Hip-hop mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has been acquitted of the most severe charges of sex trafficking and racketeering in a highly publicized trial that gripped the attention of many.
While Combs was cleared of the most severe charges by a Manhattan federal court on Wednesday, he was found guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.
During the verdict reading, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs cleared of the gravest accusations, breathed a visible sigh of relief in the courtroom.
He clasped his hands in a prayer motion and later knelt to pray after the jury acquitted him of charges that alleged he ran a criminal enterprise involving kidnapping, arson, and forced labor over decades.
The acquittals mean Combs avoids a potential life sentence, but the prostitution-related convictions could still result in up to 20 years in prison, with each count carrying a maximum of 10 years, pending the judge’s decision on whether sentences will run concurrently or consecutively.
The trial, which spanned seven weeks, centered on allegations from Combs’ former girlfriend, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, and another ex who testified under the pseudonym “Jane.”
Prosecutors accused Combs of coercing the women into drug-fueled “freak off” sex sessions with male escorts, claims that Combs’ legal team vehemently denied, arguing the encounters were consensual.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik described Combs as someone who “doesn’t take no for an answer,” alleging a pattern of abuse supported by a loyal inner circle.
However, the jury found insufficient evidence to convict on the sex trafficking and racketeering charges, delivering a partial victory for the defense.
While Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs cleared the most severe charges, the verdict has elicited mixed reactions on social media.
While many praised the jurors for doing their job, many criticised them for what they described as “incompetence”.
