The Diddy Trial: !!!BREAKING!!! DIDDY SPEAKS (Bonus Episode)

Summary

Podcast Summary: Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes present: Aubrey O’Day, Covering the Diddy Trial

Episode Title: The Diddy Trial: !!!BREAKING!!! DIDDY SPEAKS (Bonus Episode)
Release Date: June 24, 2025
Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts

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Introduction

In this detailed bonus episode of "Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes present: Aubrey O’Day, Covering the Diddy Trial," hosts T.J. Holmes and Jay Shetty delve into the latest developments of the high-profile trial involving music mogul Diddy. This episode provides listeners with an in-depth analysis of courtroom proceedings, unexpected witness testimonies, and strategic maneuvers by both the prosecution and defense teams.

Recent Developments in the Trial

Hearing Diddy's Voice in Court

At [02:19], T.J. Holmes announces a significant development in the trial: for the first time, Diddy addresses the court directly. This marks a pivotal moment, as prior to this, Diddy's presence in the courtroom had been limited to nods and non-verbal cues.

Jay Shetty's Commentary:

“[03:08] Jay Shetty: Thank you. What if he did? Maybe you want to sound very sweet and very innocent today in court, but no, I cannot imagine it coming out like that.”

T.J. Holmes on Diddy's Demeanor:

“[03:35] T.J. Holmes: ...the judge asked Diddy, how you feeling? Combs says, I'm doing great. Thank you, your honor. And then he added my favorite part. He tells the judge, you're doing an excellent job. Charming as ever.”

Defense Strategies Unveiled

Introduction of Protective Text Messages

The defense team strategically introduced text messages that portray a consensual and affectionate relationship between Diddy and the accusers. These messages aimed to undermine the prosecution’s narrative of coercion and abuse.

Jay Shetty Analyzes Evidence:

“[08:41] Jay Shetty: Those texts are irrefutable. Even the prosecution had to acknowledge their authenticity.”

T.J. Holmes on Mutual Admiration:

“[10:02] T.J. Holmes: You are my best friend... that's mutual admiration. That there's a deeper bond in a way.”

Prosecution's Ongoing Claims

Despite the defense's efforts, the prosecution continues to allege that Diddy's actions constitute sex trafficking, emphasizing instances of coercion and threats. However, the introduction of new evidence by the defense introduces reasonable doubt into the jury's deliberations.

Discussion on Prosecution’s Case:

“[07:56] Jay Shetty: Domestic violence is not sex trafficking... he absolutely put his hands on that woman.”

Trial Timeline and Procedural Updates

The trial's schedule has been affected by extended testimonies and strategic delays. The hosts discuss the potential timeline for closing arguments and jury deliberations, indicating that a verdict is unlikely to be reached within the week.

T.J. Holmes on Jury Deliberations:

“[06:39] ...the jury might not even begin deliberating until Monday...”

Jay Shetty on Court Procedures:

“[24:10] ...jury instructions are often part of the public court record after the trial.”

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Diddy's Address to the Judge:

  “[05:10] T.J. Holmes: ...he tells the judge, you're doing an excellent job.”

• On Defense's Unveiling of Text Messages:

  “[08:41] Jay Shetty: They paint a picture of almost loving normal boyfriend, girlfriend relationships.”

• Emphasizing the Depth of Relationships:

  “[10:02] T.J. Holmes: You are my best friend... mutual admiration... deeper bond.”

Current Status and Future Outlook

As the trial progresses, the defense's unexpected revelations have introduced new dynamics, potentially swaying the jury's perception. The hosts anticipate further unforeseen developments and stress the complex nature of the case, highlighting the high stakes involved for both the prosecution and defense parties.

Reflection on Trial Progress:

“[26:10] T.J. Holmes: It certainly has. Almost every day, but certainly at least once a week we get something that's actually... jaw-dropping.”

Anticipation of Verdict:

“[26:45] T.J. Holmes: Have a great. ... Diddy run.”

Conclusion

This bonus episode provides a comprehensive overview of the latest happenings in the Diddy trial, capturing the essence of ongoing legal battles, strategic courtroom maneuvers, and the introduction of critical evidence. T.J. Holmes and Jay Shetty offer insightful commentary, ensuring listeners remain informed and engaged with every twist and turn of this high-stakes case.

