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NBC News
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Diddy trial jurors to continue deliberating after reaching verdict on all but one count
This is a free article for Diddy on Trial newsletter subscribers. to get exclusive reporting and analysis throughout Sean Combs' federal trial. Today, the jurors in Diddy's trial said they'd reached a verdict on four of the five criminal counts against the hip-hop mogul. In a note to the court just after 4 p.m. ET, the jury said it had made up its mind on the prosecution's two counts of sex trafficking and two counts of t ransportation to engage in prostitution. But on the remaining count — racketeering conspiracy — the panel said it could not get to a unanimous decision because of 'unpersuadable' opinions. U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian asked the lawyers for suggestions on what to do next. Both sides agreed they'd like jurors to continue deliberating on the racketeering conspiracy charge. Ultimately, Subramanian instructed the jurors to keep talking. 'I remind you of the instructions I gave you yesterday,' Subramanian said. 'You should not hesitate to change an opinion when convinced, weigh your opinion dispassionately, and follow my instructions on the law.' The upshot: The jurors will be back in the federal courthouse tomorrow for more closed-door deliberations on count 1. We'll keep you updated on all the key developments. 🔎 The view from inside By Adam Reiss, Chloe Melas, Katherine Koretski and Jing Feng Diddy looked slightly on edge this morning, though he turned around to face family members, waving and making a prayer hands gesture. He chatted with his mother, Janice Combs, and blew kisses to her.'Relax. It's going to be alright, Ma,' Diddy could be heard telling her. He added: 'I like your shirt, your outfit.' When the jury's afternoon note came in, the mood in the courtroom became tense. Diddy's defense team formed a tight horseshoe-shaped huddle around their client for over 10 minutes. Diddy looked dejected and stared at the floor, hands folded in his lap. He later appeared to be wiggling his fingers as one of his attorneys whispered into his ear. The music mogul's face was stone cold. 👨⚖️ Analysis: No big shock here By Danny Cevallos The partial verdict is not a shocker to me — if the verdicts on counts 2 through 5 are guilty. Anything else on counts 2 through 5 would be a surprise. I expected a relatively quick verdict on all but racketeering conspiracy, in part because that count was always the most complicated. Even the verdict form for count 1 takes up more page space than any of the other counts. Count 1 was always going to be tough for a jury. It's tough for the attorneys to understand, too. PSA: Every night during Diddy's trial, NBC's 'Dateline' will drop special episodes of the 'True Crime Weekly' podcast to get you up to speed. 'Dateline' correspondent Andrea Canning chats with NBC News' Chloe Melas and special guests — right in front of the courthouse. Listen here.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Prosecutor details Diddy's alleged criminal ‘kingdom' in closing arguments
This is a free article for Diddy on Trial newsletter subscribers. Sign up to get exclusive reporting and analysis throughout Sean Combs' federal trial. Today, U.S. government prosecutor Christy Slavik delivered closing arguments to the jury. Slavik, who addressed jurors for nearly five hours, painted a scathing portrait of Diddy, casting the defendant as 'the leader of a criminal enterprise' who did 'not take no for an answer' and 'used power, violence and fear to get what he wanted.' 'It was his kingdom,' Slavik said. 'Everyone was there to serve him.' In painstaking detail, Slavik walked the 12-person panel through the federal government's three charges against Diddy. She asserted that the evidence, when tied together, showed beyond a reasonable doubt that the music mogul was guilty of one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The center of the government's case: drug-fueled 'freak offs.' Slavik detailed how Diddy relied on his inner circle to force ex-girlfriends Cassie Ventura and 'Jane' into participating in marathon sexual encounters with male escorts. She argued that Diddy's employees carried out an array of crimes to 'make him happy,' including kidnapping, arson and bribery. 'He was able to get away with it due to his money, power and influence, and that stops now,' Slavik said in closing. 'It is time to hold him accountable. It is time for justice. It is time to find him guilty.' We felt nervous energy coursing through the packed courtroom this morning as Diddy's family members took their seats and Slavik prepared to deliver her closing argument. Diddy, wearing light pants and a white sweater, entered a short time later. He looked at his family and put his hand to his heart. At one point, Diddy's twin daughters passed a note to defense attorney Teny Geragos. She handed it to Diddy, who smiled. In the second hour of Slavik's summation, Diddy started to take on a noticeably more downcast appearance. He sat back in his chair with his head down while Slavik detailed the government's sex trafficking charges, looking completely dejected — even defeated. Later, he kept his eyes on the floor when Slavik played the infamous video recording of Diddy kicking and dragging Ventura in a hallway at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles in 2016. PSA: Every night during Diddy's trial, NBC's 'Dateline' will drop special episodes of the 'True Crime Weekly' podcast to get you up to speed. 'Dateline' correspondent Andrea Canning chats with NBC News' Chloe Melas and special guests — right in front of the courthouse. Listen here. This article was originally published on
