Diddy’s federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial is down a man.
Per on-the-scene reporting from Complex’s Shawn Setaro, a Black male juror was dismissed on Monday, with the judge overseeing the case pointing to inconsistencies in his answers about where he lived. In short, during the jury selection process, the juror in question said he lives in the Bronx with his fiancée and baby daughter. Last week, however, the juror said during an offhand moment that he’d recently moved to New Jersey.
Once U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian caught wind of that remark, the juror was questioned. Initially, the juror said he largely resides in New Jersey. But upon further questioning, the juror said he stays in an apartment in the New York area four to five nights of the week. While Diddy’s legal team fiercely opposed the juror being dismissed, the judge argued that this discrepancy in the man’s answers was cause enough to have him cut from the proceedings.
An opposition letter dated June 15 and viewed by Complex saw Diddy’s legal team arguing against the striking of the juror. According to the Bad Boy Records founder’s lawyers, Diddy “would be substantially prejudiced by the dismissal of this juror.” As such, Diddy’s legal team further argued, they “respectfully request that a mistrial be declared” in the event of the juror’s removal.
Deeper into the 13-page letter, attorneys for Diddy, including Alexandra Shapiro and Teny Geragos, criticized the case against their client as a “coordinated effort to try to destroy one of the most successful Black men in American history.” Diddy’s lawyers also detailed what they described as instances of “overreach” from prosecutors in the case, including (but not limited to) alleged surveillance of Diddy while behind bars and violations of the First and Sixth Amendments.
Last week was a particularly eventful one in Diddy’s federal New York trial, complete with a brief appearance (albeit not on the stand) from the artist formerly known as Kanye West. As is well-documented, Ye has been publicly vocal about his support for Diddy in recent months, at one point launching a Sean John and Yeezy collaboration, telling fans at the time that the profits from the merch would be split “50/50.”
If convicted as charged, Diddy is facing a lengthy sentence. He’s been behind bars since his arrest last September and has denied the allegations against him in the case.
