The Diddy trial: How the jury reached its verdict
Post Reports
The Washington Post
4.4 • 5.1K Ratings
🗓️ 2 July 2025
⏱️ 31 minutes
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Summary
After weeks of deliberation, a jury has found Sean “Diddy” Combs not guilty on racketeering and sex-trafficking charges. While this spares Combs from life in prison, he could still face years in prison because he was found guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. The verdict came as a shock for many, particularly after lengthy, graphic testimony from Combs’s ex-girlfriends, who described alleged abuse.
Today, host Elahe Izadi speaks with style reporter Anne Branigin to unpack the verdict, what it means for Combs’s future and the precedent it could set for similar cases going forward.
Today’s show was produced by Peter Bresnan, Tadeo Ruiz Sandoval and Thomas Lu. It was mixed by Sean Carter and edited by Reena Flores. Thanks to Carla Spartos.
Follow our coverage of the trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs on Spotify here.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Sean Combs entered a federal courtroom on Wednesday morning. |
| 0:06.0 | He was wearing a yellow sweater and a white-collared shirt. |
| 0:09.0 | It was around 9.45 a.m. |
| 0:12.0 | He then stood in front of his children and mother, bowed his head, and led his family in prayer. |
| 0:19.0 | By 9.52 a.m., the jury sent a note to the court |
| 0:23.0 | that it had reached a verdict in his criminal trial. |
| 0:26.7 | Style reporter Anne Branigan was there. |
| 0:29.1 | Combs appeared quite nervous. |
| 0:32.3 | You know, he kept turning to his family. |
| 0:34.9 | He raised his hands in prayer. |
| 0:42.7 | It was a very tense scene up until the verdict was read. After 13 hours of deliberation, the jury found Combs guilty on two counts of transportation |
| 0:50.6 | to engage in prostitution. That's a charge that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years. |
| 0:57.6 | But the jury found Combs not guilty of the more serious charges he faced, |
| 1:02.8 | sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy, |
| 1:06.0 | charges that could have carried a life sentence. |
| 1:08.9 | This is a huge victory for Combs. |
| 1:12.7 | To go up against the federal government in this way |
| 1:15.9 | and to beat the most serious charges, |
| 1:19.0 | it is an incredible win for him. |
| 1:22.7 | Inside the courtroom, Combs looked at the jury |
| 1:25.4 | and mouthed the words, thank you. |
| 1:31.3 | Outside the courtroom, a large crowd had gathered. |
... |
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