NBC News
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Prosecutor details Diddy's alleged criminal ‘kingdom' in closing arguments
This is a free article for Diddy on Trial newsletter subscribers. to get exclusive reporting and analysis throughout Sean Combs' federal trial. Today, U.S. government prosecutor Christy Slavik delivered closing arguments to the jury. Slavik, who addressed jurors for nearly five hours, painted a scathing portrait of Diddy, casting the defendant as 'the leader of a criminal enterprise' who did 'not take no for an answer' and 'used power, violence and fear to get what he wanted.' 'It was his kingdom,' Slavik said. 'Everyone was there to serve him.' In painstaking detail, Slavik walked the 12-person panel through the federal government's three charges against Diddy. She asserted that the evidence, when tied together, showed beyond a reasonable doubt that the music mogul was guilty of one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The center of the government's case: drug-fueled 'freak offs.' Slavik detailed how Diddy relied on his inner circle to force ex-girlfriends Cassie Ventura and ' Jane ' into participating in marathon sexual encounters with male escorts. She argued that Diddy's employees carried out an array of crimes to 'make him happy,' including kidnapping, arson and bribery. 'He was able to get away with it due to his money, power and influence, and that stops now,' Slavik said in closing. 'It is time to hold him accountable. It is time for justice. It is time to find him guilty.' 🔎 The view from inside By Adam Reiss, Chloe Melas, Katherine Koretski and Jing Feng We felt nervous energy coursing through the packed courtroom this morning as Diddy's family members took their seats and Slavik prepared to deliver her closing argument. Diddy, wearing light pants and a white sweater, entered a short time later. He looked at his family and put his hand to his heart. At one point, Diddy's twin daughters passed a note to defense attorney Teny Geragos. She handed it to Diddy, who smiled. In the second hour of Slavik's summation, Diddy started to take on a noticeably more downcast appearance. He sat back in his chair with his head down while Slavik detailed the government's sex trafficking charges, looking completely dejected — even defeated. Later, he kept his eyes on the floor when Slavik played the infamous video recording of Diddy kicking and dragging Ventura in a hallway at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles in 2016. PSA: Every night during Diddy's trial, NBC's 'Dateline' will drop special episodes of the 'True Crime Weekly' podcast to get you up to speed. 'Dateline' correspondent Andrea Canning chats with NBC News' Chloe Melas and special guests — right in front of the courthouse. Listen here.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Diddy Courtroom Sketch Artist Reveals Surprising Message Rapper's Mom Gave Her During Trial
One of the courtroom sketch artists tasked with covering Sean 'Diddy' Combs' trial, Christine Cornell, revealed what it's like to participate in the high-profile legal proceedings. 'You want to have a really accurate drawing that really resembles them, and you want to capture a little bit of the dynamic of the courtroom,' Cornell said on the Thursday, June 5, episode of Dateline's 'True Crime Weekly' podcast. 'For the most part, I get a lot of affirmation.' Cornell, who illustrates approximately three to six drawings each day, even got a subtle stamp of approval from Diddy's mom, Janice Combs. 'Puffy Combs' mom is sitting behind me, and she tapped me on the shoulder and gave me a thumbs-up,' Cornell told podcast host Andrea Canning. 'She likes the way I'm drawing her son. I said, 'Well, ma'am, do you mind if I draw you?' She, right away, started posing for me.' Diddy, Sporting Gray Hair, Faces Judge in Courtroom Sketches From Federal Sex Trafficking Trial Diddy, 55, is currently on trial for charges pertaining to sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution and racketeering conspiracy. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and denied every allegation against him. 'I was looking at Puffy on the first day [through] my binoculars,' Cornell recalled on Thursday. 'I [use them] because I want to see as much as I can see. So, I had my binoculars on him and I see him looking straight at me. It sort of feels like a social faux pas. I put them down comically quickly, and he [started waving at me].' While drawing Diddy, his mother and the lengthy list of witnesses called — including Cassie, Kid Cudi and the rapper's past employees — Cornell has made sure to paint an accurate image of what it's really like inside the courtroom. 'You can't help but feel there was a tension between P. Diddy and Cassie,' she recalled of the disgraced music mogul and his ex-girlfriend, who took the stand for four days in May. 'I could see it on her 'cause she held her own, but she wept a little, and Diddy, of course, is fighting for his life. So, he's in warrior mode.' According to Cornell, Diddy had also been through physical changes while behind bars. Why Isn't the Diddy Trial Being Broadcast or Livestreamed? Why Some Court Cases Are Private 'I think he's been working out a ton. He's got a very broad back [and] he looks solid,' she speculated. 'Then, of course, everyone's fascinated that he can't get hair dye in jail. He's salt-and-pepper on the sides, a little whiter on top and his little, tiny goatee is very white.' If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). If you or someone you know are experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support. If you or someone you know is a human trafficking victim, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Diddy Tells Courtroom Artist To 'Soften' Him Up In Her Sketches, Claims He Looks Like A 'Koala Bear'
