Diddy lost a key juror Monday (June 16) when a Black man was dismissed and replaced by a white accountant from Westchester County, rattling the racial makeup of the jury in his high-stakes federal trial in Manhattan.
The removal of Juror No. 6, one of only two Black men on the panel, has sparked concern from Diddy’s legal team, who argue the decision could jeopardize his right to a fair trial.
The defense had previously submitted an urgent motion opposing the juror’s dismissal, claiming there was no valid reason to remove him and warning that doing so would discourage minority participation in future jury pools.
The court replaced the dismissed juror with a 57-year-old white male from the alternate pool, a move the defense believes could tilt the jury’s racial balance.
The original panel included five Black jurors, four white jurors, two Hispanic jurors and one Asian juror. Most alternates were white.
The judge ruled that Juror No. 6 had not been entirely truthful about his living situation. During jury selection, he claimed to live in the Bronx with his fiancée and daughter.
However, in a private conversation with the court, he later admitted to having stayed in New Jersey with his girlfriend for several weeks. He said he still spent most weekdays in New York.
The judge sided with prosecutors, who argued the juror’s shifting story showed a lack of candor.
Meanwhile, another juror is under scrutiny for allegedly discussing the trial with someone outside the courtroom.
That juror was questioned by Judge Subramanian on Friday (June 13) and handed over his phone for review. A decision on whether he will remain on the panel is pending.
Diddy’s attorneys are expected to push for a mistrial, citing what they describe as a pattern of racial bias in jury selection.
They’ve accused the government of using seven out of nine peremptory strikes to remove Black jurors, often citing prior convictions or negative interactions with law enforcement—factors the defense says disproportionately affect Black and Latino communities.
The trial resumed Monday (June 16) with testimony continuing in the federal case, where Combs faces five serious charges: racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and two counts of transporting individuals for prostitution.
Prosecutors allege that over 20 years, Combs orchestrated a network of abuse involving drugs, intimidation and coerced sex acts at events referred to as “freak-offs.”
If convicted on all counts, he could face life in prison. Combs has denied all allegations. Testimony continues Monday (June 16) in Manhattan federal court.
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