Juror dismissed in Sean “Diddy” Combs trial amid racial bias allegations

Sean “Diddy” Combs trial sees juror removed as abuse claims intensify.

Numerous allegedly damaging messages about abuse, “freak-offs,” drugs, and the defendant’s “Kryptonite” are being presented to jurors in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex-trafficking trial by Kristina Khorram, the former top aide of the founder of Bad Boy Records. However, compared to the earlier weeks of the trial in New York City, this panel is a little different.

Despite the defense’s protests, Judge Arun Subramanian this morning upheld his June 13 decision to remove Juror No. 6 from the well-known trial. The departure of the juror in issue will not cause any delays in the proceedings; they will be promptly replaced by one of the alternates.

A phalanx of police and federal officials arrested the heavily accused 55-year-old Combs in a New York hotel lobby in September 2024 on federal allegations of sex trafficking, racketeering, transportation to engage in prostitution, and other offenses. Diddy faces life in prison if convicted by the jury, which consists of eight men and four women. The jury is on trial in a courtroom in lower Manhattan and is hearing testimony from his ex-longtime girlfriend Cassie Ventura, other ex-lovers and women who have accused him of abuse, rape, and assault; male escorts; former employees; Grammy-winning rapper Kid Cudi; and law enforcement officials.

(L/R) King Combs and Justin Combs

The 41-year-old Black man who is now an ex-juror and works in an administrative capacity at a state prison had begun to alternate between telling stories about where he actually resided, whether it was in New Jersey with a fiancée or in New York City. “The court is concerned about deceit and lying because of the inconsistent responses and shifting answers,” the judge stated last week, adding that he would consider his choice over the weekend.

The defense unsuccessfully wrote to Judge Subramanian over the weekend to request a mistrial and to assert, as they have done several times previously, that the Southern District of New York U.S. Attorney’s office has a racial bias. In the heavily redacted June 15 exchange, defense lawyer Alexandra A.E. Shapiro stated, “The government’s motion must be evaluated in light of the entire history of this investigation and prosecution, and not in isolation.” You can read the full letter here. It is regrettably hard to assume that this motion is an attempt to use an opportunity to remove yet another Black male juror from the jury, rather than a sincere attempt to raise a legitimate concern about the juror’s integrity, given that past.

U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton responded early this morning on behalf of his prosecution team, praising the court’s June 13 “well-reasoned conclusion” about Juror No. 6’s fate.

Clayton, whose evenings seem to be a little off, stated, “The government respectfully writes in response to the defense’s letter filed earlier this evening.” “The defense once more tries to portray the government’s motion to remove the juror as racially motivated, despite the court’s unequivocal decision regarding the need to remove the juror (redacted).” Nothing could be further from the truth, as the court acknowledged on Friday after the defense initially made this unfounded charge. Instead, contradictory remarks made by the juror (redacted) during voir dire and in subsequent colloquies pertaining to fundamental biographical facts demonstrated a lack of candor, as the Court detailed after carefully reviewing the evidence. The government’s answer can be seen here.

Janice Combs, mother of Sean “Diddy” Combs

Judge Subramanian informed the defense and prosecution that he was still removing Juror No. 6 almost immediately on Monday morning, prior to the jury being called in.

Racial bias was also directly addressed by the typically polite judge.

With a rather composed Combs seated close by, he addressed the courtroom, “The defense asked the court to base its decision on race.” “That would not be suitable. Juror 6 is thus released, and the first alternate takes his place.

Regarding Juror No. 6, Judge Subramanian continued, “As to the defense’s allegation of prosecutorial misconduct here, that is inviting the Court to make a decision based on race—and cannot be granted.” He promised to address a matter concerning another juror later Monday.

The redesigned jury was then called in, and the prosecution’s case continued with further testimony. A 57-year-old manufacturing architect who resides in Westchester County with his family is the new Juror No. 6. He is Caucasian.

The feds are anticipated to conclude their presentation later this week, with a focus on so-called “summary witnesses” at this stage. With no firm determination on whether Combs will testify yet, the defense has projected that its case may take up to four weeks.

The judge informed the alternates and jurors at the beginning of the trial that it would conclude by the July 4 holiday. At this point, that scheduled deadline seems improbable to anyone with a calendar.