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Daily Mail
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Diddy's jubilant children break silence on shock verdict as Cassie's family flees New York home
Diddy 's ecstatic children privately celebrated their father's stunning courtroom victory today, telling Daily Mail how they couldn't wait to hug him. Diddy's sons Justin and Christian said they had 'hoped' he would beat the most serious charges - which he did - and were eager now for their father, 55, to return home. It was a different story across town, where a deflated Cassie Ventura, Diddy's ex-girlfriend and the star witness, reacted with horror to the jury's findings. Her lawyer told CNN she was not impressed with Diddy's lawyer's characterization of her as a 'winner'. The mother-of-three, who testified while eight months pregnant, has not been seen. Her husband Alex Fine was spotted loading their two older children into a car not long after the verdict broke. But the jubilation of her ex's family was clear to see during an exclusive chat with Daily Mail. 'First thing I'm gonna do is hug my Pops!' Christian Combs, known professionally as King Combs, yelled in jubilation as he celebrated his father's victory in an elevator at the Manhattan federal court house. 'I am so happy,' Justin Combs, 31, added. Christian, 27, said: 'We were hopeful but you never know.' A jury convicted Sean Combs, 50, of a prostitution-related crime on Monday but cleared him of sex trafficking and racketeering charges. He's due back in court imminently to hear if he can go free on bail, after spending almost a year in Brooklyn's hellish Metropolitan Detention Center. Diddy, smiling and clasping his hands in prayer, appeared relieved and thrilled as the jury foreman delivered the verdict. Some spectators yelled out in joy. The court also broke out in applause as the music mogul left the courtroom. Combs and his loved ones are relieved by the verdict, while key witness Cassie Ventura and her family are 'trying to look forward'. Christian and Justin, accompanied by their girlfriends and Diddy's friend of 40 years music producer Charlucci Finney, rejoiced as they headed out of court Wednesday. Christian and Finney led rousing screams and cheers in the elevator, as Justin looked overcome with emotion. Finney, who was near tears, told the Mail: 'I just didn't know which way it was gonna go. I haven't even processed this yet. Man it's incredible he's gonna be coming home.' The judge received the note with the jury's verdict at 9.52am local time, he told the court. When the jury foreman read the three counts of not guilty, several spectators erupted with joy. Diddy's mother Janice Combs remained stoic until she hugged her sister. The twins rubbed their heads together when the not guilty verdicts were read. Combs's family members have been present throughout the trial since it began in early May. Janice waved at cameras as she left the building with a smile on Wednesday. The defense wants Diddy released on a $1 million bond, but the prosecutors have pushed back. A ruling on the matter is expected later today. 'It feels great,' defense attorney Marc Agnifilo told the Mail of the verdict after he exited the courtroom. Ventura, who was eight months pregnant when she took the stand during Diddy's trial, is now focusing on her family and trying to move forward. Pictured are who husband and children in New York this morning Alongside racketeering, Combs was charged with sex trafficking Ventura and a woman who testified under the pseudonym Jane. Ventura's husband Alex Fine and two of their three children were seen arriving back at their New York home Wednesday morning while the jury was deliberating. The R&B singer's lawyer Douglas Wigdor released a statement after the verdict was read out, saying how Ventura had made an 'indelible mark on both the entertainment industry and the fight for justice'. 'She displayed unquestionable strength and brought attention to the realities of powerful men in our orbit and the misconduct that has persisted for decades without repercussion,' Wigdor said. He added that her 'courage' in speaking out allowed for Combs' two convictions. Agnifilo, during the trial, called Ventura as the 'winner' in the case, citing the multi-million dollar settlement she received after her 2023 civil suit against Combs. But Wigdor dismissed the defense's characterization, telling CNN: 'Obviously, Cassie Ventura, at that point in time and today, is not the winner.' He highlighted how Ventura 'endured 10 years of abuse' at the hands of Combs that saw her allegedly raped and forced into 'days long sexual acts with UTIs'. He added: 'No amount of money is going to ever undo what she had to endure and what she had to go through.' Wigdor also noted how Ventura, who was eight months pregnant when she took the stand during the trial, is now focusing on her family and trying to move forward. The jury, after 13 hours of deliberation, found Combs guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. But he was acquitted of a major racketeering charge and two sex trafficking charges that could have sent him to prison to life. The relatively quick verdict arrived after seven weeks of at-times excruciating testimony, in which prosecutors had accused Combs of being the boss of a decades-long criminal group who directed loyal employees and bodyguards to commit myriad offenses at his behest. Jurors announced a partial verdict late Tuesday and said they were deadlocked on the racketeering charge - but Judge Arun Subramanian instructed them to keep working. Combs, once one of the most powerful figures in the music industry, had vehemently denied all charges. Both were in long-term relationships with the entrepreneur and hip-hop pioneer, and they each testified about abuse, threats and coercive sex in wrenching detail. They both said they felt obligated to participate in Combs-directed sexual marathons with hired men. Combs's lawyers insisted the sex was consensual. They conceded domestic violence was a feature of his relationships - one harrowing example of him beating and dragging Ventura was caught on security footage that has been widely publicized. Yet while disturbing, that did not amount to sex trafficking, the defense said. Jurors ultimately agreed. Combs has been jailed at a notorious Brooklyn prison since he was arrested in September 2024. The defense immediately requested he be released on bond - they suggested $1 million - and permitted to travel between Miami, Los Angeles, and New York while he awaits sentencing. The defense also said they would hand over his passport to court officials.
