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CNN
02-07-2025
- CNN
Takeaways from the verdict in Sean ‘Diddy' Combs' federal sex trafficking trial
People in entertainment Sean 'Diddy' Combs Human rights CrimeFacebookTweetLink Follow The jury in the federal sex trafficking trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs returned its verdict on Wednesday, clearing the hip-hop mogul of the most serious charges, though he was convicted on two lesser charges of transportation to engage in prostitution. The verdict is, to some extent, a win for Combs, who will avoid the worst case scenario: If he had been convicted of the more serious charges of racketeering conspiracy or sex trafficking, Combs could have faced up to life in prison. Instead, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years – though it's unlikely he'll serve a sentence that long, and he could even be sentenced to the time he's served since his arrest in September 2024. 'It's a bit of a paradox, because here we have Sean Combs, who has just been convicted of two federal felonies,' said CNN Senior Legal Analyst Elie Honig. 'And for all practical purposes, he has won. He has defeated the Southern District of New York.' Prosecutors accused Combs of leading a criminal enterprise made up of some of his closest employees, alleging they used threats, violence, forced labor, bribery and other crimes to force Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura and another woman, 'Jane,' to engage in drug-fueled sex acts with male escorts called 'Freak Offs' or 'hotel nights.' Combs pleaded not guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking and two counts of transportation for prostitution. His lawyers argued the sex acts were consensual and merely preferences, while trying to undermine the hip-hop mogul's accusers by contending they were trying to gain a monetary benefit from Combs. Here are takeaways from the jury's verdict. Combs and his defense team surely hoped he would be acquitted on all counts. But the verdict Wednesday is something of a boon for a star defendant who has seen his reputation diminish in the face of repeated accusations of wrongdoing. His acquittals on racketeering conspiracy and two counts of sex trafficking are striking when looked at within the context of the defendant's fall from grace: Two years ago, Ventura filed a lawsuit claiming Combs had raped and physically and emotionally abused her. Combs agreed to settle the lawsuit a day later; his attorney said it was 'in no way an admission of wrongdoing.' Ventura's lawsuit was only the beginning: More accusers came forward with allegations against Combs, and in March 2024, heavily armed federal agents searched the producer's homes in Los Angeles and Florida. Two months later, CNN published hotel surveillance video captured eight years earlier showing Combs physically assaulting Ventura in an elevator lobby at a Los Angeles hotel – footage included as part of the prosecution's case for sex trafficking as to Ventura. Now, while the verdict is mixed, Combs can claim some vindication on being cleared of the most serious charges. 'Regardless of what anyone thinks of Sean Combs … the simple fact is, as of right now, in the eyes of the law, he has not been convicted of a crime of violence,' said CNN Legal Analyst Elliot Williams. 'He has not been convicted of the far more serious, life-eligible crimes that he was charged with.' The verdict shows prosecutors failed to prove racketeering conspiracy; and while the jury's reasoning is not known, experts told CNN prior to deliberations that prosecutors' greatest challenge would be securing a conviction on this charge. That jurors found Combs not guilty shows they were unconvinced, either of the existence of a so-called 'enterprise' – a key piece of any racketeering case – or that he and others committed the underlying crimes that would support a conviction. The charge comes from the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO, which was passed by Congress in 1970 to prosecute organized crime. Racketeering is not a single, specific crime, but a framework for prosecuting many different crimes; in a RICO case, these are called 'predicate acts.' In Combs' case, prosecutors specifically argued the defendant and members of his inner circle had engaged in crimes involving kidnapping, arson, forced labor, bribery and sex trafficking. To convict, jurors would have needed to find Combs and at least one other person committed at least two predicate acts within a ten-year window. The use of RICO in Combs' case, while not entirely novel, was unusual in that he was charged alone. Jurors did not hear direct testimony from many of the people who would have been members of the alleged enterprise – namely his closest employees, like his chief of staff or some of his security guards. And legal analysts had wondered whether the evidence presented at trial had clearly linked Combs' alleged criminal acts to an enterprise. In their closing argument, the government offered jurors a roadmap, outlining the charge, the elements needed to prove it and the parts of their case that would support a conviction. Still, the argument did not persuade jurors. Combs' acquittal on sex trafficking charges is a big blow to the