A juror in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ trial may be removed after providing conflicting statements about his residency.
NBC News reports that on Friday, Juror No. 6 was dismissed and is likely to be replaced by an alternate. During jury selection, the juror initially stated he lived in the Bronx. However, prosecutors say he later told a court employee that he had recently moved to New Jersey.
Judge Arun Subramanian questioned the juror, who explained that while he is in the process of moving to New Jersey, he still considers himself a New York resident, staying in the city during the week and maintaining a New York driver’s license. Since the trial is being held in a Manhattan federal court, only New York residents can serve on the jury.
Subramanian expressed concerns about the juror’s statements, questioning his honesty and the discrepancies in his account.
He reportedly plans to speak with the juror again Monday before making a final decision on his removal.
Combs’ lawyers argued that the move is a “thinly veiled effort to dismiss a Black juror” and suggest that Subramanian might be “conflating inconsistencies with lying.”
As previously reported by CrimeOnline, Combs was arrested on September 16, 2024, outside a Manhattan hotel on federal charges of racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. Combs has been denied bail three times, with Judge Andrew L. Carter citing a “serious risk” of witness tampering.
Combs faces accusations of committing or facilitating sexual abuse in over 30 lawsuits.
On May 1, Combs rejected a plea deal in his federal sex trafficking and racketeering case. Jury selection and the trial began on May 12 and are expected to last two months.
Check back for updates.
Featured Image: FILE – Music mogul and entrepreneur Sean “Diddy” Combs arrives at the Billboard Music Awards, May 15, 2022, in Las Vegas. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File
