Jury deliberations in the high-profile federal trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs entered their third day Wednesday after jurors reached a partial verdict on four of five criminal counts. The panel told U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian they remain deadlocked on the most serious charge—racketeering conspiracy—citing “unpersuadable opinions” among jurors. Combs, who has denied all allegations, faces life in prison if convicted on that count.
The trial, which has drawn national attention, centers on allegations of sex trafficking, coercion, and abuse spanning two decades. The jury’s inability to reach a unanimous decision on the racketeering charge raises the possibility of a mistrial on that count, though deliberations continue.
What to Know:
- Combs faces five federal charges: one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.
- The jury has reached consensus on four charges but remains split on the racketeering count, which requires proof of at least two predicate crimes under the RICO Act.
- Witnesses included singer Cassie Ventura and rapper Kid Cudi. Jurors requested transcripts of Ventura’s testimony describing alleged assaults and threats by Combs.
- Jurors sent multiple notes to the judge, including questions about drug distribution and specific incidents involving Combs. No Allen charge has been issued yet.
- A conviction on the racketeering charge could result in a life sentence. The other charges carry significant prison terms, including a 15-year minimum for sex trafficking.
Stay with Newsweek for the latest updates.
09:54 AM EDT As jury deliberations resumed Wednesday in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal trial, the music mogul paused quietly with his family before leaving the courtroom. Turning to his children and relatives seated behind him, Combs said, “Stay strong,” before bowing his head in prayer.
“God, please watch over my family,” he said aloud, asking for blessings for his loved ones and the jurors deciding his fate, CNN reported. His children joined him in prayer, responding with “amen” and a round of applause.
After U.S. Marshals escorted Combs out of the courtroom, his children stood to leave. When it became clear that Judge Arun Subramanian was not yet on the bench, the family and several others in the gallery shared a brief laugh, offering a rare moment of levity in an otherwise tense and emotionally charged trial.
09:41 AM EDT Jurors in Combs’ federal trial returned to deliberations Wednesday morning after informing the court they had reached a verdict on four of five charges. The panel remains split on the most serious count—racketeering conspiracy—citing “unpersuadable opinions on both sides.”
So far, the jury has spent roughly 12.5 hours deliberating. Unlike previous days, jurors did not enter the courtroom first thing this morning. Instead, they will resume discussions once all 12 members are present.
Judge Arun Subramanian has instructed the panel to continue deliberating for now, despite the deadlock on Count 1. Tuesday’s late-afternoon note from the jury sparked a flurry of courtroom activity after a quiet day, underscoring the high stakes of the unresolved charge, which carries a potential life sentence.
09:26 AM EDT The jury in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal sex trafficking trial informed the court Tuesday that it has reached a verdict on four of the five charges but remains deadlocked on the most serious count: racketeering conspiracy.
In a note to U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, the 12-member panel said it had reached agreement on counts 2 through 5—which include sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution—but could not reach consensus on the racketeering charge due to “unpersuadable opinions on both sides.”
Sitting at the defense table, Combs appeared visibly shaken as his attorneys huddled around him. After conferring with both legal teams, Judge Subramanian instructed the jury to continue deliberating.
A conviction on the racketeering charge could carry a life sentence. Deliberations are expected to resume Wednesday morning.
Sean “Diddy” Combs’ family arrives to the courthouse as jury deliberates final charge after reaching a partial verdict on July 2, 2025. Sean “Diddy” Combs’ family arrives to the courthouse as jury deliberates final charge after reaching a partial verdict on July 2, 2025. Joshua Rhett Miller/Newsweek
Sean “Diddy” Combs returned to court Wednesday morning as jurors resumed deliberations in his federal trial. Just after 9 a.m., the music mogul stood beside his attorney, Marc Agnifilo, quietly reviewing documents from a file folder he brought to the defense table.
Combs’ family is arriving in the court now.
09:13 AM EDT After seven weeks of emotional and often graphic testimony, federal prosecutors have rested their case against Sean “Diddy” Combs in his sex trafficking and racketeering trial. The government called 34 witnesses in total, painting a picture of a decades-long pattern of abuse, coercion, and violence allegedly orchestrated by the music mogul.
