Legal Battle and Jury Drama Unfold in Diddy’s Trial as a Juror Is Removed

16 June 2025

U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian holds a sidebar with lawyers during Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York on June 12. Jane Rosenberg / Reuters

In a tense courtroom atmosphere this morning, federal Judge Arun Subramanian made the momentous decision to dismiss a juror from the ongoing trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs. The juror, identified as a 41-year-old Black man who professed a passion for ’90s hip-hop and reggaetón, was removed following revelations that he had given conflicting accounts about his residency, a discrepancy that raised questions about his eligibility to serve.

During jury selection, the juror had stated that he resided with his fiancée and daughter in the Bronx, which falls within the Southern District of New York. However, court staff later learned that he had told another official he had moved to New Jersey with his partner. When the judge contacted him directly, the juror appeared inconsistent, struggling to clearly explain where he lived. With jurors required to reside within the district, the conflicting claims triggered concern over his candor and ability to follow instructions, resulting in his dismissal and replacement by an alternate juror from Westchester County.

The defense team immediately leapt into action, arguing vehemently that the move threatened the trial’s racial balance. “This is a thinly veiled effort to dismiss a Black juror,” proclaimed defense attorney Alexandra Shapiro. Fellow counsel Xavier Donaldson echoed the sentiment, warning that the jury’s diversity suffered with the removal. Indeed, dropping the juror reduced the number of Black individuals on the panel from five to four.

But Judge Subramanian refused to relent. He underscored that the driving concern was not race but candor and that there was no room for partiality. “Keeping him for diversity’s sake alone would be improper,” he declared. Backed by the prosecution’s insistence on maintaining high standards for juror honesty, the judge denied a mistrial request from the defense, citing the need to uphold the integrity of the proceedings.

This latest courtroom drama emerged at a pivotal stage: the sixth week of the trial, with prosecutors preparing their final phase before defense testimony begins. Brendan Paul, who once played basketball at Syracuse University, is among the next high-profile witnesses expected to take the stand, building on an already intense atmosphere in the courtroom'

The stakes are high. Combs, now 55, faces charges including sex trafficking, racketeering, and transporting individuals for prostitution. Prosecutors allege a long-running pattern of drug-fueled coerced encounters involving multiple accusers. Among them is Cassie Ventura Combs’s former partner and a witness known only as Jane. Both have testified to controlled situations involving Combs and other parties during “hotel nights,” sometimes stretching up to 30 hours. If convicted, Combs could face a potential life sentence.

In stark contrast, Combs’s attorneys argue that these encounters were consensual, the result of mutual drug use and adult choice while also portraying the accusers as motivated by financial gain.

The juror removal episode adds complexity to an already charged trial, spotlighting deeper themes: race, fairness, and the judge’s balancing act. Critics point to the timing and implication of removing a Black juror when Diddy a prominent Black entertainer is on trial. The judge’s firm stance on impartiality, however, suggests that procedural caution outweighed symbolic optics.

Beyond legal technicalities, the case remains tightly woven into Diddy’s personal history. Known not only as a music mogul and entrepreneur but also as a cultural icon, the proceedings have laid bare elements of his private life and alleged misuse of power. The courtroom has echoed with detailed testimony of group sex, drug use, and behavior described as coercive painted starkly against Diddy’s public image as a charismatic figure behind Bad Boy Records and Revolt TV.

As the prosecution wraps up its case, observers say the next chapter featuring defense testimonies, potential cross-examination of Combs himself, and closing arguments will be critical. The jury’s makeup will play a crucial role. With the dismissed juror replaced by a white man, dynamics have slightly shifted in the 12-member jury and six alternates format.

For his part, Judge Subramanian has emphasized his commitment to due process. He noted that the court would continue reviewing juror behavior closely, alerting court staff earlier today to watch another juror following recent testimony.

As public interest remains intense, the next weeks promise to define not just Combs’s legal fate but also test the broader justice system’s ability to reconcile celebrity influence, race-conscious representation, and strict legal standards. Tomorrow’s proceedings will offer a clearer indication of how far the defense will go in challenging evidence, how Combs himself reacts, and how responsive the jury will be in the final reckoning over sex trafficking and racketeering allegations against one of hip-hop’s towering figures.