prosecutors for the Southern District of New York – and to his accusers, Ventura and a woman who testified under the pseudonym 'Jane,' each of whom spent days testifying, recounting years of abuse they said they suffered from Combs. While prosecutors accused Combs of sex trafficking as a predicate act under the umbrella of racketeering conspiracy, they also charged him with two separate counts of sex trafficking, one each for Ventura and Jane. To prove sex trafficking, prosecutors needed to prove Combs compelled the women to participate in commercial sex acts through force, fraud or coercion. And jurors were presented with myriad examples of alleged physical violence and financial control. Regarding Ventura, prosecutors contended physical force was illustrated in one instance by the InterContinental Hotel surveillance footage showing Combs assault Ventura in 2016 – first published by CNN. Testimony by both women suggested some level of financial or professional control; Ventura signed to Combs' record label at just 19, and prosecutors agued he controlled her career. Jane, meanwhile, testified she and Combs entered into a 'love contract' where he agreed to pay her $10,000 rent, but that he threatened to cut her off financially if she stopped participating in 'hotel nights.' Combs' attorneys had acknowledged physical abuse, but argued throughout the trial that domestic violence did not amount to sex trafficking. Prosecutors also told the jury they weren't suggesting every 'Freak Off' and 'hotel night' were instances of sex trafficking. Both Ventura and Jane testified they were willing to try the sexual encounters in the beginning of their relationships with Combs. The jury's verdict suggests prosecutors did not prove the elements needed to convict – like the force, fraud and coercion. 'My heart in this moment is going out to Cassie,' said Dream Hampton, the executive producer of 'Surviving R. Kelly.' 'I can't imagine what she's feeling.' 'I'm afraid that with Puff walking from the more serious charges that he's – not only him, the whole entire discourse – I just wonder what we're going to learn from this,' Hampton added. Combs was convicted, however, on two charges of transportation to engage in prostitution, each of which pertained to Ventura or Jane and the men Combs paid to have sex with them. Those charges were more straightforward than the other, and prosecutors merely needed to prove that people crossed state lines to engage in prostitution. Both women testified to having 'Freak Offs' or 'hotel nights' in a variety of locales, and prosecutors presented documents to bolster that testimony, including flight records, American Express charges and hotel invoices for Combs' former girlfriends and the men. 'What was clearer throughout this trial was acts of prostitution that were supported by airplane records, payments and so on – information that would just be hard to deny,' said Williams. 'There were sex acts, no one disputes that, and they were paid for. And there's a paper trail linking the defendant to them. That was far more straightforward for the prosecution to prove compared to some of the other things.' Prior to trial, Combs' defense unsuccessfully lobbied for the transportation to engage in prostitution charges, which stem from the Mann Act, to be dismissed, citing the statute's 'racist origins.' Attorneys for Combs have previously accused the government of racism, allegations the government denied. Doug Wigdor, Ventura's attorney, acknowledged Wednesday's verdict was 'not the exact outcome we wanted' in an interview with CNN. 'Cassie prompted this investigation…and now Sean Combs stands before the court as a convicted felon of two federal crimes. He faces significant incarceration,' he said. While the verdict marks the beginning of the end of one legal chapter for Combs, he still faces legal trouble. Most immediately, he'll face sentencing for the prostitution charges for which he was convicted Wednesday. Each carries up to ten years, but CNN legal analysts indicated it's possible he serves less. 'Certainly very few people are ever sentenced to the top of the statutory maximum,' Williams said. 'So we should get the ten year or 20 year figure out of our heads. But he will go to jail for some time.' Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date. In the meantime, his attorneys hope Combs will be released from federal custody while he waits. Judge Arun Subramanian asked the defense attorneys and prosecutors to submit letters on their positions about the possibility of releasing Sean 'Diddy' Combs ahead of a bail hearing Wednesday evening. 'Mr. Combs has been given his life by this jury,' said defense attorney Marc Agnifilo, as he argued for the judge to allow his client to return home. Combs also still faces a raft of civil lawsuits – nearly 70 have been filed so far, with several as recent as last week – accusing Combs of further wrongdoing, including sexual assault. Combs has denied all the allegations. Notably, civil claims carry a lower burden of proof. In the criminal trial, jurors needed to find Combs guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. But in a civil case, the proof only needs to meet what's called a 'preponderance of the evidence,' or more likely than not.
