What to know about the trial

• Sean “Diddy” Combs was acquitted of racketeering and sex trafficking charges on Wednesday and was found guilty on two lesser charges of transportation of former girlfriends for prostitution.
• The verdict is seen as a victory for Combs, who was cleared of the most serious charges against him. His defense team opted not to call witnesses before resting.
• The judge is yet to decide if Combs will be released pending sentencing.
• Combs has vociferously denied the allegations against him.

Combs and his loved ones waiting for the verdict

Combs sat alone, reading at the defense table, while his attorneys huddled against a wall, gesticulating and conversing.

The defendant’s mother, Janice Combs, and children are seated in court, chatting with people around them.

Prosecutors have not entered the courtroom yet.

The verdict is in, jury says

The jury has alerted the court that it has decided on all five of Combs’ charges.

Yesterday, the jury told the judge that it had reached a verdict on four counts but could not reach a consensus on the racketeering charge. The judge told the jury to continue deliberating and that it should not hesitate to change opinions.

Prosecutors put on 34 witnesses in their case

Over six weeks, prosecutors called 34 witnesses to argue their case against Combs. The witnesses ranged from alleged victims and escorts to law enforcement agents and assistants.

Singer Cassie Ventura, Combs’ ex-girlfriend, testified in court and accused Combs of physical abuse, control and of having her participate in drug-fueled sexual encounters with male escorts. The pregnant Ventura testified for four grueling days that she didn’t want to engage in “freak offs“ but “just didn’t feel like I had much of a choice.”

Rapper Scott Mescudi, known professionally as Kid Cudi, testified about his relationship with Ventura and the abusive nature of her relationship with Combs.

Other key witnesses included a former personal assistant to Combs, who went by the pseudonym “Mia,” and another former girlfriend of Combs, identified in court as “Jane.”

“Mia” accused Combs of sexually assaulting her on multiple occasions and said she witnessed Combs lashing out violently against Ventura. Mia also described cleaning up after the couple’s “hotel nights.”

Jane testified to participating in “hotel nights,“ sleeping with escorts to please Combs. His constant need for sex for entertainment left her “sore, tired, exhausted and overwhelmed,” Jane said.

Jury deliberated for 13 hours

The jury deliberated for 13 hours in total across three days.

Jury is coming back into the courtroom

The jury has returned to the courtroom after sending a note to the judge at 9:52 a.m. saying it has reached a verdict on all counts.

Not guilty on Count 1

Combs was found not guilty on count one, racketeering conspiracy.

Not guilty Count 2

Combs was found not guilty of count two, the sex trafficking of Casandra Ventura.

Guilty on Count 3

Combs was found guilty on count three, the Mann Act transportation of Casandra Ventura.

Not guilty of count 4

Combs was found not guilty of count 4, the sex trafficking of former girlfriend Jane.

Guilty on count 5

Combs was found guilty of count 5, the Mann Act transportation of former girlfriend Jane.

Mixed verdict for Combs

The defense won three acquittals, with Combs found guilty of the Mann Act transportation of former girlfriends Cassie Ventura and “Jane.”

He was found not guilty of running a criminal enterprise and two counts of sex trafficking.

Judge warns jury about oncoming press attention

U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian addressed the jury regarding the considerable press that Combs’ trial has received over the last several weeks.

He advised the group that members of the media will want to speak to them, but they are free to refuse interviews. Subramanian also asked the media to refrain from asking jurors about their specific deliberations.

What happens in the jury room, stays in the jury room, Subramanian said.

He ended by thanking the jury for their sacrifice and asked them to go to the jury room, where he wanted to personally meet with them.

Defense asks for Combs to be released until sentencing

Combs’ attorney Marc Agnifilo asked the court to release Combs from federal detention, where he has been for nearly a year.

Now that Combs is no longer charged with sex trafficking, Agnifilo asked that he be released on conditions to his home in Miami and offered a $1 million bond.

Prosecution asks for Combs to remain in custody

The government told Judge Subramanian that Combs should remain in jail until sentencing.

Prosecutor Maurene Comey said the government will seek a 20-year maximum for Combs.