Listeners are encouraged to stay tuned for ongoing coverage and expert analysis as the trial moves closer to its conclusion.

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Notable Exclusions:
Advertisements, promotional segments, and non-content sections from other podcasts were omitted to maintain focus on the Diddy trial discussions.

Transcript

[T.J. Holmes]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Amy Robach]

Stay informed, empowered and ahead of the curve with the BI N News this Hour podcast updated hourly to bring you the latest stories shaping the black community. From breaking headlines to cultural milestones, the Black Information Network delivers the facts, the voices and the perspectives that matter 247 because our stories deserve to be heard. Listen to the BI N News this Hour podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts wherever you get your podcasts. I also want to address the Tonys. On a recent episode of Checking in with Michelle Williams, I open up about feeling snubbed by the Tony Awards. Do I? I was never mad. I was disappointed because I had high hopes to hear this. And more on disappointment and protecting your peace. Listen to Checking in with Michelle Williams from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever. Get your podcasts this Pride Month, we.

[George M. Johnson]

Are not just celebrating, we're fighting back. I'm George M. Johnson, author of the most banned book in America. On my podcast, Fighting Words, I sit down with voices that spark resistance and inspire change.

[T.J. Holmes]

This year, we are showing up and showing out.

[Jay Shetty]

You need people being like, no, you're not. What? You tell us what to do.

[Amy Robach]

This regime is coming down on us and I don't want to just survive.

[T.J. Holmes]

I want to thrive.

[George M. Johnson]

Fighting Words is where courage meets conversation. Listen on iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Michelle Williams]

Hey, I'm Jay Shetty, the host of the number one health and wellness podcast in the world. On Purpose. On On Purpose. I sit down with some of the most fascinating minds, from world class athletes to wellness experts and thought leaders to uncover their secrets to living a happier, more meaningful life. If you're looking for inspiration, tools for growth and real conversations that challenge you to think differently, listen to on purpose on the iHeartRadio app, Amazon Music or wherever you listen to podcasts.

[Jay Shetty]

Hey there folks. It is Tuesday, June 24, and the prosecution rests. The defense rests and Diddy says thank you to the judge in open court. Welcome to this second Diddy update of the day here on Amy and TJ and Robes. It was a day of developments, which is why we're hopping back on. A lot of stuff happened in the afternoon as we're recording this. It is early evening here on the east coast, but a day of developments, including hearing Diddy's voice in open court. I guess just the. We'll get into exact quotes in a second, but just the idea of hearing, hearing from him seems like it was a big Day. Just that he spoke.

[T.J. Holmes]

Did you just imagine he said it the way you inflected it? Thank you.

[Jay Shetty]

No, he said, take that, take that, take that.

[T.J. Holmes]

I was laughing. I was like, wow, did he really do it just like that?

[Jay Shetty]

Thank you. What if he did? Maybe you want to sound very sweet and very innocent today in court, but no, I cannot imagine it coming out like that.

[T.J. Holmes]

Yeah, it's probably more like, thank you. No, but this is the first time that we have heard from Diddy directly, correct since the beginning of this trial.

[Jay Shetty]

I'm trying to think there had to be something where he had to give a nod or a yes or maybe little. I can't remember it, though.

[T.J. Holmes]

The only thing I have seen reported on from folks in the courtroom is his demeanor, his facial expressions, the fact that he was nodding or nodding aggressively towards a juror. We've seen reports today that he was hunched over, reports that he wouldn't look at the screen when some of the explicit videos were being shown. But no, those were just descriptions of his behavior and his physical demeanor, but nothing from him directly.

[Jay Shetty]

You know what? We've been following a lot of these courtroom, these reporters, and we were reading their note today about him speaking. None of them mentioned that he had spoken prior, so think they would have. They would have.

[T.J. Holmes]

Pretty sure that would have been a big deal.

[Jay Shetty]

So this might have been it to hear from him the first time. We also had a cross examination that took longer than expected, which is now messing with the timeline. And also, Diddy's team is asking for an acquittal right now, and they haven't gotten an answer to that yet. So that's an afternoon of developments. That's why we jumped on. But I guess like we said, the big one here, hearing Diddy's voice, this is a standard part of any trial. We talked about it before it happened. We're going to hear from Diddy today because they always ask, are you going to testify in your own defense?

