The Trial: Split Verdict

Summary

Bad Rap: The Case Against Diddy
Episode: The Trial: Split Verdict
Release Date: July 3, 2025
Host: Brian Buckmire, ABC News Legal Contributor

---

Introduction

In the gripping episode titled "The Trial: Split Verdict" from the podcast series Bad Rap: The Case Against Diddy, ABC News delves deep into the high-stakes trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs. Once celebrated as a powerhouse in the entertainment and business sectors of hip-hop, Diddy's reputation faced a tumultuous downfall following serious allegations of sexual abuse and manipulation. This episode meticulously traces the sequence of events leading to his current legal predicament, offering listeners an in-depth analysis of the charges, the trial's outcome, and the potential ramifications ahead.

---

The Verdict: A Split Decision

At 00:26, Brian Buckmire reports the jury's unanimous decision delivered at 9:52 AM on a Wednesday morning. After approximately 14 hours of deliberations, Diddy was found guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. However, the jury acquitted him of more severe charges, including RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) conspiracy and two counts of sex trafficking—one pertaining to Cassie Ventura and another involving an alleged victim referred to as Jane.

Buckmire describes the courtroom reaction:

"After the split verdict, Combs kneeled on the floor, appearing to pray. Once he got up and looked towards the gallery, a loud cheer and round of applause broke out. And as he left the courtroom, he said to his family, I love you. I'mma be home soon." (00:26)

Despite the acquittals on the more serious charges, Diddy remains incarcerated awaiting sentencing due to the prosecution's intent to seek substantial prison time for the convictions he did receive.

---

Analysis of the Verdict

Brian Buckmire offers his expert legal perspective on the jury's decision. At 03:15, he reflects:

"I heard not guilty as to the racketeering conspiracy. [...] If there's no enterprise, there's no RICO."

Buckmire explains that the absence of conviction on RICO charges suggests that the jury did not find sufficient evidence of an organized criminal enterprise surrounding Diddy's alleged actions. He further elaborates on the unexpected not guilty verdict for the sex trafficking charge related to Cassie Ventura:

"I knew if they did not find Sean Combs guilty of sex trafficking, there would be no way that they would find him guilty of trafficking Jane." (04:30)

This outcome indicates that while the prosecution successfully demonstrated elements necessary for the transportation charges, they fell short in establishing the broader and more complex framework required for RICO and sex trafficking convictions.

---

Implications for Sentencing

The episode transitions to the critical next phase: sentencing. At 08:11, Buckmire breaks down the potential sentencing scenarios:

"Transportation to engage in prostitution carries a maximum of 10 years in prison. [...] Because the transportation to engage in prostitution could be considered two separate and distinct acts. The judge would have the authority and the government is definitely going to ask for those sentences to be run consecutively, not concurrently. That's why 10 and 10 would equal 20."

He highlights the prosecution's stance, seeking consecutive sentences totaling up to 20 years, contrasted with the defense's request for concurrent sentencing, which could limit the total to 10 years. Buckmire also touches on the probation process and the judge's discretion in determining the final sentence based on recommendations and sentencing guidelines.

Furthermore, he addresses the lingering impact of the acquitted charges:

"By law, the government will still bring up the alleged incidences of Cassie being brutally assaulted [...] and those would be applied to the sentencing." (08:11)

This means that despite the not guilty verdicts, certain allegations may still influence the sentencing outcome, adding complexity to Diddy's legal situation.

---

Jury Composition and Its Impact

At 05:30, Buckmire speculates on factors influencing the jury's decision, emphasizing the role of jury demographics:

"I think that there are varying degrees of understanding and belief as to what consent is based on the age of an individual. [...] When you have a jury that over half of them is 51 years or older, I think that has a big part to play in a case like this."

He suggests that the predominantly older jury members may have different perceptions of consent and aggression, potentially affecting their verdict on sensitive issues like sexual abuse and trafficking.

---

Next Steps and Community Reactions

As the episode concludes, Buckmire informs listeners about the forthcoming sentencing process and encourages community engagement:

"Hey listeners, what do you think of the verdict and what questions do you have about it? Leave us a question or comment at 929-388-1249." (11:50)

He invites the audience to participate in discussions, promising deeper insights in future episodes as the legal saga continues.