CNN
02-07-2025
- CNN
Takeaways from the verdict in Sean ‘Diddy' Combs' federal sex trafficking trial
People in entertainment Sean 'Diddy' Combs Human rights CrimeFacebookTweetLink Follow The jury in the federal sex trafficking trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs returned its verdict on Wednesday, clearing the hip-hop mogul of the most serious charges, though he was convicted on two lesser charges of transportation to engage in prostitution. The verdict is, to some extent, a win for Combs, who will avoid the worst case scenario: If he had been convicted of the more serious charges of racketeering conspiracy or sex trafficking, Combs could have faced up to life in prison. Instead, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years – though it's unlikely he'll serve a sentence that long, and he could even be sentenced to the time he's served since his arrest in September 2024. 'It's a bit of a paradox, because here we have Sean Combs, who has just been convicted of two federal felonies,' said CNN Senior Legal Analyst Elie Honig. 'And for all practical purposes, he has won. He has defeated the Southern District of New York.' Prosecutors accused Combs of leading a criminal enterprise made up of some of his closest employees, alleging they used threats, violence, forced labor, bribery and other crimes to force Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura and another woman, 'Jane,' to engage in drug-fueled sex acts with male escorts called 'Freak Offs' or 'hotel nights.' Combs pleaded not guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking and two counts of transportation for prostitution. His lawyers argued the sex acts were consensual and merely preferences, while trying to undermine the hip-hop mogul's accusers by contending they were trying to gain a monetary benefit from Combs. Here are takeaways from the jury's verdict. Combs and his defense team surely hoped he would be acquitted on all counts. But the verdict Wednesday is something of a boon for a star defendant who has seen his reputation diminish in the face of repeated accusations of wrongdoing. His acquittals on racketeering conspiracy and two counts of sex trafficking are striking when looked at within the context of the defendant's fall from grace: Two years ago, Ventura filed a lawsuit claiming Combs had raped and physically and emotionally abused her. Combs agreed to settle the lawsuit a day later; his attorney said it was 'in no way an admission of wrongdoing.' Ventura's lawsuit was only the beginning: More accusers came forward with allegations against Combs, and in March 2024, heavily armed federal agents searched the producer's homes in Los Angeles and Florida. Two months later, CNN published hotel surveillance video captured eight years earlier showing Combs physically assaulting Ventura in an elevator lobby at a Los Angeles hotel – footage included as part of the prosecution's case for sex trafficking as to Ventura. Now, while the verdict is mixed, Combs can claim some vindication on being cleared of the most serious charges. 'Regardless of what anyone thinks of Sean Combs … the simple fact is, as of right now, in the eyes of the law, he has not been convicted of a crime of violence,' said CNN Legal Analyst Elliot Williams. 'He has not been convicted of the far more serious, life-eligible crimes that he was charged with.' The verdict shows prosecutors failed to prove racketeering conspiracy; and while the jury's reasoning is not known, experts told CNN prior to deliberations that prosecutors' greatest challenge would be securing a conviction on this charge. That jurors found Combs not guilty shows they were unconvinced, either of the existence of a so-called 'enterprise' – a key piece of any racketeering case – or that he and others committed the underlying crimes that would support a conviction. The charge comes from the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO, which was passed by Congress in 1970 to prosecute organized crime. Racketeering is not a single, specific crime, but a framework for prosecuting many different crimes; in a RICO case, these are called 'predicate acts.' In Combs' case, prosecutors specifically argued the defendant and members of his inner circle had engaged in crimes involving kidnapping, arson, forced labor, bribery and sex trafficking. To convict, jurors would have needed to find Combs and at least one other person committed at least two predicate acts within a ten-year window. The use of RICO in Combs' case, while not entirely novel, was unusual in that he was charged alone. Jurors did not hear direct testimony from many of the people who would have been members of the alleged enterprise – namely his closest employees, like his chief of staff or some of his security guards. And legal analysts had wondered whether the evidence presented at trial had clearly linked Combs' alleged criminal acts to an enterprise. In their closing argument, the government offered jurors a roadmap, outlining the charge, the elements needed to prove it and the parts of their case that would support a conviction. Still, the argument did not persuade jurors. Combs' acquittal on sex trafficking charges is a big blow to the prosecutors for the Southern