[T.J. Holmes]

Yeah. But I thought it was interesting that the judge started with asking Diddy how he was feeling, that I heard that before. I didn't either.

[Jay Shetty]

But once in a while, though, cordial, how you feeling?

[T.J. Holmes]

So the judge asked Diddy, how you feeling? Combs says, I'm doing great. Thank you, your honor. And then he added my favorite part. He tells the judge, you're doing an excellent job. Charming as ever.

[Jay Shetty]

I did like that. Okay. I did like it. Look, everybody likes to be complimented in a judge in his federal trial. I liked it. Who knows what it came off? I wonder how it felt in the courtroom. Was it actually a warm moment? Is it possible to have a warm moment in that courtroom?

[T.J. Holmes]

Possibly. But it does seem, it seems like there's a motive behind a defendant telling a judge that he's doing an excellent job. I mean, maybe he really felt that and thought that, but it just made me laugh a little. Just because so much of what we're hearing about Diddy and his charming and just. He had a way with people. He knows how to make people do what he wants them to do.

[Jay Shetty]

That was my thing. What if this was a matter of control, that, yes, I'm the defendant, my life was on the line. But I'm telling you, you're doing a good job. You still need my approval in this room for what's going on.

[T.J. Holmes]

Oozing with confidence. Oozing with confidence, as is the defense.

[Jay Shetty]

Have you noticed our. Our afternoon updates? We're a lot looser. Yes, y' all, we are punchy. We've been up since 2:30 and 3 in the morning at this point, so forgive us, but we're going to get through it.

[T.J. Holmes]

Yeah. Well, we weren't even expecting to do this episode, but a lot happened this afternoon and it was certainly worth noting specifically because, yes, Diddy did speak. So, yes, Combs also told the judge that he was not going to testify. We no one thought he was going to. And certainly the defense has told us over the last couple of days they weren't bringing any witnesses on the stand. So there was zero expectation that Combs was going to. But we at least got to hear him formally tell the judge that and why and how he came to that decision.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah, they always want them to know they have to tell the judge and the judge has to be satisfied because you don't want this issue on appeal, frankly, like you saying, definitely, I'm making this decision, making it on my own. I do not want to testify in my own defense. Look, after he says that, the prosecutor. And again, this, what do they call them, summary witnesses. These are not necessarily for one side or the other, but they're essentially just to go through notes and to go through data for the jury and help them piece, connect the dots, as you say. So this supposed to be a boring witness for a lot of ways. This dude was on from Friday through this afternoon, early almost to the afternoon. He turned out to be very important. And I think this ended up being a defense witness, did it not?

[T.J. Holmes]

Yes. So that's what I believe was going on. So, yes, the defense didn't technically call any witnesses but this Homeland Security special agent ended up being a conduit by which the defense was able to present texts and videos. And so they were in a way able to present its case through this prosecution witness, which is not what I don't think any of us expected at least. So, yes, he was only supposed to be on the stand for a while. He was on the stand for three days and much longer today, as you pointed out, than he was expected to. I believe the defense told the court they thought they'd need about an hour and change with him. He was up for what, three hours, maybe more?

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah, he turned end up being very important. And I think those. I. Look, we've obviously kept up with every single day of this trial actually now I think about it. But some of the evidence now, I guess some of the text messages he was able to introduce or the defense was able to introduce through him, they paint a picture of almost loving normal boyfriend, girlfriend, relationships. They paint a picture of women who are enthusiastic. We used the word earlier, giddy. I think some of these text messages hit harder than a lot of previous ones we've seen. And that's why this witness ended up being so valuable, possibly for the defense.

[T.J. Holmes]

And, you know, whoever goes last. Maybe I'm wrong, but I would think leaves a bigger impression because it's the freshest on your mind. It's the thing that's closest to the decision you're going to end up coming to just before you deliberate. This is the last bit of evidence you're hearing, so it tends to have a lot of weight. And yeah, we heard texts where we saw loving consensual relationships, but we also saw explicit, you know, texts that were describing sexual acts, but consensual sexual acts. So those were two very important things. Not only did he have a loving softer side, but it very much seemed through these texts that both Cassie and Jane were, as you say, enthusiastically participating in explicit sexual acts. And they said so through their text, through their own words, through their own written words in real time.

