The Diddy Trial Is Over Now What ?

Cleared of the most serious charges against him, Sean “Diddy” Combs faces an unknown road ahead. Inside his future behind bars and chances of redemption

- 

On the morning of July 2, inside a packed lower Manhattan courtroom, Sean “Diddy” Combs was declared not guilty on the three most serious charges against him in his high-profile sex trafficking trial. Upon hearing the verdict — he was acquitted of two counts of sex trafficking and one count of racketeering conspiracy and convicted of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution — the visibly relieved music mogul (who had pled not guilty to the charges) kissed his lawyer Marc Agnifilo on the cheek and mouthed “thank you” to the jury with his hands in a prayer gesture. According to an eyewitness, the Grammy winner, 55, then got down on his knees and began sobbing and praying before clapping and kicking off “uproarious” applause from family members, friends and supporters in attendance.

Despite still facing up to 20 years in prison (10 years for each conviction), Diddy & Co. felt they had much to celebrate. After an eight-week trial during which 34 witnesses testified, including the rapper's ex Casandra “Cassie” Ventura and another ex-girlfriend, who both claimed he'd physically abused them and coerced them into taking part in days-long sexual “freak offs,” Agnifilo called the verdict a “great victory.”

Now, as he awaits his Oct. 3 sentencing date at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he’s been since his September 2024 arrest, larger questions loom about what's next for the father of seven. (Diddy, who was denied bail, is dad to sons Quincy, 34, Justin, 31, Christian, 27, and daughters Chance, 19, twins D’Lila and Jessie, 18, and Love, 2). The defense is seeking 21 to 27 months in jail, while the prosecution said their preliminary calculations are closer to 51 to 63 months.