Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial takes a day off due a juror’s illness
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial takes a day off due a juror’s illness
Sean “Diddy” Combs arrives at the LA Premiere of “The Four: Battle For Stardom” at the CBS Radford Studio Center, May 30, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP, File)
A view of the public gallery is shown inside a federal courtroom similar to the room where the trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ is being held in Federal District court in Manhattan on Friday, June 6, 2025 in New York. (Jefferson Siegel /The New York Times via AP, Pool)
Sean “Diddy” Combs looks on as defense attorney Nicole Westmoreland cross examines Dawn Richard during Combs’ sex trafficking and racketeering trial in Manhattan federal court, Monday, May 19, 2025, in New York. (Elizabeth Williams via AP)
Sean “Diddy” Combs arrives at the LA Premiere of “The Four: Battle For Stardom” at the CBS Radford Studio Center, May 30, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP, File)
Sean “Diddy” Combs arrives at the LA Premiere of “The Four: Battle For Stardom” at the CBS Radford Studio Center, May 30, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP, File)
A view of the public gallery is shown inside a federal courtroom similar to the room where the trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ is being held in Federal District court in Manhattan on Friday, June 6, 2025 in New York. (Jefferson Siegel /The New York Times via AP, Pool)
A view of the public gallery is shown inside a federal courtroom similar to the room where the trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ is being held in Federal District court in Manhattan on Friday, June 6, 2025 in New York. (Jefferson Siegel /The New York Times via AP, Pool)
Sean “Diddy” Combs looks on as defense attorney Nicole Westmoreland cross examines Dawn Richard during Combs’ sex trafficking and racketeering trial in Manhattan federal court, Monday, May 19, 2025, in New York. (Elizabeth Williams via AP)
Sean “Diddy” Combs looks on as defense attorney Nicole Westmoreland cross examines Dawn Richard during Combs’ sex trafficking and racketeering trial in Manhattan federal court, Monday, May 19, 2025, in New York. (Elizabeth Williams via AP)
NEW YORK (AP) — A juror’s vertigo on Wednesday ended another day of the sex trafficking trial for music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs before it began.
Prosecutors had expected to rest their case by Friday after presenting evidence for the last six weeks, but the delay means they are unlikely to finish until Monday.
Judge Arun Subramanian announced in the morning that a juror reported symptoms of vertigo on his way to the courthouse.
The judge said it was possibly a “momentary issue” and cancellation of the trial for a day may enable the juror to return Friday after the trial pauses for the Juneteenth holiday on Thursday.
Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges.
Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo said the defense presentation could last up to five days, although it could be finished in less than two days.
Prosecutors say Combs used his fame and power in the music industry, along with violence and money, to coerce girlfriends for nearly two decades to submit to sexual performances involving male sex workers, sometimes on a weekly basis.
The sex marathons, called “freak-offs” and “hotel nights,” sometimes lasted several days as Combs watched, directed and sometimes filmed his girlfriends having sex with other men, according to testimony.
Two former girlfriends testified that they relied on drugs supplied by Combs to stay awake — and numb — throughout the events. They both said they endured the sexual marathons because they were in love with Combs and it enabled them to spend more time with him.
Defense lawyers say prosecutors are trying to criminalize sexual activity between consenting adults. They say their client was involved in domestic abuse, but had not committed the federal crimes of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.
Combs has remained jailed without bail since his September arrest.