[Jay Shetty]

That's powerful that they are initiating. There is not some. They're not being coerced, they're not being right. They initiate a lot of this stuff. And look, the defense did its job. This is what they're supposed to do. Put little bit of doubt. That's all you need, reasonable doubts?

[T.J. Holmes]

Yes.

[Jay Shetty]

Is that what they say, that the, the prosecution prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt? Look, all we could do is report on it from here and read transcripts in the courtroom. I don't know. Piece by piece, listening to every single bit of evidence beyond a reasonable out h. It's a high bar.

[T.J. Holmes]

Yeah. One of the reporters in the courtroom pointed out this text message that the defense was able to talk about and present to the jury was a message from Cassie Ventura Fine, who told Diddy in a text in 2017, you are my best friend. And she said that there was no one that she loves more than him. That's hard to imagine that you would write a text to someone like that. You are my best friend in a way that's even more powerful than any of the sexually explicit acts or the I love you, I love yous. Because that.

[Jay Shetty]

That.

[T.J. Holmes]

That's mutual admiration. That there's. That's a deeper bond in a way. I just thought that was really powerful.

[Jay Shetty]

You know, I hadn't thought about it. The way you're speaking of it now. I think a lot of people can relate to what those words mean, and it's tough to balance that with. This is a woman who is being, according to the prosecution, almost held hostage by this man because of threats of violence, because of threats of taking away rent, because of threats of her career. That is. This paints a much different picture, right?

[T.J. Holmes]

Because if someone is obsessed with someone or sexually obsessed with someone, it might create a different imbalance in a relationship. But a best friend sounds like a mutual, consensual, loving, friendly, respectable relationship. It's different than some of these explicit texts we see. And that, for me, that had a lot of weight to it. Over the past six years of making my true crime podcast Hell and Gone, I've learned one thing. No town is too small for murder. I'm Katherine Townsend. I've received hundreds of messages from people across the country begging for help with unsolved murders. I was calling about the murder of my husband. It's a cold case. I've never found her, and it haunts me to this day.

[George M. Johnson]

The murderer is still out there.

[T.J. Holmes]

Every week on Hell and Gone Murderline, I dig into a new case, bringing the skills I've learned as a journalist and private investigator to ask the questions no one else is asking. Police really didn't care to even try.

[Jay Shetty]

She was still somebody's mother.

[Amy Robach]

She was still somebody's daughter.

[Jay Shetty]

She was still somebody's sister.

[Amy Robach]

There's so many questions that we've never.

[T.J. Holmes]

Gotten any kind of answers for. If you have a case you'd like me to look into, call the Helen Gone murder line at 678-744-6145. Listen to Helen Gone Murderline on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[George M. Johnson]

This Pride Month, we are not just celebrating, we're fighting back. I'm George M. Johnson, and my book All Bo Blue was just named the most banned book in America. If the culture wars have taught me anything, it's that pride is protest. And on my podcast, Fighting Words, we talk to people who use their voices to resist, disrupt, and make our community stronger.

[T.J. Holmes]

This year, we are showing up and showing out.

[Jay Shetty]

You need people being like, no, you're not going to tell us what to do.

[Amy Robach]

This regime is coming down on us and I don't want to just survive. I want to thrive.

[George M. Johnson]

You'll hear from trailblazers like Bob the Drag Queen to freedom Angelica Ross.

[T.J. Holmes]

We ready to fight. I'm ready to fight.

[George M. Johnson]

And Gabrielle Union.

[T.J. Holmes]

Hi, George.

[George M. Johnson]

And storytellers with wisdom to spare. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Michelle Williams]

Hey, I'm Jay Shetty, the host of the number one health and wellness podcast in the world. On Purpose. On On Purpose, I sit down with some of the most fascinating minds, from world class athletes to wellness experts and thought leaders to uncover their secrets to living a happier, more meaningful life. If you're looking for inspiration, tools for growth, and real conversations that challenge you to think differently, listen to on purpose on the iHeartRadio app, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

[T.J. Holmes]

We are telling our scientists today we have disdain for your expertise. And then you have China as an exception saying, actually, we're going to invest a trillion dollars in new science.

