After nearly two months of explosive testimony, the jury in Sean “Diddy” Combs’s federal trial is set to begin deliberations this Monday, marking the final chapter in one of the most high-profile celebrity trials in recent memory, per independent.co.uk.
The 12-person jury—comprising eight men and four women from across Manhattan, the Bronx, and Westchester—was sent home for the weekend by Judge Arun Subramanian to return “fresh” for the formal jury charging process. This final step includes a detailed review of the government’s case and will set the stage for what could be a landmark verdict.
Combs faces serious charges, including sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution, and racketeering conspiracy. Prosecutors claim the music mogul ran a long-standing criminal enterprise involving abuse, coercion, and psychological manipulation over a 20-year period from 2004 to 2024. Several key witnesses, including former partners and male escorts, recounted shocking stories of a secret world of exploitation beneath the glitz of Combs’s celebrity image.
In their fiery closing, prosecutors painted a picture of a man who used his fame as cover for systematic abuse. But the defense pushed back hard. Lead attorney Marc Agnifilo argued that the trial was a “tale of two narratives”—one backed by evidence, the other constructed through speculation. He insisted the government had “badly, badly exaggerated” the facts and portrayed Combs as a victim of distorted interpretation of consensual adult behavior.
If convicted, Combs faces a potential sentence of 15 years to life in prison.
With the world watching and celebrity supporters like Kanye West making surprise appearances, all eyes now turn to the jury room—where the fate of one of hip-hop’s most iconic figures hangs in the balance.
