Diddy trial live updates: Jury begins deliberations as Sean Combs awaits verdict in sex trafficking case

A jury of 12 New Yorkers began deliberations in the sex-trafficking and racketeering trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs on Monday.

After weeks of graphic testimony from dozens of witnesses in Manhattan federal court, including Combs’ ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, the panel of jurors will decide the music mogul’s fate.

Judge Arun Subramanian instructed jurors on how they should consider the charges against Combs and whether he is guilty or not, in a process known as “charging the jury” on Monday morning. He then sent them back to the jury room for deliberations.

In their closing argument Thursday, prosecutors outlined an alleged cycle of sexual exploitation, physical abuse, and psychological manipulation allegedly orchestrated by Combs. On Friday, lead defense attorney Marc Agnifilo rebuked the government for having “badly, badly exaggerated” the case against his client.

Combs is facing two counts of sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution, and one count of racketeering conspiracy. Combs was arrested in September 2024 as federal authorities alleged he threatened, abused, and coerced victims “to fulfill his sexual desires” between 2004 and 2024.

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Key points

• Jury is charged, deliberations begin
• Who are the jurors set to decide Sean Combs's fate?
• Recap: Key moments from closing arguments
• Could a verdict come today?

Inside the courtroom: Combs writes notes to his attorneys

17:08 , Kelly Rissman

The jury got the case at 11:30 a.m. after two hours and 15 minutes of instructions.

Combs spent a lot of that time writing notes to his attorneys. He also took off one pair of glasses and then put on another.

He’s wearing a light yellow sweater and came in with a smile, and hugged his attorneys, as always.

Jury is charged, deliberations begin

16:38 , Ariana Baio

The jury has been instructed and the judge has sent them back to the room for deliberations.

What does the government need to prove in transportation for prostitution charges?

16:37 , Ariana Baio

The government needed to prove that Combs knowingly transported or arranged for the transportation of an individual for prostitution – sexual activity in exchange for money or its equivalent – beyond a reasonable doubt in order for jurors to find him guilty of the charge.

Combs is facing two counts of transportation for prostitution purposes – one regarding Ventura and the other regarding “Jane.”

Judge Subramanian said that buying or arranging a ticket is enough to prove transportation, but that the government needed to prove at least one of those acts occurred in the court’s jurisdiction.

What does the government need to prove in sex trafficking charge?

16:29 , Ariana Baio

For jurors to find Combs guilty of sex trafficking, the government needed to prove that Combs transported one person to another place with reckless disregard that caused a person to engage in commercial sex acts.

Combs was charged with two counts of sex trafficking, one for his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, and another for his ex-girlfriend known under the pseudonym “Jane.”

Jurors must be unanimous in at least one specific instance of sex trafficking.

What does the government need to prove for racketeering conspiracy?

15:38 , Ariana Baio

The jury must determine whether or not Combs conspired with at least one other member of his alleged “criminal enterprise” to commit two crimes within 10 years of each other, Judge Subramanian instructed on Monday.

The first charge brought by the government was racketeering conspiracy – a serious allegation that carries a maximum sentencing of life in prison.

In their indictment, prosecutors alleged that Combs co-conspired to commit arson, transportation to engage in prostitution, kidnapping, bribery of a witness, sex trafficking, forced labor, witness tampering, and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.

The judge instructed jurors that kidnapping occurs when the victim did not consent. Arson, as defined under California law, is the intentional act of setting or causing fire to something. Bribery requires a conspirator to have given, or promised to give, a bribe to a witness providing information to law enforcement.

Forced labor requires the use of force, or physical restraint, on a person who did not give consent or revoked consent. Witness tampering does not require a person to have become fearful, just that someone threatened a potential witness.

Distribution of narcotics means that a person knowingly and intentionally transferred narcotics to another person.

Jurors also must find that this behavior continued past 2019, because RICO has a five-year statute of limitations.

Combs' family arrives before deliberations

15:16 , Ariana Baio

Janice Combs, mother of Sean

King Combs, son of Sean Combs, arrives at court on Monday, June 30, 2025 (AP)

Chance Combs and D'Lila Star Combs, the daughters of Sean

Quincy Brown arrives at court on Monday, June 30, 2025 (AP)

Catch up with closing arguments

14:30 , Ariana Baio

The defense for Sean “Diddy” Combs described the “tale of two trials” as the music mogul’s sex trafficking trial is soon to enter jury deliberations.

Kelly Rissman reports:

Diddy’s lawyers and the prosecution trade blows during fiery closing arguments

Back in court: judge begins to read jury instrucitons

14:27 , Ariana Baio

Court has begun for the day and Judge Arun Subramanian is beginning to read jury instructions to the panel of 12 New Yorkers.

How long could Diddy spend in prison if found guilty?