Sean "Diddy" Combs has expressed his dissatisfaction with a courtroom sketch of him during his sex trafficking trial on Thursday. For weeks, the jury has been listening to testimony from Diddy's alleged victims, associates, and witnesses, while the rapper observes from the defense section. During these proceedings, courtroom sketches of Sean "Diddy" Combs are drawn by artists, one of whom reportedly received a subtle nod of approval from Diddy's mother, Janice Combs. On Thursday's hearing of Diddy's sex crimes trial, the rapper made a request to the courtroom sketch artist, Jane Rosenberg, that showed he was displeased with how she had captured him. "Soften me up a bit, you're making me look like a koala bear," Combs said, per the New York Post. The incident reportedly happened while the jury was out for a break, and it is unclear whether Rosenberg issued a response to the music mogul when he made the weird request. Rosenberg is one of the artists who have been covering the rapper's trial since it began in May. Her services, and those of others like her, have been invaluable for documenting the proceedings, as the judge's ruling prohibited the televising of the trial and banned all attendees from taking photos, making recordings, or livestreaming. While Rosenberg got criticized by the embattled rapper, another courtroom sketch artist, Christine Cornell, previously claimed she received a "thumbs-up" from Diddy's mother, Janice Combs, when she drew her during one of the proceedings. "Puffy Combs' mom is sitting behind me, and she tapped me on the shoulder and gave me a thumbs-up," Cornell recalled the scene during her appearance on Dateline's True Crime Weekly podcast, per US Weekly. She added, "She likes the way I'm drawing her son. I said, 'Well, ma'am, do you mind if I draw you?' She, right away, started posing for me." Cornell also claimed that people have been drawn to her sketches, which range between three and six each day of the trial. "You want to have a really accurate drawing that really resembles them, and you want to capture a little bit of the dynamic of the courtroom," the artist further remarked. "For the most part, I get a lot of affirmation." Diddy is being tried on five felony charges, namely racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. He was initially facing just single counts of racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution, but the extra two counts were added in a superseding indictment in April. Last month, Diddy's legal team pushed for a mistrial, arguing that federal prosecutors had crossed a line during their questioning of one of the witnesses. According to the defense, prosecutors unfairly hinted that Combs had a hand in covering up key evidence tied to the arson case involving Kid Cudi's vehicle. However, the motion received a quick shutdown from Judge Arun Subramanian, who said that "absolutely no testimony from the witness was prejudicial in any way, shape, or form." If Diddy is found guilty of all of the charges, he faces the possibility of living the rest of his life in prison. Since the trial began, several witnesses have taken the stand to testify against Diddy. One of the most prominent is his former partner, singer and actress Cassandra "Cassie" Ventura. During her testimony, Cassie spoke extensively about years of alleged abuse by the rapper, including graphic details about the now-infamous "freak-offs," which she claimed she was often forced to participate in without consent. Her mother, Regina Ventura, was also called to testify and supported many of her daughter's allegations. Rapper Kid Cudi, who previously dated Cassie in 2011, also took the stand. He recalled the disturbing incident when his car was firebombed, an event believed to be linked to his brief relationship with Cassie. Other witnesses have included singer Dawn Richard, Cassie's former best friend and roommate Kerry Morgan, and makeup artist Mylah Morales, all of whom spoke about instances of Diddy's allegedly assaulting Cassie. Diddy has reportedly adopted the position of a "quarterback" to his lineup of well-paid attorneys and has seemingly shaken off the early nerves he felt in the courtroom during the trial. According to the Daily Mail, he has been seen passing dozens of sticky notes to his lawyers, intensely questioning them during breaks, and suggesting they bring in different evidence, and has generally used his memories to bolster his lawyers' tactics. "He was there, he remembers exactly what happened: nobody knows more about Diddy's life than he does," a source told the news outlet. "He's very involved and he's on top of things because he knows his life is on the line."
