Sean “Diddy” Combs’ legal team is celebrating the rap mogul’s partial acquittal on racketeering and sex-trafficking charges, saying jurors made the right decision and that the verdict is a “major, major step in the right direction.”
Combs’ attorney, Marc Agnifilo, made the statement during a press conference Wednesday evening (July 2) outside the federal courthouse in Manhattan, where a jury cleared the rapper earlier in the day of the most serious counts he faced. Combs was convicted only of interstate prostitution, which carries a much shorter potential prison term.
Agnifilo said Combs is “absolutely innocent” of the charges on which he was acquitted: operating a racketeering enterprise and trafficking women for marathon sex with male escorts.
“That is no longer just me saying that — that is the verdict of our jury,” Agnifilo told reporters gathered outside the courthouse. “Today is a victory of all victories for Sean Combs and our legal team.”
The defense attorney also hinted at a possible appeal of the two prostitution counts on which Combs was found guilty, which allege that he transported girlfriends and male escorts across state lines for drug-fueled sex parties.
“We are not nearly done fighting. We are just getting started,” said Agnifilo. “Today was a major, major step in the right direction, but we fight on and we’re gonna win. We’re not gonna stop until he walks out of prison a free man to his family.”
A large crowd gathered outside the courthouse after the verdict was announced earlier Wednesday. Supporters could be heard cheering for Combs’ defense team during the press conference.
Combs remains in custody, where he’s been since his arrest 10 months ago, and will stay until his sentencing hearing. Judge Arun Subramanian rejected Combs’ request for bail following Wednesday’s verdict, saying the music mogul’s admitted history of domestic violence makes him a danger to society.
The judge has floated an October sentencing date. Combs faces up to 20 years behind bars, though Judge Subramanian has full discretion and is unlikely to give out the maximum punishment. Court filings estimate that the U.S. Probation Department’s suggested sentence will fall somewhere between two and five years of imprisonment.