[Amy Robach]

Yeah, you heard that right. While the US Is cutting billions from science and public health, China is making historic investments. That means here in the U.S. fewer breakthroughs, slower medical advances, and a serious risk of falling behind globally.

[Jay Shetty]

I don't think anything about that is efficient.

[T.J. Holmes]

I think that it is actually profoundly inefficient.

[Amy Robach]

As she would know, Chelsea Clinton is using her expertise in public health to break down what these cuts really mean and why protecting SC isn't just smart policy, it's a necessity. This week on Dope Labs, we're putting it all under the microscope with Chelsea Clinton diving into what's at stake for science, medicine, and our future. Listen to Dope labs on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jay Shetty]

You know, we were questioning why it seems amazing, it's remarkable that the defense, after all this and everything that's on the line, that they would not present any witnesses. But haven't it's Weird. I just noticed it now that over the past several days, all we've been talking about as the prosecution is putting on their case is the defense.

[T.J. Holmes]

Yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

Because on. They are putting on their case.

[T.J. Holmes]

They are.

[Jay Shetty]

Exactly. I've been doing that. And they've been making their points, and they have been making some headway and having more Perry Mason and courtroom moments than we're used to.

[T.J. Holmes]

They are highlighting. And they have been highlighting over the past several days, but even specifically yesterday and today, massive inconsistencies by the prosecution's star witnesses. And that's with all of these loving, kind texts. They just fly in the face of the direct testimony we heard from those two women. And these texts are irrefutable. Even the prosecution had to acknowledge their authenticity. These are real texts that happen from these women.

[Jay Shetty]

So this. This is standard. They asked for an acquittal. That was the other big moment today. This is called a Rule 29, I believe it's called. Okay, Rule 29, motion. This is standard. So they go through and you kind of get a little insight into what their defense strategy is, what their closing argument might be, and what they think a winning strategy has been. But they laid out several things, and a key part of it was saying that domestic violence is not sex trafficking.

[Amy Robach]

Yep.

[Jay Shetty]

That like we are copping to. Yep. He absolutely put his hands on that woman. That is not him being violent, forcing her to have sex, which apparently is a key to proving sex trafficking. It has to be the violence that is a threat. And they laid that out today as a part of the motion to say, hey, the prosecution hasn't even made its case. We don't even need to put a case on.

[T.J. Holmes]

Absolutely. They also tried to dismantle the prosecution's claims that Diddy was participating in racketeering acts. They were trying to. Or at least they presented to the court that there was zero evidence or they failed to show evidence. The prosecution did, that Diddy tried to bribe anyone surrounding that hotel attack, that video that we saw. So I don't know. Because they said there was no police involvement because Cassie Ventura. Fine. Didn't want any police involved and no charges were pressed. So they're trying to go through each one of these charges against Diddy and saying the prosecution did not prove those points.

[Jay Shetty]

You just made the. The key. You just started with. I'm sorry. I'm ragging my brain now. Yes, folks, we have been up a long time. You just started with the racketeering is what you were talking. Okay. This is maybe one of the biggest Points that they made, they prove that Diddy and others, he tried to hide the freak offs from other staff members. He tried to keep it a secret from some people. He tried to say, hey, wait till the coast is clear before you bring Mr. Whoever Cowboy in to the room. If you do that, then that means you are not running a criminal enterprise in which you have fellow criminals doing your bidding because you're actually trying to keep what you're doing from them. That is a big, big point about running a criminal enterprise. Racketeering. He is not a mob boss in this argument from the defense. Because what does a mob boss do? Everybody on the lower level, on the streets, know what bidding they're doing. They're doing the criminal bidding for the guy and the money's going to. Right. It's not that kind of thing. They proved through text messages he was trying to not involve people. What did the defense attorney say? They did errands, made travel arrangements that didn't have anything to do with what went on with him and his girlfriend.

[T.J. Holmes]

And they acknowledged, like, yes, Diddy may have created some difficult, even abusive working conditions, grueling working conditions. Staffers had little sleep. They had to do his bidding at all hours of the night with very little notice. But they point out they all could have left. And the reason why they did all of these things was not because of any threat or coercion or anything illegal. It was because they didn't want to lose their jobs. Much simpler, period. And that actually makes sense. What they were saying, at least what the defense was presenting today was kind of common sense. And like, dismantle is the best way. They really did an effective job of trying to dismantle what the prosecution says they've already proved.