District of New York – and to his accusers, Ventura and a woman who testified under the pseudonym 'Jane,' each of whom spent days testifying, recounting years of abuse they said they suffered from Combs. While prosecutors accused Combs of sex trafficking as a predicate act under the umbrella of racketeering conspiracy, they also charged him with two separate counts of sex trafficking, one each for Ventura and Jane. To prove sex trafficking, prosecutors needed to prove Combs compelled the women to participate in commercial sex acts through force, fraud or coercion. And jurors were presented with myriad examples of alleged physical violence and financial control. Regarding Ventura, prosecutors contended physical force was illustrated in one instance by the InterContinental Hotel surveillance footage showing Combs assault Ventura in 2016 – first published by CNN. Testimony by both women suggested some level of financial or professional control; Ventura signed to Combs' record label at just 19, and prosecutors agued he controlled her career. Jane, meanwhile, testified she and Combs entered into a 'love contract' where he agreed to pay her $10,000 rent, but that he threatened to cut her off financially if she stopped participating in 'hotel nights.' Combs' attorneys had acknowledged physical abuse, but argued throughout the trial that domestic violence did not amount to sex trafficking. Prosecutors also told the jury they weren't suggesting every 'Freak Off' and 'hotel night' were instances of sex trafficking. Both Ventura and Jane testified they were willing to try the sexual encounters in the beginning of their relationships with Combs. The jury's verdict suggests prosecutors did not prove the elements needed to convict – like the force, fraud and coercion. 'My heart in this moment is going out to Cassie,' said Dream Hampton, the executive producer of 'Surviving R. Kelly.' 'I can't imagine what she's feeling.' 'I'm afraid that with Puff walking from the more serious charges that he's – not only him, the whole entire discourse – I just wonder what we're going to learn from this,' Hampton added. Combs was convicted, however, on two charges of transportation to engage in prostitution, each of which pertained to Ventura or Jane and the men Combs paid to have sex with them. Those charges were more straightforward than the other, and prosecutors merely needed to prove that people crossed state lines to engage in prostitution. Both women testified to having 'Freak Offs' or 'hotel nights' in a variety of locales, and prosecutors presented documents to bolster that testimony, including flight records, American Express charges and hotel invoices for Combs' former girlfriends and the men. 'What was clearer throughout this trial was acts of prostitution that were supported by airplane records, payments and so on – information that would just be hard to deny,' said Williams. 'There were sex acts, no one disputes that, and they were paid for. And there's a paper trail linking the defendant to them. That was far more straightforward for the prosecution to prove compared to some of the other things.' Prior to trial, Combs' defense unsuccessfully lobbied for the transportation to engage in prostitution charges, which stem from the Mann Act, to be dismissed, citing the statute's 'racist origins.' Attorneys for Combs have previously accused the government of racism, allegations the government denied. Doug Wigdor, Ventura's attorney, acknowledged Wednesday's verdict was 'not the exact outcome we wanted' in an interview with CNN. 'Cassie prompted this investigation…and now Sean Combs stands before the court as a convicted felon of two federal crimes. He faces significant incarceration,' he said. While the verdict marks the beginning of the end of one legal chapter for Combs, he still faces legal trouble. Most immediately, he'll face sentencing for the prostitution charges for which he was convicted Wednesday. Each carries up to ten years, but CNN legal analysts indicated it's possible he serves less. 'Certainly very few people are ever sentenced to the top of the statutory maximum,' Williams said. 'So we should get the ten year or 20 year figure out of our heads. But he will go to jail for some time.' Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date. In the meantime, his attorneys hope Combs will be released from federal custody while he waits. Judge Arun Subramanian asked the defense attorneys and prosecutors to submit letters on their positions about the possibility of releasing Sean 'Diddy' Combs ahead of a bail hearing Wednesday evening. 'Mr. Combs has been given his life by this jury,' said defense attorney Marc Agnifilo, as he argued for the judge to allow his client to return home. Combs also still faces a raft of civil lawsuits – nearly 70 have been filed so far, with several as recent as last week – accusing Combs of further wrongdoing, including sexual assault. Combs has denied all the allegations. Notably, civil claims carry a lower burden of proof. In the criminal trial, jurors needed to find Combs guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. But in a civil case, the proof only needs to meet what's called a 'preponderance of the evidence,' or more likely than not.
