Jurors in the federal trial of United States music star Sean “Diddy” Combs have reached a partial verdict but could not agree on the most serious charge of racketeering.
The case is being heard at a New York court, where Combs faces five charges, including sex trafficking, racketeering, and transporting people for prostitution.
On Tuesday evening, the jury told the court they had agreed on four of the five charges but were split on the racketeering count. That charge carries a possible life sentence.
Diddy, 55, sat quietly in court with his head bowed, while his lawyers offered him comfort. The courtroom remained tense as Judge Arun Subramanian urged the jury to continue discussions. Deliberations will resume Wednesday.
The rapper has denied all allegations. For the past two months, the jury has listened to 34 witnesses, including his ex-girlfriends, former employees, male escorts, and federal agents.
While the jury did not say what they decided on the other four charges, they explained that their disagreement on the racketeering count came from jurors with strong and opposing views. The judge is now considering whether to use what is called an Allen charge — a legal instruction used when jurors are deadlocked — to encourage them to keep trying for a unanimous decision.
Legal experts say the racketeering charge is the hardest to prove. Prosecutors must show that Diddy ran a criminal operation with at least one other person over several years and committed at least two crimes in that time.
“This charge is usually used in organised crime cases,” said former federal prosecutor Robert Mintz. “It’s complicated and that’s likely why the jury is struggling with it.”
Combs, also known as Puffy, Puff Daddy, P Diddy, Love, and Brother Love, is one of the biggest names in US hip-hop. He built a business empire that includes a clothing line, reality TV appearances, and music awards. In 2023, he released an album and received a Grammy nomination and MTV Global Icon award.