---

Conclusion

"The Trial: Split Verdict" offers a comprehensive exploration of Sean Combs' trial, dissecting the jury's decisions, legal strategies, and the intricate dynamics at play. Through Brian Buckmire's seasoned analysis, listeners gain a nuanced understanding of the complexities surrounding high-profile cases involving influential figures. As Diddy's legal journey progresses toward sentencing, the episode serves as a crucial update for anyone following this significant cultural and legal narrative.

---

Stay Updated: For ongoing coverage of the Diddy trial and its developments, visit ABC News or tune into future episodes of the podcast.

Transcript

[Ad Sponsor]

This episode is brought to you by Polestar. There's only one true way to experience the all electric luxury SUV Polestar 3, and that's to take a test drive. It can go from 0 to 60 in as little as 4.8 seconds with the dynamic handling of a sports car. But to truly understand how it commands the road, you need to be behind the wheel up to 350 miles of range. The 3D surround sound system by Bowers and Wilkins. It's all something you have to experience to believe. So book your Test drive for Polestar.

[Brian Buckmire]

3 [e-mail] At 9:52am Wednesday morning, the jury sent word they'd reached a unanimous verdict in USA V' Sean Combs. The day we've been building toward for the last seven weeks is here. It took the jury about 14 hours of deliberations before they found Sean Diddy Combs guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. But he was not convicted of of the more serious charges he was facing. The jury found him not guilty of RICO or racketeering conspiracy. Same for two counts of sex trafficking, one for Cassie and one for the alleged victim that testified under the pseudonym Jane. After the split verdict, Combs kneeled on the floor, appearing to pray. Once he got up and looked towards the gallery, a loud cheer and round of applause broke out. And as he left the courtroom, he said to his family, I love you. I'mma be home soon. Because Combs was acquitted of the more serious charges, his attorney asked for him to be immediately released on bail pending sentencing. The defense offered a million dollar bond, but the prosecution objected, saying the government plans to pursue significant incarceration for Combs. He still faces a possible sentence of up to 20 years in prison for the two transportation to engage in prostitution charges. Cassie Ventura, the prosecution's star witness, had also urged the judge to keep Diddy locked up. Her lawyer sent a letter to the judge that said she believes Combs is, quote, likely to pose a danger to the victims who testified in this case, including her. It took until the end of the day, but the judge eventually decided Combs should stay in jail awaiting sentencing. This is bad rap. The Case Against Diddy Brian I'm Brian Buckmire, an ABC News legal contributor and practicing attorney. This episode Split Verdict I want to share some of my early thoughts and reactions to this news because as I sat there listening and waiting for the verdict, I heard not guilty as to the racketeering conspiracy. And I thought to myself, okay, a lot of predicate acts, they just needed two Maybe this was a situation where they didn't believe that there was a criminal enterprise, that functional part of this charge, that center of the racketeering conspiracy. And if there's no enterprise, there's no rico. And then they went to the next count, Count two, not guilty. And I knew that was sex trafficking for Cassie. And that's the one that really shocked me because of all of the violence, of all we saw from the photos of the injuries to the intercontinental video. I thought if there was ever an alleged victim who would get this charge, either because of the facts of the case or just the brutality that they saw, it'd be Cassie. And I knew in my mind, if they did not find Sean Combs guilty of sex trafficking, Cassie, that there would be no way that they would find him guilty of trafficking Jane. And so from there, I was not surprised. I knew he'd be found guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution, because he could be found guilty of those two charges for transporting either Cassie or Jane or any of the 27 sex workers who say they went across state lines. And we saw all of the receipts for the hotels and the planes and the text messages. There was no argument for that. I mean, they tried to make an argument, but there was no actual legal argument for that. And so now when I heard that, my first thought was, Mark Agnifolo is going to ask for him to be released pending sentencing. They're going to try to make it that these charges are not run consecutively, but instead concurrently. And if they can get a sentence that is sub five years, that's a win. As a defense attorney, when your client is looking at life and you got them five years where they've already served almost a single year. As you've heard me say before on this podcast, I think that the age of the jury could have been more important, not necessarily gender or race, because when you're having the conversation about consent, we as a society are still grappling with what that is. And I think there are varying degrees of understanding and belief as to what consent is based on the age of an individual. Someone who is 65 has a different opinion of someone who is 40, who has a different opinion of someone who's 20. But all three of those people confine themselves on a jury. And when you have a jury that over half of them is 51 years or older, I think that has a big part to play in a case like this. If there's anything to gleam from the decision of the jury, it would be this. Either one, there is no criminal enterprise or two 12 people could not unanimously decide on at least two predicate acts. When it comes to both Cassie and Jane, there had to have been a belief that at some point and in some way this was consensual, that Sean Combs might have been a brutal and violent boyfriend. He might have abused women in a way that no person or no woman should ever be subjected to. That he is in many ways an indefensible human being as it applies to how he treats others. But one thing he is not is a trafficker. And the jury must have been laser focused on that concept, that belief and the elements of the crimes of trafficking as it applied to both Cassie and Jane. To come back with this verdict coming up, what you need to know about the sentencing.

