LOS ANGELES — Local residents who have been following the Sean “Diddy” Combs trial in New York had mixed reactions to the verdicts in the trial July 2.
Combs was found guilty of prostitution-related offenses but acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges that could have resulted in a life sentence for one of hip-hop’s most celebrated figures.
Although Combs, 55, avoided the most serious charges, the conviction could still carry a prison sentence of up to 10 years.
Jonathan Williams said he believed the jury struggled with conflicting testimony and issues of consent.
“I think it was really hard for the jury to make a decision because there were times where they were willing and then times where it was forced and people can’t really differentiate that,” he said. “Even with the evidence, I can understand how it’s hard to, like, see the difference.
“But at the same time, what’s not hard to understand is they chose to go through this to get something out of it. They felt like whatever they were getting out of it was worth more than the treatment. There was consent at some level.”
David Johnson, who said he closely followed the trial online, felt the prosecution had presented a strong case.
“My initial reaction was one of surprise regarding the ‘not guilty’ verdicts,” he said. “I think the prosecution proved the charges were justified because his security team and support staff enforced imprisonment of the woman. That was coercion and involuntary.
“With the logistics of procuring and transporting drugs for the ‘freak-off’ parties, his staff knew what they were doing was illegal, and yet they facilitated both with full knowledge of that fact,” Johnson added. “To me, that satisfies conspiracy under the RICO Act. I simply have zero respect for any man who beats women. So, I am personally disappointed in the verdict. Men like Diddy make all of us Black men look bad and make it harder for us in this society.”
Loretta Smith said she believed the key to the conviction was the widely circulated video showing Combs dragging his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura down a hotel hallway.
“I agree with the verdict. I don’t know if it was fair, but I agree with the verdict,” Smith said. “I think his punishment was more for what he did to that young lady, dragging her down the hallway and all that.
“I think that’s what convinced them because they saw it,” she added. “If they hadn’t had that tape, it would have been hard to prove what he did because it would have been a ‘he said, she said’ thing. But the tape backed up her story and that’s how they convicted him.”
Friends Kimmberly Knight, Michelle Gay and Cheryl King were not surprised by the verdict, though their opinions on Combs’ culpability varied.
“I am disgusted just about the whole ordeal about the verdict. It’s just the violence against women that really struck me,” Knight said. “Just in general, I am not surprised by the verdict. It always seemed to be some type of manipulation in there. A smoke screen to make us think one thing while something else is happening. It saddens me.”
“I feel they need to bring charges against a lot of other people that sat by and watched a lot of things happen that should not have been happening,” Gay said. “He needs to go to jail, but I’m not surprised that he did not get convicted on all the charges. I thought he would get convicted on something, but I did not think that they would convict him on everything they brought.
“Not because he didn’t deserve it, but because I don’t know how they would prove it.”
“The verdict went exactly like I thought it would,” said Cheryl King. “I didn’t think they would be able to prove the racketeering thing. So, it did go the way I thought it would go. That videotape was just horrible.
“Diddy and a lot of people who have a lot of money get to the point where their money can shield them from a lot of stuff. They have their thrills and go deeper and deeper down this rabbit hole.”
Upon hearing the verdict, Combs held his hands in a prayer motion and looked toward the jury before hugging defense attorney Teny Geragos. Despite the judge’s warning against outbursts, a supporter in the courtroom shouted “Yeah!” as the first “not guilty” verdict was read. Combs continued to subtly pump his right fist in apparent relief at being cleared of the most severe allegations.
He was found guilty of violating the federal Mann Act, which prohibits transporting individuals across state lines for illicit sexual purposes. Prosecutors said Combs flew girlfriends and male sex workers around the country for sexual encounters.
However, the jury of eight men and four women acquitted him of racketeering, conspiracy and sex trafficking charges. These were based on allegations that Combs used wealth, influence, and physical intimidation to coerce women into drug-fueled group sex sessions.
Combs’ defense argued that the women were willing participants and that any violence was unrelated to a criminal enterprise.
U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian adjourned court to consider whether Combs would be granted bail while awaiting sentencing. Later in the day, he ruled that Combs would remain jailed until his sentencing hearing, citing past violent incidents that his attorneys acknowledged during the trial.
