On July 2, a jury comprising his peers acquitted rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs of the gravest allegations leveled against him. The jury declared in court that the prosecution had failed to establish the music mogul's involvement in racketeering conspiracy or sex trafficking. However, Diddy was convicted on two counts related to transporting individuals for prostitution.
An alternate juror, who validated his identity with Fox News Digital using his badge, shed light on how Diddy's defense had successfully dissected the prosecution's case. "There were instances where the defense really gained ground," the juror revealed to Fox News Digital. "One moment that particularly stood out for me – I even jotted it down in my notes – was the cross-examination of Dawn Richard. Moreover, Miss Westmoreland's cross-examination of her, and even Bana, left noticeable gaps in their testimonies. It was fascinating to observe how she accomplished that."
Dawn Richard, a former Danity Kane singer, testified that she advised Diddy's ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, to leave him after witnessing him physically assault Cassie. While in the recording studio, Diddy allegedly dismissed the incident as a "passionate" moment common in relationships, asserting that Cassie was fine and it was best to remain silent. He also reportedly hinted at dire consequences, which Richard interpreted as a threat of death.
Diddy's attorney, Nicole Westmoreland, pointed out inconsistencies in Richard's various interviews with prosecutors. The defense attorney further questioned why Richard had not disclosed Diddy's alleged death threat until a week before the trial. "You didn't recall a death threat on seven different occasions?" Westmoreland inquired.
Diddy's defense also rigorously cross-examined Bryana Bongolan, Cassie's friend, who sometimes went by the nickname "Bana." Bongolan testified that Diddy had dangling her over the edge of a 17-story balcony. During cross-examination, Westmoreland managed to elicit an admission from Bana that she couldn't recall the specifics of the alleged incident.
The alternate juror, who listened to seven weeks of testimony but did not participate in deliberations, concurred that he would have arrived at the same verdict as the jurors on the racketeering charge. He praised both legal teams for their exceptional performance in the Southern District of New York, describing it as the "premier district" and "the trials hub."
"It was like watching a movie," the juror recounted. "As someone who had never been in court, never served as a juror, and was unfamiliar with court proceedings, the experience was unforgettable. Observing how everyone conducted themselves was truly memorable."
Throughout the trial, Diddy remained "exceptionally engaged," according to the juror. "It was evident that he was fighting the whole time. He was constantly taking notes during cross-examinations and handing them to his lawyer. I found it all very intriguing."
The alternate juror, who had never seen Diddy or followed his music, admitted that the rapper's presence never intimidated him. "Seeing him in person every day with his white hair was completely new to me," he shared with Fox News Digital. "It was memorable in that sense. But I never felt intimidated or saw him as a celebrity who could affect my impartiality. I was simply sitting and listening to all the evidence presented."
Judge Arun Subramanian set Diddy's sentencing hearing for October 3, where he could face up to 20 years in prison, 10 years for each count of transporting individuals for prostitution.
The alternate juror expressed his hope that Diddy receives the help he needs. "From the opening arguments, they portrayed Diddy as a deeply flawed individual – a drug addict, a sex addict, a person with many imperfections," the juror recalled. "Regardless of the sentence, I hope he gets the help he needs. If he's in prison, I hope he can still access that help." He added, "I just hope he uses this time to reflect and get the assistance he desperately requires."
According to Diddy's defense lawyer, the embattled music mogul plans to reenroll in a program for domestic batterers upon his release. He had initiated the program shortly before his arrest in September 2024. "He's doing alright," Marc Agnifilo told The Associated Press, emphasizing that Diddy genuinely seeks improvement and acknowledges his unaddressed flaws. "He's intense in everything he does. He now realizes that these flaws exist and that neither fame nor wealth can erase them. You can't cover them up," Agnifilo said.
