krishnaswamy while studying at NYU. The couple married at her parents' home in Los Angeles in 2021 in a ceremony inspired by the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris. They have one child and Ms Geragos is pregnant with their second. After the trial concluded, Ms Geragos spoke briefly outside the court in Lower Manhattan. 'I first want to thank my client Sean Combs for trusting us, myself and everybody here, this incredible dream team that he put together,' she said. 'He is incredible. I want to thank him,' she said, adding that he had 'not sexually assaulted anybody'. Later that evening she made a brief appearance on the 2 Angry Men podcast that her father co-hosts alongside Harvey Levin, the founder of TMZ. Mr Geragos said he was on 'childcare duty' because his daughter was off to celebrate the outcome of the trial. Appearing on the camera for a brief moment, Ms Geragos, stood grinning from ear to ear. 'I feel great,' she said.