[Jay Shetty]

Well, in a simplistic way, in a way we can all digest, that makes sense to me. Yes, I've done. Who. Who hasn't done something you didn't want to do because you wanted to hold on to your job?

[T.J. Holmes]

Correct.

[Jay Shetty]

I'm saying it didn't have to be illegal. Hell, I don't even want to go get your coffee kind of a thing. It's not my job. I'm a junior partner here. Everybody has. But they put on their case. They did not put on a case, but they put one on as the prosecution was still having their own witnesses up there. So this is what they're going into now. Robes tomorrow. Wait, the timeline now is getting adjusted.

[T.J. Holmes]

Yes. So now, because this final witness for the prosecution went longer than expected, and I don't know how this Shifts anything too much. The judge asked the jurors to return on Thursday at 9:00am but the issue now is how long it's going to take and when they're actually going to be able to start their closing arguments. They think closing arguments now might bleed over into Friday. And so now there was the suggestion that the jury might not even begin deliberating until Monday, possibly late Friday, but possibly they won't even start until Monday.

[Jay Shetty]

Okay. So we can probably rest assured we're not getting a verdict this week.

[T.J. Holmes]

I think that's highly likely and very probable.

[Jay Shetty]

I wonder how long. I don't think robes. I don't. I don't think. I feel completely confident the, the conference tomorrow for the jury instructions is or is not in open court.

[T.J. Holmes]

We're not sure yet. And so obviously we're hoping it is. So the jury will for sure not be present for that, obviously, because they're discussing what they tell the jurors and what the language is that they use for the jurors to go and start their deliberation. But I don't know if reporters will be allowed, if the public will be allowed into the courtroom to hear that. I would think that they would be. I mean, it would just. The whole point of a court is to have it be transparent, to have it be something that the public can witness and watch and know that it's done ethically and correctly. So it would fly in the face. I mean, there are certain things obviously they don't want to get out. They'll take us, take an aside in the judge's chambers or approach the bench that they don't want people to know or hear. But in terms of getting the jurors instructions, I'm trying to remember in other court cases that we have covered, whether or not we've been privy to that discussion and that conversation, I think so.

[Jay Shetty]

The best right now, I would say yes. They're not coming back until noon tomorrow. So there. But they all are all expected to be there tomorrow. Now hope. I don't think ropes. I haven't seen anywhere either that they expect the charge conference to go any longer than tomorrow. I don't think that's going to bleed into Thursday. Right. They have to get that wrapped up.

[T.J. Holmes]

I think they have to get that wrapped up. I mean, who knows anything's possible. But I just looked it up and it says generally jury instructions are not open to the public during the deliberation process, but they are often part of the public court record after the trial. So I knew there had to be transparency. They're just not going to be transparent in real time after the fact. If people want to go and look and see how do they come to the decision to tell the jurors X, Y and Z? That will be made public after the fact. And so the actual deliberations, including the instructions read by the judge, Obviously, we know the juror deliberations are private, but that's to protect the integrity of the process. So the jury instructions, we'll see.

[Jay Shetty]

And those have been. And if they say what they need four hours each for closing arguments on for Thursday. So even if you start at 9 in the morning, whoever starts first is going to go at least until after lunch. And then whoever's after that is going to go through the rest of the day. So then you can expect that the next day they're going to start reading instructions to the jury. They do do this in open court. And he reads it word for word to them. They get it to go back. I mean, they have the instructions to go back with him. A booklet, but he reads every line. This takes a long time, from my experience. So will it take a full day? Will it take a half a day? That I don't know.

[T.J. Holmes]

Yeah, that's anyone's guess. Something else that was. We're told it's standard, but I thought it was kind of interesting that the prosecution, once the defense rested today, they decided not to present a rebuttal case, which they're allowed to do. They made the decision not to. So I don't know how unusual that is or if that's them trying to show their own moment of confidence. That proved our case.

[Jay Shetty]

They had nothing to rebut because they didn't present much of anything. A few text messages that they acknowledge. Yep. That was part of the actual record. I mean, I don't know if there was much to rebut.

