The jury on the trial of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, which saw the music mogul face charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation for prostitution, reached a verdict on 2 July after eight weeks of testimony. They cleared Diddy of all sex trafficking and racketeering charges but found him guilty of two counts of transportation for prostitution.
Both counts face a maximum jail sentence of 10 years and it is now down to Judge Subramanian to decide whether to release Diddy on bail or keep him detained while he decides exactly what his sentencing will be. By all accounts, however, the verdict has been viewed as a victory for Diddy and his defence team.
While Diddy was not found guilty of sex trafficking his on-off girlfriend of 10 years, Cassie Ventura, he was found guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution in relation to her. Her lawyer has said they still take comfort in the fact he faces substantial jail time.
‘We’re just pleased that he still faces substantial jail time,’ Doug Wigdor said outside the court. The lawyer added that he feels confident that Diddy still faces ‘substantial incarceration’ with the two charges he has been found guilty of and praised Cassie for the impact her testimony will have.
‘By coming forward with her experience, Cassie has left an indelible mark on both the entertainment industry and the fight for justice,’ the statement from Doug Wigdor says. ‘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.’
Cassie, who gave birth to her and her husband Alex Fine’s third child two weeks after attending court, was one of 34 people to testify during the trial. The defence called exactly no one to testify and Diddy did not even speak during his own trial.
Attorney Jay Clayton and Homeland Security’s New York Field Office leader Ricky Patel also spoke outside court to thank their teams, as well as the New York Police Department, and others who helped in ‘sharing our victim-centred approach to combatting sex crimes’.
‘Sex crimes deeply scar victims, and the disturbing reality is that sex crimes are all too present in many aspects of our society,’ they said, adding that victims go through ‘gut-wrenching physical and mental abuse’ which leads to trauma. ‘New Yorkers and all Americans want this scourge stopped and perpetrators brought to justice.’