TimesLIVE
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
What to know about the Sean 'Diddy' Combs sex trafficking trial
Sean 'Diddy' Combs, the hip-hop mogul who discovered world-famous artists and helped bring the genre into the mainstream, was found guilty on Wednesday of prostitution-related offences but acquitted of other charges. Combs, 55, had pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing. Here is what you need to know about the trial, which took place in Manhattan federal court: WHAT WERE THE CHARGES? Combs faced one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking, and two counts of transporting for prostitution. Found guilty on the prostitution charges, he was acquitted of racketeering conspiracy and two counts of sex trafficking. Combs could have faced life in prison had he been convicted on all five counts. WHAT DID PROSECUTORS ALLEGE? Prosecutors with the Manhattan US Attorney's office said Combs used physical violence and threats to coerce two of his former girlfriends — rhythm-and-blues singer Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura and a woman known in court by the pseudonym Jane — to take part in the sex performances sometimes known as 'Freak Offs'. During the performances, Combs would watch, masturbate and occasionally film, according to prosecutors. Both Ventura and Jane testified that Combs threatened to cut off financial support and leak sex tapes of them if they stopped taking part. Prosecutors said Combs used his business empire and employees to help arrange the performances and cover up his abuse, which they said amounted to racketeering conspiracy. WHAT WAS COMBS'S DEFENCE? Combs's defence lawyers acknowledged that their client was at times abusive in his domestic relationships, but argued that the sexual activity described by prosecutors was consensual and that there was nothing illegal about his 'swinger' lifestyle. They highlighted tender and sexually explicit text messages that both Ventura and Jane sent Combs over the course of their years-long relationships with him to argue that Combs had no way of knowing the women's participation in the performances was not consensual. The defence also said that Ventura had a financial incentive to testify against Combs. Ventura sued Combs for sexual abuse in a civil lawsuit in November 2023, and settled the case a day later in exchange for a $20m (R352,469,440) payment from Combs. WHO TESTIFIED? Several of Combs's former personal assistants testified that they helped set up hotel rooms for 'Freak Offs' and procured drugs for their boss. Jurors also heard from Scott Mescudi, the rapper known as Kid Cudi, who said Combs broke into his home and was behind the torching of his car after Combs found out Mescudi was romantically involved with Ventura. Combs did not testify. Defence lawyers often advise their clients not to take the stand because doing so exposes them to cross-examination by prosecutors. HOW LONG DID THE TRIAL LAST? Jurors heard about seven weeks of testimony and argument starting on May 12. The case drew intense media coverage because of Combs's fame. WHAT OTHER LEGAL TROUBLES DOES COMBS FACE? Combs has also been accused of sexual assault and rape in more than 50 civil lawsuits, including one by an accuser who says he was 10 years old at the time of the alleged assault. Combs has denied the allegations in the civil cases, which seek money damages.
CNA
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
Sean 'Diddy' Combs convicted on prostitution counts, but cleared of more serious charges
NEW YORK: Sean "Diddy" Combs was found guilty on Wednesday (Jul 2) of prostitution-related offences, but cleared of more serious charges after a criminal trial in which two of the music mogul's former girlfriends testified that he physically and sexually abused them. Combs was convicted of transportation to engage in prostitution but acquitted of racketeering conspiracy and two counts of sex trafficking, a partial win for the former billionaire known for elevating hip-hop in American culture. After the jury read its verdict, defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo asked Subramanian to release Combs on bail. "This is his first conviction and it's a prostitution offence, and so he should be released on appropriate conditions," Agnifilo said. Combs faces a maximum 10-year prison sentence on each of the two prostitution counts. United States District Judge Arun Subramanian will determine Combs' sentence at a later date. The