Sean “Diddy” Combs juror George, one of six alternates in the high-profile trial, broke his silence Thursday night (July 3), describing Cassie Ventura’s courtroom testimony and the explicit video evidence shown to the jury as “very riveting” and “eye-opening” but ultimately not coercive.
“They were very graphic, but I think overall, we were looking at it from one side; it was definitely riveting and eye-opening,” George told CNN about the so-called “freak-off” footage shown during the proceedings. “There was sexual activity, but it didn’t seem forced,” he said. “It was actually like pretty tame. It was just a lot of rubbing oil.”
George, who sat through the entire trial and took 350 pages of notes, said court officials didn’t tell him he was an alternate until just before deliberations began. Still, he felt aligned with the final outcome.
“I understood the final verdict,” he said. “I think reading all my notes and looking back at the evidence, I probably would’ve reached the same conclusion.”
The case centered around allegations of sex trafficking and abuse, with Ventura’s testimony serving as a pivotal moment. George said her time on the stand was compelling and believable.
“I think we did,” he said when asked if the jury believed Ventura. “She wouldn’t have done all this just to come up there and lie about everything.”
Juror Claims Diddy Was “Very Composed” Throughout Trial
He also acknowledged the difficulty in proving the trafficking charge against Diddy, especially given the nature of the evidence.
“It was a difficult thing to prove,” he said, claiming that Ventura’s text messages presented during the trial made the relationship appear “very consensual.”
As for the 2016 hotel surveillance video involving Ventura, George said, “It was a very bad video. I think they showed it enough.” But he noted, “He wasn’t charged with domestic violence.”
“We looked at… what the judge had said we were supposed to look at, and then based off of the evidence that was presented to us,” he added.
George also commented on Diddy’s demeanor in court, calling him “very composed” and “very in control,” and said, “He was fighting for himself.”
When it came to other witnesses, George was less convinced. He described Dawn Richard’s testimony as “like watching TV” and said the defense made her seem “very not credible.”
He found parts of “Jane’s” testimony believable but admitted some inconsistencies stood out. “Some parts didn’t add up,” he said, adding he was “surprised” to learn Diddy was covering her rent and legal expenses.
The trial wrapped up earlier this week, with deliberations concluding just days before George spoke publicly.
A federal jury found Diddy guilty of two counts of transporting women for prostitution, sentencing him to a possible 20 years in prison. The jury also acquitted him of the more serious sex trafficking and racketeering charges. He will remain in custody until his October 3, 2025 sentencing.
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