A day of fast-moving developments capped the sixth week of the sensational trial that threatens to ship Sean “Diddy” Combs to jail for the remainder of his life.
A lot of the drama unfolded after the jury was despatched residence for the weekend because the choose overseeing the case stated he was ready to associate with prosecutors’ demand to take away one of many jurors for “lack of candor” throughout jury choice.
Prosecutors sought to take away the juror as a result of he allegedly made statements to a courtroom officer suggesting he lived in New Jersey — somewhat than the Bronx — which might make him ineligible to serve on a federal jury in Manhattan. The inconsistency raised issues concerning the juror’s {qualifications} and whether or not he made a deliberate try and get himself on the jury, the choose stated.
“The altering solutions and inconsistency give the courtroom fear about deception and mendacity, which additional implicate the veracity of different solutions, together with to questions that go to the guts of the case,” stated U.S. District Decide Arun Subramanian. “Elimination of the juror is required on this courtroom’s view.”
Sean “Diddy” Combs listens as lawyer Marc Agnifilo makes arguments throughout Combs’ intercourse trafficking trial in New York Metropolis, June 13, 2025 on this courtroom sketch.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters
With the jury anticipated to start deliberations later this month, Combs’ protection attorneys pleaded with the choose to maintain the person, a middle-aged Black man from the Bronx, on the jury over issues concerning the range of the jury. If the person have been eliminated, he would get replaced by a middle-aged architect from the northern New York Metropolis suburb of Westchester, making the jury barely older and whiter.
Combs’ protection staff made a sequence of arguments objecting, amongst them that the “lack of candor” argument was little greater than a “veiled” ploy by prosecutors to eliminate a juror who is perhaps extra sympathetic to the rap mogul.
“It’s going to be a much less numerous jury. That could be a reality,” protection lawyer Xavier Donaldson stated. “I do not usually play the race card. I am not saying I am taking part in it now.”
Prosecutors concluded a fifth week of testimony Friday, making an attempt to show Combs used his enterprise empire, wealth and affect to orchestrate a prison scheme. On the coronary heart of the case are allegations that the rapper turned style tastemaker used his enterprise empire-turned-criminal enterprise to coerce ladies into undesirable intercourse at drug-fueled orgies the place they have been informed to interact with male prostitutes for Combs’ gratification.
Combs has pleaded not responsible to the costs of intercourse trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation to interact in prostitution. His attorneys argue Combs by no means coerced or trafficked anybody for sexual functions and that ladies who participated in his “polyamorous” life-style did so voluntarily.
Testimony is ready to renew on Monday when prosecutors name their last witnesses. They might relaxation their case as early as Wednesday.
Ye, previously often called Kanye West, makes a shock look in courtroom
In a shock look, Kanye West entered Manhattan federal courtroom Friday morning, he stated, to point out his help for Combs. Dealing with controversies of his personal, West, who now goes by the title Ye, has been one of many few main celebrities to supply help to Combs through the trial.
Kanye West departs U.S. federal courtroom after making a short look as an observer on the trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ in New York Metropolis, June 13, 2025.
Pool/ABC Information
Arriving in a black Mercedes-Maybach sedan, Ye entered the general public entrance of the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Courthouse via a crowd of onlookers and media. He wore an all-white outfit and black sun shades.
Like every other member of the general public, Ye was required to take off his belt, empty his pockets, and give up his digital gadgets earlier than going via a metallic detector.
“He obtained handled no completely different than anyone else,” a federal marshal who helped Combs via safety stated.
Ye ignored many of the questions from the press, together with whether or not he plans to testify in Combs’ protection case.
“Are you right here in help of Mr. Combs?” an ABC Information producer requested.
“Sure,” West responded.
Ye was not capable of enter the courtroom the place the trial was happening as a result of he was not on the record of family and friends for Combs; as an alternative, he watched from an empty overflow room on the twenty third ground of the courthouse. For about quarter-hour, West, his entourage, and Combs’ son have been alone within the overflow room with 4 courtroom officers. He sat within the entrance row of the gallery instantly in entrance of a monitor displaying a feed of the courtroom.
West’s representatives didn’t reply to a request for remark about his go to to courtroom.
