Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura's lawyer has now made a statement as Sean 'Diddy' Combs has now been found not guilty of sex trafficking in his highly publicised trial, which first started back in May.
This afternoon (2 July), jurors told the judge they had reached a unanimous verdict on all five charges against Combs.
Shortly after, it was announced Combs had been found guilty only of the two counts of transportation for prostitution, as he was acquitted on the sex-trafficking and racketeering charges.
It comes after jurors struggled to reach a verdict on one of the charges against the rapper, having announced a partial verdict had been reached yesterday (1 July).
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However, jurors couldn't agree on the racketeering conspiracy charge, with Manhattan federal court Judge Arun Subramanian ordering them to continue to deliberate over it.
What is Diddy's verdict?
Combs has received a mix of guilty and not guilty verdicts:
- Racketeering conspiracy: not guilty
- Sex trafficking of Cassie Ventura: not guilty
- Transportation for prostitution of Ventura and others: guilty
- Sex trafficking of woman known as 'Jane': not guilty
- Transportation for prostitution of 'Jane' and others: guilty
Following the announcement, Ventura's lawyer has now released a statement.
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In a statement reacting to the mixed verdict, Cassie's lawyer, Douglas H Wigdor, said: "This entire criminal process started when our client Cassie Ventura had the courage to file her civil complaint in November 2023."
Wigdor continued: "Although the jury did not find Combs guilty of sex trafficking Cassie beyond a reasonable doubt, she paved the way for a jury to find him guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution.
"By coming forward with her experience, Cassie has left an indelible mark on both the entertainment industry and the fight for justice."
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The lawyer concluded: "We must repeat – with no reservation – that we believe and support our client, who showed exemplary courage throughout this trial."
While transportation to engage in prostitution is a serious federal offence, one which holds a maximum possible sentence of 10 years, the other charges of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy carried potential life sentences.
Combs' defence lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, commented: "Mr Combs has been given his life by the jury, he is going to get his life."
Agnifilo also asked the court to release the rapper from federal detention, where he has been since his arrest in September 2024 as he was not granted bail.
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Prosecutor Maurene Comey has stated that the government will seek a 20-year maximum sentence for Combs.
Topics: Cassie Ventura, Diddy, US News, Celebrity, Crime
Rhiannon Ingle