The jury in the Sean “Diddy” Combs federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial has begun deliberating, while the mogul is spending his time reading about positivity.
On Monday (June 30), Judge Arun Subramanian began the morning by charging the jury. That consisted of him reading out loud, for around two hours straight, the entirety of a 62-page document outlining the charges against Combs, and listing the details of the laws involved.
That document made clear the specific acts that Combs is accused of as part of his racketeering conspiracy charge. Here’s what they are:
- a. acts involving kidnapping, chargeable under certain provisions of California and New York law;
- b. acts involving arson, chargeable under certain provisions of California law;
- c. acts involving bribery, chargeable under certain provisions of California law;
- d. acts involving tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant, chargeable under federal law;
- e. acts involving forced labor, chargeable under federal law;
- f. acts involving sex trafficking, chargeable under federal law;
- g. acts involving transportation and inducement to travel for purposes of prostitution and other illegal sexual activities, chargeable under federal law; and
- h. offenses involving the possession with intent to distribute, or distribution of narcotics and controlled substances, chargeable under federal law.
In addition to racketeering conspiracy, Combs is charged with two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion; and two counts of transportation with intent to engage in prostitution.
After the jury charge was read, the alternates were dismissed (though they are still on call to return if needed), and twelve jurors retired to begin making up their mind.
Diddy then took some time to have a private conversation with his family and lead them in prayer.
Combs’ team made a special request to the judge that their client be allowed to bring some books with him to read while he waited for a decision. He showed them off to the gallery at one point during the day: Norman Vincent Peale’s The Power of Positive Thinking and The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work by Shawn Achor.
The jury had questions for the judge at two different points on Monday. Early in the afternoon, the jury foreperson sent out a note expressing concerns that one of the jurors, Juror 25, can’t follow the judge’s instructions. After some argument between the parties, Subramanian agreed to send back a response that just reminded the jury of their responsibility to follow the law, and to ask if they had further questions.
Towards the end of the day, the foreperson sent out another question having to do with narcotics offenses. The note asked, if someone requested controlled substances, and a second person gave them those substances, was that second person guilty of distribution?
Lead prosecutor Maureen Comey suggested that the jury be told that the answer to that question is yes. The defense did not have an immediate counter-suggestion. Subramanian will finalize his response on Tuesday morning.
The jury will return on Tuesday at 9 a.m. to continue their deliberations. A blank version of the verdict form the jury will be using is visible below.
