After seven weeks of arguments from the feds and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs‘ defense, the jury finally began deliberations on Monday. Thirty-four witnesses took the stand in the federal trial for sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution charges. However, Diddy, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, did not. While jurors decide what’s next, here’s a reported rundown of what’s going on INSIDE one of hip hop’s biggest trials.
Editor’s Note: This article was being updated live. Scroll to the bottom for the latest reported updates from the courtroom.
RELATED: Seven Weeks Later! Here’s What To Know Ahead Of Jury Deliberations In Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ Sex Trafficking Trial
Judge Gave THESE Instructions Ahead Of Deliberations
As mentioned, week eight of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ trial was centered on the start of deliberations. Judge Arun Subramanian began by breaking down the charges per charge: 8 counts of racketeering, two counts of sex trafficking, and two counts of transportation. He then instructed them to pick a foreperson and alert the court with a note about the pick and when they reached a verdict. Subramanian, per CNN, also excused the five alternate jurors from the court, but warned them about remaining reachable.
The instructions Judge Subramanian read the jury in Diddy's trial this morning span 62 pages.
You can read them here: https://t.co/SzTcGIoOxk pic.twitter.com/dq7Lng9NOf
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) June 30, 2025
Additionally, the judge allowed the jury to choose how long deliberations last each day, including whether to go past 5 p.m. Jurors left the courtroom shortly after to begin deliberations. Meanwhile, in the courtroom, the judge commended both sides for “great lawyering” in the “exceptionally tried” case. He also permitted Diddy to have books in his holding cell amid deliberations.
Foreperson Shares Juror Concerns
Ten minutes after leaving, the jury announced their foreperson: juror number five. However, barely an hour into deliberations, the foreperson alerted the court that another juror was having trouble following the judge’s instructions.
“We are concerned (the juror) can not follow your honor’s instructions,” the foreperson wrote in a note just after 12:30 p.m. local time.
Eventually, the judge returned a note: “I received your note. I remind every juror of their duty to deliberate and their obligation to follow my instructions on the law. With that instruction in mind, please continue deliberating.”
For context, Diddy’s defense had suggested a similar note ahead of the judge’s note. Marc Agnifilo proposed that they keep deliberating, saying, “We can always ratchet it up. We can’t ratchet it down.” The judge ultimately went with language from the prosecution.
Diddy’s Family Seemingly Claps In Court
According to reports from the Associated Press and CNN, Diddy’s family, including his mother, Janice, and children, were in the courtroom on Monday. After the judge told the jury to exit for deliberations, the family reportedly stood, held hands, and bowed their heads simultaneously. Afterward, they all started clapping. They left the courtroom soon after.
Meanwhile, click play below to see predictions about the verdict from folks outside the courtroom.
Jury Deliberations Lasted Five Hours On Day One
By 4:50 p.m. ET on Monday, the jury deliberated the case for slightly more than five hours. CNN reports that they first started at around 11:30 a.m.
In the latest update from the same outlet, the jury sent the judge a note. Earlier today, the judge instructed them to send notes after they picked a foreman and reached a verdict. Amid the update, court reporter Meghann Cuniff predicted, based on courtroom behavior, that it is likely a question. Amid the note, court marshals brought Diddy back into the room as his lawyers gathered to examine a piece of paper, per Inner City Press.
Judging by the fact that they’re huddled around a piece of paper, it’s a question/issue and not a verdict.
They would act a lot different if the note said there was a verdict.
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) June 30, 2025
When Judge Subramanian retook the bench, he said there were two letters from the jury. As predicted above, the first note was a question about the distribution of controlled substances. The jury asked whether distribution applies if a person requests a controlled substance and another person gives it to them.
The second note announced 5 p.m. as the end time of jury deliberations for the day. They will return to court tomorrow (July 1) morning for continued deliberations. In response to the notes, the judge returned the jury to the courtroom for dismissal. He plans to answer the question when the court resumes and has given prosecutors and defense lawyers until 6 p.m. on Monday to agree on how he should address the question. They will revisit the details in the morning if an agreement cannot be reached.
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