JUDGE REMOVES JUROR FROM DIDDY’S SEX TRAFFICKING TRIAL OVER RESIDENCY CONCERNS
A federal judge on Monday dismissed a juror from the sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy trial of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, citing concerns over conflicting statements regarding the juror’s residency.
Judge Arun Subramanian ruled that the juror’s inconsistent answers about whether he primarily resides in New York or New Jersey raised red flags and suggested he may have had a hidden agenda or ulterior motive for wanting to serve on the jury.
The decision came after a brief delay. Although Judge Subramanian initially indicated late Friday that he would remove the juror, objections from Combs’ legal team led to a reconsideration over the weekend. Defense attorneys argued that replacing the Black juror with a white alternate would undermine the jury’s racial diversity.
However, the judge ultimately stood by his decision Monday, stating that a review of the juror’s responses during jury selection and follow-up questioning in chambers revealed “clear inconsistencies.”
Combs, 55, was arrested in September at a New York hotel and faces multiple federal charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. He has pleaded not guilty and has been held without bail at a Brooklyn federal detention facility since his arrest, with judges repeatedly denying his bail applications.
The trial continues as scrutiny around jury selection and court proceedings intensifies.
