The emotional gesture Sean 'Diddy' Combs made to the courtroom after the jury reached a verdict in his sex-trafficking trial has been revealed.
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The Manhattan federal jury found the 55-year-old rapper not guilty of Count 1, racketeering conspiracy, and not guilty of Count 2, sex trafficking of Cassie Ventura, but guilty of Count 3, transportation for prostitution of Cassie and others.
Combs was also acquitted of Count 4, sex trafficking of another former girlfriend identified only as “Jane,” while being found guilty of Count 5, transportation for prostitution of Jane and others.
The jurors deliberated for 13 hours over three days to reach a unanimous verdict.
As the verdict was read, Combs sat stoically, staring forward before raising his hands in a prayer gesture toward the jury in a sign of thanks, Sky News reported.
According to BBC News, at one point, he covered his face with his hands, then lifted them in the air in another prayer sign, nodding toward the jury and his family.
Before leaving, Combs dropped to his knees, pressed his face into his chair, and appeared to pray, his body visibly shaking, BBC News reports.
When he stood, he looked over at his family and began clapping loudly. His family and supporters joined in, with cheers echoing from the overflow room.
Combs then embraced his attorney before walking out of the courtroom, one of the final exits he would make in this long-running case.
Judge Arun Subramanian praised the jurors for their commitment, telling them, “I want you to know that it is inspiring to all of us. You listened, you worked together, you were here every day, rain or shine.”
He added: “You did so with no reward, other than the reward that comes from answering the call of public service. That should give all of us hope,” according to The Guardian.
Following the verdict, Combs’ lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, requested his release from federal detention, where he has remained since his September 2024 arrest after being denied bail.
Agnifilo argued that since the rapper was cleared of the more serious sex-trafficking and racketeering charges, continued detention was unnecessary.
While acknowledging the seriousness of all federal charges, he described the transportation convictions as “vastly” different from the initial allegations and noted it was Combs’ first conviction, proposing he be allowed to return to his Florida home.
Prosecutor Maurene Comey opposed the request, stating the government would seek the maximum 20-year sentence.
She accused the disgraced musician of committing a “litany of crimes,” including violence against women and drug trafficking, and argued he “does pose a danger” and would “flagrantly disregard” court conditions if released.
Agnifilo countered that the jury “has given him his life” and that Combs “would be nothing short of a fool” to violate bail conditions.
The verdict follows seven weeks of testimony, which included 34 witnesses, video evidence, and emotional testimony from Cassie Ventura and others who accused Combs of abuse.
Ventura’s bombshell civil lawsuit, filed in November 2023 and settled within 24 hours, appeared to trigger the criminal investigation into Combs.
In court, the 38-year-old testified that her former partner forced her into “freak-offs,” which prosecutors described as days-long, drug-fueled sex sessions with male prostitutes, sometimes recorded by Combs.
These encounters reportedly took place in Combs’ homes, Ventura’s homes, and hotel suites around the world, with Combs allegedly paying escorts between $1,500 and $6,000.
Another former girlfriend, identified only as “Jane,” testified that she was forced to take part in the “freak-offs” under threats that Combs would stop paying her rent and cut off financial support if she refused.
While Combs was acquitted of sex-trafficking charges related to Ventura, he was found guilty of transportation for prostitution.
In a statement following the mixed verdict, Cassie’s lawyer, Douglas H. Wigdor, said: “This entire criminal process started when our client, Cassie Ventura, had the courage to file her civil complaint in November 2023," per Sky News.
He added, “Although the jury did not find Combs guilty of sex trafficking Cassie beyond a reasonable doubt, she paved the way for a jury to find him guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution. By coming forward with her experience, Cassie has left an indelible mark on both the entertainment industry and the fight for justice," he shared.
Wigdor praised Ventura, who testified while heavily pregnant just three weeks before giving birth, for her “unquestionable strength” and said she “brought attention to the realities of powerful men in our orbit".
Judge Subramanian announced that he will decide later today whether Combs will be released on bond. He asked both sides to submit letters outlining their positions before the court reconvenes this afternoon.
Per CNN, Combs faces up to 20 years in prison, with each guilty conviction carrying a maximum 10-year sentence.