Judge gives a few hours before deciding on Combs’ release

The judge granted prosecutors a few hours to write a letter stating their case to deny Combs bail based on the Mann Act conviction.

Comey asked for a few hours to prepare their argument, and the judge agreed to take submissions on the matter from both the government and defense at 1 p.m.

Combs falls to knees praying while family applauds in the courtroom

Combs was on his knees in the courtroom with his head down in a chair, seemingly praying after avoiding life in prison on the highest charges in his case.

His family stood in the background, clapping and cheering. The defense attorneys hugged each other, and Combs hugged lawyer Brian Steel.

Court clears out until the afternoon

The courtroom is clearing out as the judge awaits submissions from both prosecutors and defense on whether to release Combs on bail until his sentencing.

Dozens of journalists stand outside federal courthouse after Combs verdict

In the blocks surrounding the federal courthouse in lower Manhattan, dozens of journalists stood behind metal barricades, glued to their phones as the verdict came through. The weeks-long, round-the-clock coverage of the trial has rivaled few other criminal cases in recent years.

Verdict is a ‘massive victory’ for Combs

NBC’s Chloe Melas described today’s verdict as a “massive victory” for Combs, considering the music mogul was facing life in prison.

The jury found Combs not guilty of sex trafficking, which has a mandatory 15-year minimum in prison, and not guilty of running a criminal enterprise. It was such an emotional moment for Combs’ legal team that Teny Geragos, one of his attorneys, was seen wiping tears. 

“Prosecutors, they painted Combs as somebody that was beating women, which they owned up to, but running a criminal enterprise and that he sex trafficked two of his former girlfriends, Cassie Ventura and also “Jane,” who testified under a pseudonym. This is undoubtedly a massive blow to the prosecution, who brought 34 witnesses,” Melas said outside the courtroom.

Melas said that being in court every day, she could see the government’s argument did not convince some jurors.

“You could tell that there were several of them that were not buying what the prosecution was putting forth in their arguments. I saw some roll their eyes. I saw some even fall asleep. Some clearly not buying what the prosecution was saying in their closing arguments,” she explained.

Supports shout ‘Free Puff’ as Combs family leaves courthouse

Combs family members, including his mom and son Justin, just left the courthouse without stopping to the crowd of waiting media for questions or comments.

A crowd of supporters swarmed the family’s waiting van, shouting “Free Puff! Free Puff! Free Puff!”

Cassie Ventura’s attorney is happy that Combs faces ‘substantial’ jail time

Doug Wigdor, the attorney representing Cassie Ventura, told reporters outside the courthouse that his team is pleased that Combs has “finally been held accountable.”

“Of course, we would have liked to have seen a conviction on the sex crimes and RICO, but we understand that ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’ is a high standard,” Wigdor said. “We’re just pleased he still faces substantial jail time.”

Combs’ family rejoices verdicts

When asked how his father was feeling, Combs’ son Christian said, “Great,” and his daughters added, “Good, happy.”

As Comey explained, Combs could serve up to 20 years, the family’s joy faded slightly, although they still looked happy as they left the court.

“Thank you, love you,” Combs told his loved ones in court, as he was led away for at least a few more hours of custody.

High likelihood Combs could be released today, legal analyst says

The defense asked for Combs’s release from prison and for him to be allowed to live in his Miami home, while noting that his plane was already sequestered. 

NBC legal analyst Kristen Gibbons Feden said: “I think there’s a high likelihood that he walks today.”

“Keep in mind what the jury found,” Feden said, noting he was found not guilty of the most serious charges of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. “So they really ripped out the threat element. They ripped out the violent element. They ripped out the violent parts of what the prosecution used as the main thing to keep them in bail,” Feden explained. 

“With his plane sequestered with him and being Miami, and the fact that he is a celebrity, where he can’t really go unnoticed, there is a high likelihood that the judge may release him on bail today,” she added.

What will the sentencing process look like?

From here, the defense and prosecution will submit to the court what they believe is an appropriate sentence for Combs. 

Attorney Misty Marris told NBC’s Laura Jarrett that Combs’ team will likely ask for no more jail time, considering the time served, and the prosecution will likely ask for closer to the maximum recommendation.