Daily Mail
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Diddy scores huge trial victory as prosecutors DROP key parts of charges
Sean ' Diddy ' Combs scored a huge courtroom victory after prosecutors decided to drop key parts of the charges against him. In a letter to U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian prosecutors said they will no longer pursue theories presented during the blockbuster trial, including that the music mogul was involved in attempted arson and kidnapping. The two alleged acts were initially included in the government's racketeering conspiracy charge against Combs. All charges against him still remain. The charge still alleges that the 55-year-old was involved in transportation for purposes of prostitution, bribery, witness tampering and drug-related offenses. 'The Government is no longer planning to proceed on these theories of liability, so instructions are no longer necessary,' prosecutors wrote in the letter. The decision was made as a way to streamline the jury's instructions, which are being discussed in court today between lawyers and Judge Subramanian. The arson allegation stems from rapper Kid Cudi 's testimony, when he claimed Diddy broke into his home after discovering his relationship with his long-time girlfriend and main accuser Cassie Ventura. After the alleged break in, a Porsche, owned by Kid Cudi, real name Scott Mescudi, was set on fire in his driveway. No one was ever charged in this incident. The kidnapping theory stems from Combs's former assistant Capricorn Clark's testimony, where she said she was kidnapped by Combs, who was armed with a gun, and driven to Cudi's home while he allegedly entered the residence. David S Weinstein, a former federal prosecutor who is now a partner at Jones Walker in Miami, Florida, told that this decision is a 'partial victory' for Diddy. He said that prosecutors had essentially 'conceded they do not have enough proof' for the kidnapping, arson and some of the sex-trafficking claims. That is why they were 'abandoning them' right before the jury is set to hear closing arguments, Weinstein said. He said it was wrong to say that these allegations were being 'dropped' as there was no standalone charge for them in the first place. All of them were included under the racketeering, or RICO, charge. Weinstein said that in order to prove racketeering, prosecutors had to prove two or more acts that were covered by the statute. By not asking the jury to consider kidnapping, arson, or some of the sex trafficking charges, prosecutors would be leaning more heavily on other allegations. The other charges Diddy faces under RICO includes: possession of drugs with intent to supply, other parts of sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution, bribery and tampering with a witness. Weinstein said: 'As they closed their case the government reevaluated the evidence they presented to the jury and determined there was not enough evidence to support these specific predicate acts in the RICO conspiracy. 'In order to avoid having the jury distracted by this lack of proof, they are asking that the jury not consider those acts any more. 'It's a partial victory for the defense and the prosecution is conceding they didn't submit enough proof. 'It's an effort by the government to clean things up.' According to Weinstein, had prosecutors not done this, it would have allowed Diddy's lawyers to 'poke holes' in their case. He said: 'If those allegations are still in there that allows the defense during closing arguments to turn and point at the prosecution and say here's the list they have to prove two or more from for RICO. 'Did you hear anything about this one? You can't rely on it, there's no proof beyond a reasonable doubt. 'They're overcharging because they thought they had it. Then they can ask why you should rely on any of that witness's testimony?' Another fact could have been anxiety among prosecutors about the impending July 4th holiday, which will lead to a three-day week next week. 'Sometimes a holiday helps prosecutors, sometimes not', Weinstein said. Diddy denies racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. The racketeering and sex trafficking charges against the rapper, who is currently locked up at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center, carry a minimum sentence of 15 years each. Transportation to engage in prostitution carries a maximum of 10 years behind bars. Closing arguments are anticipated to take place both Thursday and Friday from 9am-5pm. For more on the case everyone is talking about - search for The Trial of Diddy wherever you get your podcasts now.
Daily Mail
25-06-2025
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Diddy scores huge courtroom victory as prosecutors DROP key parts of charges
Sean ' Diddy ' Combs scored a huge courtroom victory after prosecutors decided to drop key parts of the charges against him. In a letter to U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian prosecutors said they will no longer pursue theories presented during the blockbuster trial, including that the music mogul was involved in attempted arson and kidnapping. The two alleged acts were initially included in the government's racketeering conspiracy charge against Combs. The charge still alleges that the 55-year-old was involved in transportation for purposes of prostitution, bribery, witness tampering and drug-related offenses. 'The Government is no longer planning to proceed on these theories of liability, so instructions are no longer necessary,' prosecutors wrote in the letter. The decision was made as a way to streamline the jury's instructions, which are being discussed in court today between lawyers and Judge Subramanian. The arson allegation stems from rapper Kid Cudi 's testimony, when he claimed Combs broke into his home after discovering his relationship with his long-time girlfriend and main accuser Cassie Ventura. After the alleged break in, a Porsche, owned by Kid Cudi, real name Scott Mescudi, was set on fire in his driveway. No one was ever charged in this incident. The kidnapping theory stems from Combs' former assistant Capircorn Clark's testimony, where she said she was kidnapped by Combs, who was armed with a gun, and driven to Mescudi's home while he allegedly entered the residence.
