Diddy Trial Live Updates: Bombshell Evidence Rocks Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Court Showdown

The tension surrounding Sean “Diddy” Combs’ closely watched federal sex-trafficking trial reached a new peak today as jurors in Manhattan resumed deliberations after raising concerns about one panelist’s impartiality. Subhead: Juror No. 25 Under Scrutiny Late Monday, the eight-woman, four-man jury delivered a note to U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian saying Juror No. 25 appeared to rely on “outside information.” The judge questioned the juror in chambers, ultimately allowing deliberations to continue but instructing all members to consider only evidence presented in court. Subhead: What the Music Mogul Faces Combs, 55, is charged with racketeering conspiracy and four counts related to transporting women across state lines for illegal sexual activity between 2011 and 2022. Prosecutors say he used his business empire and entourage to “coerce, groom and silence” alleged victims. If convicted on all counts, the Bad Boy Records founder could spend the rest of his life in prison. Subhead: Defense Strategy Defense attorney Benjamin Brafman argued the government leaned on “salacious storytelling” rather than hard proof, stressing that key witnesses—including singer Cassie Ventura—received multimillion-dollar settlements in prior civil claims. “This trial is not a referendum on hip-hop culture; it’s about evidence, and there is none,” Brafman told jurors in closing arguments. Subhead: New Civil Lawsuit Adds Pressure Complicating matters, a separate civil suit was filed this morning in New York accusing Combs of drugging and sexually assaulting a 19-year-old aspiring model in 2018—allegations the defense calls “categorically false.” While the civil complaint will be tried later, prosecutors were quick to note it underscores what they call a “pattern of predatory behavior”. Subhead: Jury Requests Key Transcripts During today’s session, jurors asked for read-backs of testimony from Ventura and an escort who alleged she was trafficked to private parties hosted by Combs. Court reporters spent nearly two hours rereading the sworn statements, signaling that jurors are dissecting credibility and timelines with precision. Subhead: Possible Outcomes and Timeline • Unanimous guilty verdict: Immediate remand and sentencing phase within 90 days. • Hung jury: Prosecutors may retry, though experts say witness fatigue could factor. • Not guilty: Combs walks free but still faces at least four civil cases. Legal analysts predict deliberations could conclude “within the week,” but warn that lingering doubts about Juror No. 25 could trigger a mistrial motion if the panel deadlocks. Subhead: Industry Reaction Inside the music world, labels have quietly distanced themselves; several streaming platforms already removed promotional banners for Combs’ catalog. Meanwhile, advocacy groups like RAINN praised the trial as “a watershed moment for accountability in entertainment.” Subhead: What’s Next Court resumes at 9 a.m. Wednesday. If jurors send another note about the contested panelist—or reach a verdict—Judge Subramanian has signaled he will move swiftly. Stay with us for real-time updates on deliberations, the verdict, and the potential seismic impact on both the hip-hop landscape and federal sex-trafficking enforcement.