From there, a probation department will review the case and make a recommendation based on various factors, including the fact that this is the first time he has been convicted of this type of charge and his behavior behind bars. 

“The judge is really limited in those sentencing guidelines. There’s discretion up to that 10 years, but they’re going to use those guidelines in order to really pin down what would be appropriate under the circumstances,” Marris said. 

How Combs’ verdict could impact his civil cases

While Combs’ federal trial has reached a verdict, he still faces a deluge of civil lawsuits.

Defense attorney Misty Marris said those cases will go on, and Combs won’t have the same Fifth Amendment rights he had in the criminal case. In the civil cases, he can be compelled to testify if brought to trial.

“The fact that he is not guilty on many of these charges, that’s going to be something the defense in those civil actions are going to raise. They’re going to say that this pattern — that a lot of these civil lawsuits allege that there’s a pattern of conduct — Well, look at this criminal case. There’s been a determination. That being said, it’s not binding on any of those so those continue on,” Marris explained.

She also noted that the standards in civil and criminal courts are different. In a criminal court, the prosecution must prove charges beyond a reasonable doubt. In a civil court, “it’s called preponderance of the evidence,” Marris said. He can be found liable or not guilty, and the result of that is civil damages, meaning money, not jail time.

How Combs’ verdict could impact his civil cases, continued
When asked if he could plead the Fifth and say he doesn’t want to do anything to incriminate himself, Marris said: “At this point, the only time you could see the Fifth being pled is when there is a real risk of criminal prosecution.”

“So as it relates to these charges, no. If it relates to potential drug issues, stuff like that, yes, I could see that there would maybe be an argument, but you get a lot less of a right lot less rights as a defendant in a civil case than you do in a criminal.”

Diddy’s family returns to the courthouse

Members of Comb’s family, including several of his children, just returned to the courthouse. Combs’ mother, Janice Combs, re-entered the courthouse a little bit ago.

Court is opening up as Combs awaits decision

The courtroom has opened up roughly 20 minutes after the 1 p.m. deadline for both sides to submit their arguments on Combs’ release.

His defense argued that he should be released to his Miami home, with conditions that include a $1 million secured bond, now that he’s no longer charged with sex trafficking. Prosecutors disagreed vehemently, arguing that Combs spent years violating the law and a risk that he’s going to commit more crimes.

The judge asked them to each submit letters for the arguments that he would consider in the afternoon.

Consecutive sentences are very rare and could play a role in Combs case, legal analyst says

Prosecutors said they will ask for Combs to be sentenced to consecutive 10-year terms, the maximum time for His guilty charges. But how much time he spends in prison remains to be seen.

Consecutive sentences are very rare, and any sentence handed down against Combs would include the 9 months he’s already spent in jail awaiting this just-concluded trial.

Combs defense offers a $1 million bond and to surrender his passport

Combs’ attorneys formalized their request to have Combs released on a secured $1 million bond co-signed by his mother, sister and eldest daughter.

Their letter to the court insists that Combs has been a model prisoner over the last several months and poses no flight risk. They asked for a bail package that would include Combs agreeing to surrender his passport to pretrial services and restricting his travel to Florida, California, New York, and New Jersey.

“Mr. Combs stands convicted of two Mann Act counts, and his sentencing exposure is substantially lower than when the government initially sought detention,” the letter said. “The Court should release Mr. Combs on the proposed conditions.”

Bailing hearing set for 5 p.m (EST).

Judge Subramanian set Combs’ bail hearing for 5 p.m. today.

So if the defendant does get out of jail, it probably won’t happen until later today. The government is seeking to keep Combs in custody until his sentencing.

Prosecutors will seek roughly 4 to 5 years in prison for Combs

Combs is looking at dramatically less time in prison than prosecutors previously wanted to pursue, according to a letter submitted to the court to keep him detained.

While Comey previously told the court they would be seeking a maximum of 20 years in prison combined on the two counts, the letter now says the sentencing guidelines range from 51 to 63 months. The prosecution also argues in the letter that Combs is not entitled to release on bond.

U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton argued that Combs assaulted one of the victims, “Jane,” while he knew he was under investigation.

