Sean “Diddy” Combs’ team of lawyers have spoken out following the mixed verdict of his criminal trial, giving a brief press conference outside of the courthouse.
This morning, their client, the 55-year-old hip-hop mogul, was found guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, and not guilty on three more serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking. He was denied bail and will remain in jail until his October sentencing.
“Today’s a great victory,” Combs’ lead counsel, Marc Agnifilo, declared. While Combs was convicted and faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, he dodged sex trafficking and racketeering charges that could have landed him behind bars for life. “It’s a great victory for Sean Combs, it’s a great victory for the jury system.”
Hundreds of reporters and members of the public swarmed the barricade near the entrance of the courthouse. “One thing stands between all of us and a prison, and that is a jury of 12 citizens,” Agnifilo said, adding that the jurors “got the situation right — or, certainly, right enough.”
Fellow defense attorney Teny Geragos next took the mic and said, “Sean Combs has not sexually assaulted anybody. I’ve been saying that for months. The media got it wrong.” However, another one of Combs’ attorneys, Brian Steel, praised the reporters in front of him: “I want to thank you all for being here and writing truthfully.”
Attorney Nicole Westmoreland also thanked the media and said she was “proud” of Combs because he “actually battled for his freedom.” Her co-counsel Xavier Donaldson said “the job is not done yet,” but the defense team refused to answer whether they would appeal the judge’s denial of bail.
Instead of giving specifics, Agnifilo said, “We are not nearly done fighting. We’re not going to stop until he walks out of prison a free man to his family.”
The jury delivered the mixed verdict Wednesday morning, after a grueling eight-week trial in which 34 witnesses — including ex-girlfriends and former employees — accused Combs of crimes ranging from kidnapping to arson to rape and physical assault.
In closing arguments, federal prosecutors painted Combs as the leader of an enterprise whose “inner circle” helped him commit and cover up crimes like drug distribution, witness tampering and sex trafficking. Combs’ attorneys argued that he had no criminal enterprise, nor any co-conspirators, and that he and his girlfriends partook in a “swingers lifestyle” comprised of consenting adults.
Upon hearing the verdict, Combs pumped his fist and mouthed “thank you” at the jurors. Members of his family and defense team cried.
Apart from the result of his federal trial, Combs has also been hit with dozens of civil lawsuits accusing him of rape, assault and other crimes. Most of those suits are still pending.
From Variety US