Diddy's defense lawyers have released a statement after the jury reached a verdict in his sex-trafficking trial.
On Tuesday (July 2), the Manhattan federal jury found Sean 'Diddy Combs 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 55-year-old rapper, who made a praying gesture after the verdict was announced, was denied bail and will remain in jail until October.
“Today’s a great victory,” Combs’ lead counsel, Marc Agnifilo, declared. While the musician faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, he dodged sex trafficking and racketeering charges that could have landed him behind bars for life.
“It’s a great victory for Sean Combs, it’s a great victory for the jury system," he continued, per Variety. “One thing stands between all of us and a prison, and that is a jury of 12 citizens,” Agnifilo said, adding that the jurors “got the situation right - or certainly, right enough.”
Fellow defense attorney Teny Geragos also spoke out, saying: “Sean Combs has not sexually assaulted anybody. I’ve been saying that for months. The media got it wrong.” However, another one of Combs’ attorneys, Brian Steel, praised the reporters in front of him: “I want to thank you all for being here and writing truthfully.”
Attorney Nicole Westmoreland also expressed gratitude to the media and said she was “proud” of Combs because he “actually battled for his freedom.” Her co-counsel, Xavier Donaldson, added: “The job is not done yet."
The defense team refused to share whether they would appeal the judge’s denial of bail. “We are not nearly done fighting. We’re not going to stop until he walks out of prison a free man to his family," Agnifilo announced.
The 'I'll Be Missing You' rapper, who has been jailed since his September arrest, has long maintained his innocence. He previously pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The verdict follows seven weeks of testimony from several witnesses, including Combs' former partner, Cassie Ventura.
The 38-year-old 'Me & U' singer testified that Combs forced her into “freak-offs,” which prosecutors described as days-long, drug-fueled sex sessions with male prostitutes, sometimes recorded by Combs.
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.
Ventura's lawyer, Douglas H. Wigdor, reacted to the verdict with a statement, which read: “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".