In a stunning twist on the second day of deliberations, jurors in the federal trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs have reached a verdict on four of the five criminal counts, bringing the long, widely publicized courtroom saga closer to an end. But one of the most expansive and profound of all has no verdict at all, leaving the entire case in limbo.
A jury has reached unanimous decisions on counts 2 through 5, according to courtroom updates. These indictments include a litany of allegations of sex trafficking and transportation for prostitution, not just of Cassie, a former Combs girlfriend, who the rest of the indictment alleges he “subjected″ to violence, but also of an anonymous accuser identified only as “Jane.” The charges cover purported coercive sex trafficking acts and coercive interstate transport of victims for commercial sex acts. The quick decisions on these counts indicate a unanimity of belief within the jury on the merits of the individual allegations.
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But Count 1, a racketeering conspiracy charge, has been by far the most contentious. While the jury is deadlocked on the first charge, the members wrote to Judge Arun Subramanian in a formal note that they have “unpersuadable opinions on both sides.” This count, which connects the overall criminal conspiracy to Combs’ activities and connections, appears to be giving the jury the most trouble, perhaps because it is the most broad-reaching and complex.
The defense and the prosecution have asked Judge Subramanian to instruct the jury to continue deliberating, as further discussion might help them reach a consensus. Subramanian has been obvious: Partial verdicts will not be accepted. So, even though there’s progress on most of the charges, the jury’s determination is sealed until they’ve all agreed one way or the other.
The delay deepens existing drama surrounding a case that has already riveted the nation with its salacious allegations and high-profile defendant. With the racketeering count stuck where it is with the jurors, all eyes in the courtroom are on the question of whether consensus can be reached or whether a mistrial on count 1 might be sounding on the horizon. The critical entry in the final chapter of a landmark trial has yet to be written.