13:59 , James Liddell

Sean Combs is is facing two charges of sex trafficking, two charges of transportation to engage in prostitution and a racketeering conspiracy charge.

Combs faces up to life in prison if he is convicted on the racketeering charge.

If he is found guilty of sex trafficking, he faces another statutory minimum sentence of 15 years.

Transportation to engage in prostitution typically carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.

In sketches: Six weeks of testimony, two key moments

13:45 , James Liddell

Sean Combs listened as his former girlfriend Casandra ‘Cassie’ Ventura testified as the infamous 2016 LA hotel video from was played on May 14 (Reuters)

Combs watchd as defense attorney Teny Geragos cross-examined a witness testifying under the pseudonym ‘Jane’ to protect her privacy on June 10 (Reuters)

How will the jury decide on the racketeering conspiracy charge?

13:25 , James Liddell

The government has proposed 10 predicate acts – a specific crime that forms part of a larger criminal pattern – that support the racketeering conspiracy charge.

A jury must unanimously find that at least two of those acts listed were committed to convict Combs of the specific charge.

One of the predicate acts is sex trafficking, which, if jurors agree happened, they must specify it involved either of Combs’s ex-girlfriends Cassie Ventura – between 2009 and 2018 – or a witness who testified under the pseudonym “Jane” – between May 2021 and 2024.

It is separate from the two charges of sex trafficking and two charges of transportation to engage in prostitution that Combs faces.

From court: Judge to deliver extensive instructions to jury

13:00 , Kelly Rissman

Sean “Diddy” Combs’s sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy trial has entered its final stretch.

The judge is expected to read approximately 118 pages of legal instructions to the jury before deliberations begin.

Could a verdict come today?

12:39 , James Liddell

The jury is set to begin deliberations today after receiving legal instructions from Judge Arun Subramanian.

There is no fixed timeline for deliberations, which can last anywhere from a few hours to several days or longer.

Given the volume of testimony from 34 witnesses that took the stand and the case’s legal complexity, it’s possible the jury will take its time to reach a unanimous verdict.

Judge to address jurors before deliberations begin

11:57 , James Liddell

Judge Arun Subramanian sent jurors home over the weekend so they could “come back fresh on Monday morning.”

Before deliberations can begin, the 12 jurors are set to receive the judge’s instructions in a process known as “charging the jury,” in which the court reviews the government’s key arguments and outlines the relevant laws and charges.

The process is expected to last several hours.

What happens when a jury begins deliberating?

11:52 , James Liddell

Judge Arun Subramanian will give instructions to the jurors this morning before sending them off to deliberate inside the Manhattan federal courthouse.

The jury must unanimously decide guilty or not guilty on each count, meaning all 12 members of the panel must agree. If jurors don’t reach an agreement, they could come back and say they are deadlocked.

Traditionally, the judge would then encourage them to continue deliberating, but if they can’t reach a consensus, it would be up to the judge to decide whether to declare a mistrial.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Jury to start deliberating this morning

11:46 , James Liddell

After seven weeks inside Manhattan federal court, a jury is set to begin deliberating later this morning to decide whether Sean Combs was running a criminal enterprise or merely living a swinger’s lifestyle, which included drug abuse and violence.

The 12 men and women on the panel have listened to dozens of witnesses, including two of Combs’s ex-girlfriends – Cassie Ventura and “Jane” – and two male escorts who took part in his drug-fueled marathon sex parties known as “freak-offs.”

The 55-year-old music mogul, who is facing sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution, and racketeering conspiracy charges, could face between 15 years to life in prison.

Who are the jurors set to decide Diddy's fate?

11:32 , James Liddell

With jury deliberations about to begin in Sean “Diddy” Combs’s federal trial, here’s a look at the 12 members of the panel tasked with deciding the music mogul’s fate.

Eight men and four women comprise the dozen New Yorkers selected to sit for the trial.

Ranging in age from 30 to 74, the jurors come from Manhattan, the Bronx, and nearby Westchester County.

Their professions vary widely: from an investment analyst to a massage therapist.

Several of the younger jurors said they listen to hip-hop and R&B music, genres aligned with Combs.

Some of the jurors have said they were familiar with the 2016 surveillance footage of Combs assaulting his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel hallway.

'A tale of two trials': Recap of closing arguments last week

11:20 , James Liddell

The defense for Sean “Diddy” Combs described the “tale of two trials” as the music mogul’s sex trafficking trial is soon to enter jury deliberations.

Marc Agnifilo, Diddy’s lead attorney, paced in front of the jury box as he delivered an animated closing argument for the defense Friday, claiming the case against his client tells the “tale of two trials.”

One trial relies on witnesses, text messages, videos and evidence; the other is “told from the mouths of prosecutors” and is “badly, badly exaggerated,” he argued.

Kelly Rissman has the details:

Diddy’s lawyers and the prosecution trade blows during fiery closing arguments