“Even if detention was not mandatory here, which it is, the defendant cannot meet his burden to show by clear and convincing evidence that he is not likely to flee or pose a danger to any other person or the community,” the letter said.

Cassie’s attorney asks judge to reject Combs’ release

Attorney Doug Wigdor, who represents Ventura, submitted a letter asking the court to deny Combs’ release.

In the letter, Wigdor referenced part of the Bail Reform Act to say that detention is “mandatory” after convictions on the Mann Act charges.

He added that Ventura “believes that Mr. Combs is likely to pose a danger to the victims who testified in this case, including herself, as well as to the community.”

Combs family returns to the courthouse

Combs’ mother and children have returned the courthouse in two large vans as they wait to see whether he will be released or remain in federal custody.

Police are out in the street directing traffic around a crowd of onlookers and journalists gather outside as courthouse awaits the possibility of Combs walking out.

Combs will not be released as he awaits sentencing

Judge Subramanian ruled that Combs should remain in custody while awaiting sentencing.

Combs was convicted on two counts of Mann Act violations for transporting male escorts and former girlfriends Ventura and “Jane” for sex. But he was acquitted of a pair of sex trafficking counts and an allegation of racketeering conspiracy.

Judge notes that Combs’ personal circumstances do not warrant release

Subramanian noted that the prosecution appropriately cited the section of the Bail Reform Act that requires Combs remain in custody until his sentencing, which has some exceptions.

Combs’ circumstances do not warrant those exceptions, the judge decided.

According to the Bail Reform Act, a defendant whose been convicted must prove that they do not post a flight risk or danger to the community to be released in the interim time. Prosecutors argued that Combs did not meet that burden and provided letters on behalf of two witnesses who worried for the danger Combs might pose upon release.

Ventura’s attorney supplied one of those two letters.

Combs has a propensity for violence behind close doors, judge says

Combs has a propensity for violence that often takes place behind closed doors, Subramanian said in outling reasons why he was denied bail.

The judge said Combs has engaged in a years-long pattern of violence and continues to be unable to follow the law. He noted that Ventura’s 2016 beating caught on hotel security cameras was without question was an act of domestic violence.

Subramanian also noted that in June 2024 there was violence against “Jane,” one of the victims in the case, at a time when Combs should have known to keep himself clean and above board. Combs’ homes were raided by HSI agents in March 2024.

Sentencing scheduled for this fall

The judge ordered all sides to return to court on Oct. 3 for sentencing, but noted that the date could move up if Combs’ team seeks to expedite it.

The defense is seeking a term of 21 to 27 months, while the government hopes to have Combs sentenced to 51 to 63 months.

Combs will get credit for the time he’s spent detained so far.

Judge facing a ‘great divide’ on sentencing

Judge Subramanian acknowledged the “great divide” between prosecutors and defense lawyers in their desire for Combs’ sentencing.

Subramanian scheduled a remote status conference for Tuesday to hash out some details of the sentencing, saying “time is of the essence.”

Combs’ team is seeking a term of 21 to 27 months, while prosecutors want him to be sent to prison for 51 to 63 months.

Combs looks deflated after his release is denied

Combs has been sitting with his head down and his hands in his lap, appearing deflated after his hopes of going home today were squashed.

Combs is no pimp, and this not a danger to community, defense says

Mann Act violators tend to be pimps making money off sex workers — but that’s not the situation with Combs, his attorney said.

Agnifilo insisted his client is nothing like the typical person convicted under the Mann Act because Combs’ bad acts don’t involve him controlling prostitutes.

“This is not the case here,” Agnifilo said.

Domestic violence is violence, judge says as he shuts down Combs’ defense

The defense’s own language is coming back to haunt Combs’ team as Subramanian notes Combs’ attorneys conceded to the jury that there was violence in this case.

His attorneys said in their opening and closing arguments that Combs was guilty of domestic violence but that his offenses did not meet the bar of racketeering or sex trafficking.

Subramanian reminded attorney Marc Agnifilo of this as he pushed back that Combs’ defense has not adequately proved that Combs is not a danger to the public.

Domestic violence is violence, Subramanian told Agniflo.

S: NBC News