Federal agent says 900 bottles of AstroGlide have been seized from Combs’ Los Angeles residence
Throughout testimony Friday, Homeland Safety Investigations Particular Agent Andre Lamon stated Combs purchased lubricant in bulk, and the jury was proven photographs from Combs’ Los Angeles residence to point out how child oil and Astroglide, prosecutors stated, he saved.
Some testimony within the case has centered on the provides Combs would inventory for his intercourse events.
The jury was proven photographs by prosecutors of 18 packing containers of the lubricant stacked on prime of each other in a storage, bottles of AstroGlide lined up neatly on cabinets, in drawers and in a cigar field, interspersed with bottles of Johnson & Johnson child oil.
Lamon stated brokers seized 200 bottles of child oil and 900 bottles of AstroGlide lubricant from Sean Combs’ LA residence throughout a search in March 2024.
Lamon held up plastic luggage of medicine, which he stated have been seized from the house. The substances included ketamine and MDMA, he testified.
The jury noticed pictures of firearms brokers seized from Combs’ residence, together with a bolt-action Ruger rifle, Smith & Wesson M&P AR15-style semi-automatic rifles, a Glock pistol and a Mossberg pump-action shotgun. A separate {photograph} confirmed a 60-round drum journal loaded with 59 rounds of inexperienced tip ammunition, meant to penetrate physique armor.
Bins containing the precise firearms have been introduced into the courtroom by federal brokers for the jury to view. Lamon used scissors to open one of many packing containers and gloves to deal with the gun inside, which he displayed for the jury. He stood to point out the jury how the serial quantity on the rifle was scratched off. On cross-examination, he testified that the weaponry was stored in a safe location.
Sean “Diddy” Combs listens as particular agent Marc LaMon testifies throughout Combs’ intercourse trafficking trial in New York Metropolis, June 13, 2025 on this courtroom sketch.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters
Earlier within the trial, jurors noticed comparable photographs of firearms, medication, and lubricant that have been seized from Combs’ Miami residence. Prosecutors argued that the proximity of the weapons in Combs’ residence to objects issued for the intercourse events, referred to as “freak-offs,” demonstrated the coercive nature of the sexual escapades.
Former private assistant testifies about establishing ‘king nights’
Jurors on Friday heard from Jonathan Perez, a fifth private assistant to Combs to testify.
Granted immunity to guard him from being charged with crimes for something he would possibly say on the witness stand, Perez is the fourth witness through the trial to be granted immunity.
Like different private assistants who’ve appeared, Perez testified that he bought unlawful medication for Combs and that the rap mogul’s Gucci pouch contained cash and medicines, together with cocaine, ketamine, molly, Adderall and Xanax.
Legal professionals for Combs have acknowledged that the rapper was a flawed and sophisticated man who abused medication, at the same time as they’ve insisted he’s no prison.
The jury noticed a textual content from one other assistant, Rob, who messaged Perez. “Yo will you find his Gucci pouch in his toilet,” the message stated. “Ensure it is in there please and if something is out and round sort of stuff it again in I assume. LOL”
Perez responded, “I zipped it up – no residue and I did not steal one addy.”
Perez testified that he obtained medication for Combs “a handful of instances,” both buying them or he “grabbed them from somebody exterior.” He informed the jury that he supplied combs with medication reminiscent of Xanax, mollyand cocaine.
Perez additionally informed the jury that he communicated with Combs – and helped facilitate a $3,500 cost for an escort – in June 2024 throughout a night that one other witness testified about at size earlier this week.
Jane, one in all Combs’ ex-girlfriends, testified that Combs viciously beat her after she initiated a battle over his alleged infidelity. She informed the jury that Combs then pressured her to have intercourse with a male escort.
Perez testified that Combs referred to as him that night to inform Jane that Combs didn’t spend time with one other girl in an effort to defuse the scenario. Later, he stated, he helped facilitate a $3,500 cost for Combs’ escort.
Prosecutors have argued that Combs relied on his enterprise empire and workers reminiscent of Perez to facilitate a prison enterprise that he used to coerce ladies into intercourse. On questioning by Combs’ attorneys, Perez testified that he arrange the resort rooms and obtained medication as a private favor to Combs that have been separate from his skilled duties.
