For the last seven weeks, The View co-host Sunny Hostin has had a front-row seat to Sean “Diddy” Combs‘ sex trafficking and racketeering trial. On this morning’s episode of the long-running daytime talk show, she shared why she didn’t think the rapper would be convicted of all the charges that have been brought against him.
Combs, who pled not guilty to all charges, was accused of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. While Hostin, a former federal prosecutor, felt there was clear evidence that Combs violated the Mann Act, which prohibits the transportation of women and girls across state lines for prostitution, she did not think the prosecution had a strong enough case to prove the sex trafficking and racketeering charges.
“I don’t know that he will get off the hook on everything. I don’t think the prosecution has proven racketeering. I don’t think the prosecution has proven sex trafficking,” Hostin speculated. “But in terms of taking prostitutes across state lines to engage in prostitution, that’s the Mann Act, I think there’s pretty clear evidence of that. But the max [prison time] is 10 years.”
“It’s been really fascinating to watch because the jury doesn’t seem to be buying what the prosecution is selling,” she added. “That’s just my take.”
With the highly publicized trial wrapping up this week, Hostin found it “interesting” that the defense did not call any witnesses to the stand.
“That tells me that they think the prosecution proved the defense case,” she said.
However, the longtime co-host was not surprised that Combs did not take the stand himself since “conviction rates go up” when defendants testify.
“I believe that he wanted to [testify],” Hostin said. “He was a very engaged defendant. He was passing sticky notes around. He even got admonished by the judge for nodding to the jury. I suspect he’s the kind of guy that thinks he can get on the witness stand and charm the jury into believing he didn’t do some of the things he’s alleged to do.”
The View airs on weekdays at 11/10c on ABC.
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