acquittals on the sex trafficking counts mean he will avoid a 15-year mandatory minimum sentence. He could have faced life in prison if he were convicted on sex trafficking or racketeering conspiracy. Prosecutors say Combs for two decades used his business empire to force two of his romantic partners to take part in drug-fueled, days-long sexual performances sometimes known as "Freak Offs" with male sex workers in hotel rooms while Combs watched, masturbated and occasionally filmed. During raids of Combs' homes, authorities found drugs and 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant that he would use in the performances, prosecutors said. Combs, 55, had pleaded not guilty to all five counts. His lawyers acknowledged that the Bad Boy Records founder, once famed for hosting lavish parties for the cultural elite in luxurious locales like the Hamptons and Saint-Tropez, was at times violent in his domestic relationships. But they said the sexual activity described by prosecutors was consensual. The seven-week trial in Manhattan federal court exposed the inner workings of Combs' business empire and gave the 12-member jury an intimate look into his volatile romantic relationships with the rhythm and blues singer Casandra "Cassie" Ventura and a woman known in court by the pseudonym Jane. Ventura sued Combs in November 2023 for sex trafficking, the first of dozens of civil lawsuits accusing him of abuse. Combs, also known throughout his career as Puff Daddy and P. Diddy and once feted for turning artists like Notorious B.I.G. and Usher into stars, settled with Ventura for US$20 million. He has denied all wrongdoing. At the trial, jurors saw surveillance footage from 2016 showing Combs kicking and dragging Ventura in the hallway of an InterContinental hotel in Los Angeles, where she said she was trying to leave a "Freak Off." Jane later testified that Combs in June 2024 attacked her and directed her to perform oral sex on a male entertainer, even though she told him she did not want to. That alleged attack took place a month after Combs apologised on social media for his 2016 attack of Ventura, footage of which had been broadcast on CNN. According to prosecutors, physical violence was just one way Combs compelled Ventura and Jane to take part in the performances - an act of coercion they say amounts to sex trafficking because the male escorts were paid. Both women testified that he threatened to withhold financial support and to leak sexually explicit images of them if they refused to comply. "The defendant used power, violence and fear to get what he wanted," prosecutor Christy Slavik said in her closing argument on Jun 26. "He doesn't take no for an answer." Combs' defence lawyers argued that while Combs may have committed domestic violence in the context of volatile romantic partnerships, his conduct did not amount to sex trafficking. They argued that Ventura and Jane were strong, independent women who voluntarily took part in the sexual performances because they wanted to please Combs. Both women testified they spent time with Combs and took part in sexual performances after he beat them. Defence lawyers argued that Ventura and Jane were retrospectively accusing Combs of forcing their participation in the performances because they were jealous he was seeing other women. "If he was charged with domestic violence, we wouldn't all be here," Combs' defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo said in his closing argument on Jun 27. "He did not do the things he's charged with." RACKETEERING CONSPIRACY Besides Ventura and Jane, jurors also heard testimony from Combs' former personal assistants who said their jobs included setting up hotel rooms for "Freak Offs" and buying their boss drugs. An InterContinental security guard testified that Combs, in the presence of his chief of staff, paid him US$100,000 to hand over what he thought was the only copy of the surveillance tape of his attack on Ventura. And Scott Mescudi, the rapper known as Kid Cudi, told jurors Combs was likely involved in an arson on his car after Combs found out he was romantically involved with Ventura. According to prosecutors, those were all acts Combs and his associates undertook in furtherance of a racketeering conspiracy whose aim was, in part, to facilitate his abuse and keep evidence of his wrongdoing under wraps. The defence argued Combs was a successful entrepreneur who used drugs recreationally, but kept his professional and personal lives separate.
