A juror who had been seated in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ criminal sex-trafficking trial was dismissed by the judge on Monday.
Juror no. 6, a 41-year-old Black man who said during the jury selection process known as voir dire that he was a fan of ’90s hip-hop and reggaeton, was removed by US District Judge Arun Subramanian after the judge said he had reservations about the juror’s inconsistent statements concerning where he lived.
The man was one of three people on the jury who said they enjoyed hip-hop.
That juror was ultimately replaced by an alternate juror, a 57-year-old white father from Westchester. The new juror said during jury selection that he’s partial to ’70s funk, classical jazz, and said his son “has gotten me into country.”
The removed juror told the judge during voir dire that he lives in the Bronx with his girlfriend and their daughter, but he recently made an offhand remark to a court employee that he’s moved to New Jersey.
The court employee ultimately brought this information to Subramanian’s attention, which sparked his concerns.
The former juror no. 6 was repeatedly asked to clarify where he lived. He continued to give inconsistent answers in at least two sessions of being questioned by the judge in front of the parties and outside the presence of other jurors.
The dismissed juror was removed despite repeated objections from Combs’ defense lawyers, who argued that it was racist to remove a Black juror and replace him with a white one.
All parties agreed that he was otherwise qualified by residency to continue serving on the jury.
On Monday, the judge told the defense and the prosecution that racism has nothing to do with juror no. 6 being removed. The judge added that it would instead be racist if he kept juror no. 6 for reasons of diversity despite the juror’s inconsistent residency statements.
The former juror has had experience with the criminal justice system. He said he works at the Edgecomb Correctional Facility, a prison in Manhattan, in charge of handling wages for inmates on work release.
He also said he previously pleaded guilty to misdemeanor insurance fraud related to him seeking physical therapy following a car crash.
The hip-hop mogul’s sex-trafficking and racketeering trial is now in its sixth week.
The prosecution is expected to rest its case soon. Then Combs’ defense will present its side to the eight-man, four-woman jury.
If you are a survivor of sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline (1-800-656-4673) or visit its website to receive confidential support.
If you are a survivor of sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline (1-800-656-4673) or visit its website to receive confidential support.