Key witnesses included Combs’ former partners, Cassie Ventura and a woman identified only as “Jane,” both of whom described being forced into drug-fueled sex acts known as “freak-offs.” Their accounts were supported by testimony from hotel staff, personal assistants, and others who said they witnessed or facilitated Combs’ behavior. Rapper Kid Cudi also testified, linking Combs to a 2011 break-in and a subsequent car fire.
Combs declined to testify in his own defense, and his legal team chose not to call any witnesses. Instead, they focused on cross-examining the prosecution’s witnesses, challenging their credibility and motivations. The defense maintains that the relationships were consensual and that the allegations are exaggerated or false.
The jury is now deliberating on five federal charges, including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. A conviction on the top count could carry a life sentence.
09:00 AM EDT As jury deliberations continue in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal trial, the panel remains deadlocked on the most complex and serious charge: racketeering conspiracy. Count 1 of the indictment accuses Combs of leading a criminal enterprise over two decades, from 2004 until his arrest in 2024, violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.
Racketeering conspiracy doesn’t require proof of a formal agreement—just a mutual understanding to commit crimes as part of an organized effort. Prosecutors allege Combs used his business empire to facilitate and conceal a pattern of criminal behavior, including sex trafficking, witness tampering, and drug distribution.
To convict on this charge, jurors must agree that Combs committed at least two of eight alleged “predicate acts,” which include kidnapping, arson, bribery, forced labor, and transportation for prostitution. The charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Judge Arun Subramanian has instructed jurors that they may infer the existence of a conspiracy from the conduct and circumstances surrounding the case. However, with some jurors reportedly holding “unpersuadable” views, the possibility of a mistrial on this count remains on the table.
08:47 AM EDT As jury deliberations continue in Sean “Diddy” Combs’s federal trial, jurors have sent multiple notes to the judge seeking clarification on key elements of the case, including the legal definition of drug distribution and specific testimony from one of the prosecution’s central witnesses, Cassie Ventura.
On Monday, the jury asked whether someone who hands over drugs at another person’s request qualifies as a distributor. While Combs is not charged with drug distribution, prosecutors have accused him of possessing drugs with the intent to distribute as part of a broader racketeering conspiracy. Under the RICO Act, jurors must agree that Combs committed at least two predicate crimes—such as drug distribution, sex trafficking, or witness tampering—to convict him on the racketeering charge.
The jury also requested transcripts of Ventura’s testimony describing several alleged assaults. These include a 2016 incident at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles, an alleged “freak off” at the Essex House hotel, and a confrontation at the Cannes Film Festival where Ventura said Combs kicked her off a yacht and later threatened to release a sex tape.
The requests offer rare insight into the jury’s focus as they weigh five serious charges against Combs, including sex trafficking and transportation for the purposes of prostitution. Deliberations are now in their third day.
Sean “Diddy” Combs arrives at the LA Premiere of “The Four: Battle For Stardom” at the CBS Radford Studio Center, May 30, 2018, in Los Angeles. Sean “Diddy” Combs arrives at the LA Premiere of “The Four: Battle For Stardom” at the CBS Radford Studio Center, May 30, 2018, in Los Angeles. Associated Press
The jury in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking trial announced Tuesday that it had reached a verdict on four of the five charges, but remained deadlocked on the most serious count: racketeering conspiracy.
Judge Arun Subramanian, echoing the views of both prosecutors and the defense, said it was too early—just two days into deliberations—for the panel to give up. The judge instructed the jury to continue deliberations.
The verdict reached on four charges was not read in court.
The jury will continue deliberating Wednesday morning.
Subramanian revealed that at 4:05 p.m., the court received a note stating the jury had reached a partial verdict but could not unanimously agree on the racketeering charge due to “unpersuadable views” held by members on both sides.
Combs’ mother and several of his children returned to the courtroom after Subramanian announced that the jury had reached a partial verdict.
Read the full story by Jenna Sundel, Joshua Rhett Miller, and Gabe Whisnant on Newsweek.