CNN
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Jury in Sean ‘Diddy' Combs trial reaches verdict
Jury in Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial reaches verdict A federal jury has reached a verdict in the racketeering and sex trafficking trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs, the hip-hop mogul accused of operating a criminal enterprise that coerced women into sexual encounters with other men known as 'Freak Offs.' 00:36 - Source: CNN The teens trying to make 'MAHA' cool Lexi Vrachalus and Grace Price are two of the young influencers behind the newly formed 'MAHA Girls' account. They're bringing their social followings and "Make America Healthy Again" influence together to recruit a younger cohort of MAHA devotees. CNN's Meena Duerson chats with the 19-year-olds about where the movement is going. 02:51 - Source: CNN Jury in 'Diddy' Trial Reaches Partial Verdict Jurors in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' federal criminal trial said they have reached a verdict on four of the five counts, but they cannot reach a verdict on Count 1, which is racketeering conspiracy. The judge has asked the jury to continue to deliberate. They will resume on Wednesday morning. 01:55 - Source: CNN Inside the courtroom during 'Diddy' trial partial verdict drama CNN's Kara Scannell explains what it was like inside the courtroom during Sean "Diddy" Combs' trial when the jury said they had reached a partial verdict, but were unable to reach a verdict on one of the five counts. The judge instructed them to continue deliberating. They will resume on Wednesday morning. 02:09 - Source: CNN Will Sean 'Diddy' Combs be convicted? Sean 'Diddy' Combs is facing five charges in a blockbuster sex trafficking trial, but will he be found guilty? CNN's Elizabeth Wagmeister asks former prosecutor Elie Honig to predict the outcome. 03:05 - Source: CNN See swarms of 'lovebugs' invade South Korea Video posted on social media shows thousands of 'lovebugs' blanketing hiking trails on the Gyeyangsan mountain. South Korea is wrestling with an outbreak of the insects, which have been driven into warmer urban areas like Seoul due to climate change, according to a 2022 study. 00:42 - Source: CNN The key testimony and evidence in Sean Combs trial, explained CNN's Laura Coates goes over the five counts hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs is charged with, the key evidence and testimony presented to jurors, and how the defense disputes the allegations. 03:13 - Source: CNN Beyoncé's 'flying' car prop tilts midair A technical mishap led to Beyoncé's 'flying' car prop to tilt during a Cowboy Carter concert in Houston, with fans capturing the moment on video. The singer was quickly lowered down and without injury, according to Beyoncé's entertainment and management company. 00:57 - Source: CNN 'Cobra Kai' star Alicia Hannah-Kim accuses co-star of biting her "Cobra Kai" star Martin Kove allegedly bit co-star Alicia Hannah-Kim during a fan convention in Washington, claiming it was a joke, according to police. 03:02 - Source: CNN See Jonathan Anderson's highly anticipated Dior debut Jonathan Anderson, founder of JW Anderson, made his debut as creative director of Dior. His collection, Dior menswear Spring/Summer 2026, was showcased during Paris Fashion Week. 00:45 - Source: CNN What biohacker Bryan Johnson says is the most powerful drug in existence CNN's Boris Sanchez spoke with controversial biohacker Bryan Johnson about the impact of the medical experiments he's done and what he thinks is the most underrated aspect of health. 01:08 - Source: CNN See swarms of 'lovebugs' invade South Korea Video posted on social media shows thousands of 'lovebugs' blanketing hiking trails on the Gyeyangsan mountain. South Korea is wrestling with an outbreak of the insects, which have been driven into warmer urban areas like Seoul due to climate change, according to a 2022 study. 00:42 - Source: CNN Thousands defy ban on Budapest Pride Protesters in Budapest are marching against a ban on Pride events across Hungary. People came from 30 different countries to show support under scorching heat, organizers said. 00:53 - Source: CNN Two men reunite baby bird with its mother Two men were walking in their neighborhood when they heard chirping near a sewer. When they approached, they could see a baby bird trapped inside the sewer. 01:17 - Source: CNN Iowa anchor has been missing for 30 years CNN's Randi Kaye investigates the mystery of journalist Jodi Huisentruit's disappearance in 1995. Now thirty years later, police are still tracking down clues. 01:31 - Source: CNN Newlyweds Bezos and Sanchez spotted on boat ride CNN's Melissa Bell reports from Venice, Italy, following newlyweds Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez as they wave at spectators during their boat ride through the city. 00:45 - Source: CNN Brad Pitt's home burglarized The Los Angeles Police Department said a break-in occurred at a house in the Los Feliz neighborhood. A law enforcement source familiar with the investigation confirmed to CNN that it belongs to actor Brad Pitt. 00:32 - Source: CNN See moment suspect lights fire on Seoul subway CCTV footage released by the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office captures the moment a man lit a fire on a busy subway in the South Korean capital last month. The footage, from May 31, shows passengers running away after the suspect doused the floor of the train carriage with flammable liquid before setting it alight. Reuters reports that according to the prosecutors' office, six people were injured. The prosecutor's office says it charged the 67-year-old man with attempted murder and arson. 00:48 - Source: CNN Fireball spotted across the sky A 'daytime fireball' was caught on video in the sky over South Carolina – causing a sonic boom, according to the American Meteor Society. CNN has reached out to emergency management officials in North Carolina and Tennessee, as well as NASA for comment. 00:36 - Source: CNN