[T.J. Holmes]

That that is. That is actually fair. So, I mean, who knows? But, yes, everything that happened today was what we were expecting to happen, including the defense asking for that acquittal and the judge saying that he will consider making a ruling on it, but not making a ruling on it. That's also very standard, very common. I don't know if he ends up actually having to make a ruling on it, having to declare, I am denying your request for an acquittal. I'm guessing that has to happen. Perhaps tomorrow he will.

[Jay Shetty]

But it seems strange. I'm told that's common for them to do that. But I was still. It seemed odd to me, like, of course he's not gonna do an acquittal. It's just they have to ask. The judge then denies. It's part of all these major trials. I just didn't know why he didn't do it on the spot. But I think I read somewhere from one of the reporters that it's also common for the judge to handle it this way, just to kind of punt it.

[T.J. Holmes]

Let me think about it. It's like when you're a parent and your kid asks you for something and you know you're not gonna let them do it, but you just don't want to cause a scene right there and you say, I'll tell. I'll let you know later. But you already know you're gonna say no.

[Jay Shetty]

You know what we can talk about.

[T.J. Holmes]

I feel like that's basically what happened in court today with the judge's decision. He's. He already knows what he's going to say, which is, yeah, we're going to give this to the jury.

[Jay Shetty]

Can you imagine this? I don't know. That's. Obviously, that's not going to happen. But just there's been. I'm waiting for something else, right? I'm waiting for another shoe to drop. I'm waiting for another shocking moment. I'm waiting for something to become a headline we weren't expecting. Don't know what that'll be. But I just. It's been that kind of trial.

[T.J. Holmes]

It certainly has. Almost every day, but certainly at least once a week we get something that's actually. We're not just exaggerating. Jaw dropping. I mean, that's been the case, it seems, at least from the beginning. At least something each and every time.

[Jay Shetty]

All right, but 34 witnesses down and just a few more days to go before the jury starts deliberating. Folks, in this trial, we will continue to keep you updated. Obviously. We'll check back in with our ditty update tomorrow. Always. You can catch us on morning Run with your news headlines. But for Now, I am T.J. holmes. And for Amy Robot, we always appreciate you running with us. No, we're not running today. This isn't run. This is the diddy run.

[T.J. Holmes]

Just listening to us.

[Jay Shetty]

Just the morning. See.

[T.J. Holmes]

Yeah, I know you're tired. Did we mention you didn't sleep last night at all? Zero on your aura. Score.

[Jay Shetty]

So, yes, tj go night night.

[T.J. Holmes]

Thanks for listening, everyone. Have a great.

[Amy Robach]

Stay informed, empowered and ahead of the curve with the BI N news. This hour podcast updated hourly to bring you the latest stories shaping the black community from breaking headlines to cultural milestones. The Black Information Network delivers the facts, the voices and the perspectives that matter 247 because our stories deserve to be heard. Listen to the BI N News this Hour podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. I also wanna address the Tonys. On a recent episode of Checking in with Michelle Williams, I open up about feeling snubbed by the Tony Awards. Do I? I was never mad. I was disappointed because I had high hopes to hear this and more on disappointment and protecting your peace. Listen to Checking in with Michelle Williams from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[George M. Johnson]

This Pride Month, we are not just celebrating, we're fighting back. I'm George M. Johnson, author of the most banned book in America. On my podcast, Fighting Words, I sit down with voices that spark resistance and inspire change.

[T.J. Holmes]

This year we are showing up and showing out.

[Jay Shetty]

You need people being like, no, you're not. What you. You tell us what to do.

[Amy Robach]

This regime is coming down on us and I don't want to just survive.

[T.J. Holmes]

I want to thrive.

[George M. Johnson]

Fighting Words is where courage meets conversation. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Michelle Williams]

Hey, I'm Jay Shetty, the host of the number one health and wellness podcast in the world, On Purpose. On On Purpose, I sit down with some of the most fascinating minds, from world class athletes to wellness experts and thought leaders to uncover their secrets to living a happier, more meaningful life. If you're looking for inspiration, tools for growth, and real conversations that challenge you to think differently, listen to on purpose on the iHeartRadio app, Amazon Music or wherever you listen to podcasts.

[T.J. Holmes]

This is an iHeart podcast.