Jurors From The Diddy Trial Are Speaking Out After Their Acquittals Sparked Fierce Backlash. Here’s What They Have To Say.
Earlier this week, many were left shocked when Sean “Diddy" Combs was acquitted of the more serious charges of racketeering conspiracy, and sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion in his high-profile federal trial.
The 55-year-old star, who had pleaded “not guilty” to all charges, was found guilty on two federal counts of transportation for purposes of prostitution, and now faces up to 20 years in prison.
It came after weeks of testimony involving 34 witnesses, which included associates of Diddy’s and two alleged victims: Diddy’s ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, and another ex-girlfriend who testified under the pseudonym "Jane.”
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And ever since news of the mixed verdict broke on July 2, the jury involved in the case has faced intense scrutiny from the general public. In addition to people criticizing the male-majority jury of eight men and four women, questions have been raised over whether the jurors were influenced by Diddy’s celebrity status.
Now, one of the jurors, who requested to remain anonymous, has hit back at the “highly insulting” discourse in an interview with ABC News.
The individual opted to speak out after they heard a legal pundit imply that Diddy’s fame may have played a role in the verdict, telling ABC that this line of thinking is “highly insulting and belittling to the jury and the deliberation process."
"We spent over two days deliberating. Our decision was based solely on the evidence presented and how the law is stated," they added. "We would have treated any defendant in the same manner regardless of who they are. I have nothing else to say.”
The juror’s comments come after another person who served on the jury, George, spoke to both CNN and the New York Times to defend the verdict. As George was one of six alternates on the case, he was not present for the jury’s two days of deliberations, but was present for the entirety of the seven-week trial.
"Reading all my notes and looking back at the evidence, I probably would have reached the same conclusion as the other jurors," George told CNN of the racketeering charge. "I think there was always a little bit of doubt in people's minds. I think it was a tough case to prove, especially the first [charge of racketeering]. There was always a little bit of doubt there, even from the beginning."
George added that he was impressed by Diddy’s defense team in court, and said that the music mogul was “fighting for himself” despite opting against taking the stand.
After the jury delivered their verdict, Judge Subramanian denied Diddy’s bail, and his sentencing is tentatively set for October 3, though his defense is pushing for an earlier date.
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If you’re confused about how the not-guilty verdicts came to be, BuzzFeed spoke to attorney Adanté Pointer (Pointer & Buelna) for his perspective, which you can check out here.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE, which routes the caller to their nearest sexual assault service provider. You can also search for your local center here.
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