[Ryan Coogler]

Amazon one Medical presents Painful Thoughts.

[Nicole Byer]

I've been on hold to make a doctor's appointment for 23 minutes now. The automated voice has told me 47 times that my call is very important to them.

[Brian Buckmire]

Hmm.

[Nicole Byer]

I'm starting to think that they don't think my call is important at all.

[Ryan Coogler]

With Amazon One Medical 24. 7 Virtual Care, you'll get help fast without having to remain on the line to make an appointment. Amazon One Medical Healthcare just got less painful.

[Progressive Insurance]

This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever find yourself playing the budgeting game? Well, with the name your price tool from Progressive, you can find options that fit your budget and potentially lower your bills. Try [e-mail] Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates Price and coverage match limited by state law. Not available in all states.

[Ryan Coogler]

From Marvel Television, I'm executive producer Ryan Coogler.

[Nicole Byer]

Y' all calling me crazy.

[Brian Buckmire]

I want to build something iconic.

[Ryan Coogler]

Experience the sixth episode event.

[Ad Sponsor]

That Iron Suit is the ultimate display of power.

[Brian Buckmire]

I'm going to take it.

[Nicole Byer]

Absolutely not.

[Ryan Coogler]

Now streaming on Disney + RiRi this is serious.

[Brian Buckmire]

This power does not come without risk. Might be a hero in there after all.

[Ryan Coogler]

Marvel Televisions Iron Heart now streaming only on Disney plus.

[Brian Buckmire]

So that's it for the trial. But that's not the end of the case. The next thing we'll be looking for is sentencing. Transportation to engage in prostitution carries a maximum of 10 years in prison. There is no mandatory minimum. Theoretically speaking, he could get probation. Just throwing it out there. But he was found guilty of two counts. Now you're probably going to hear a lot of people say 20 years. 20 years. 20 years. How do they get to that? Because the transportation to engage in prostitution could be considered two separate and distinct acts. The judge would have the authority and the government, I believe, is definitely going to ask for those sentences to be run consecutively, not concurrently, meaning one after the other. That's why 10 and 10 would equal 20. The defense, of course, is going to ask for those allegations or those counts to be run concurrently. So even if, worst case scenario, he gets the maximum 10 in 10 running concurrently, it would only be 10 years in prison. Sentencing could happen anywhere from 45 days to two or three months. It would heavily depend on the arguments that both sides, the government or the defense, makes in terms of what they believe they need to prepare for such an event. Prior to sentencing, Sean Combs will have an interview with the probation department. They will create a PSI or a pre sentencing investigation. That's when they look to the history of Sean Combs both as a person and any kind of criminal history, as well as any mitigating or aggravating circumstances. We've already heard that the government expects to ask for a very significant amount of prison time, and they're going to lean upon those aggravating circumstances to get a sentencing range or get a sentence of Sean Combs above what might be his guidelines or the recommendation from probation. We also know from their letter to the court asking Sean Combs to remain behind bars pending that sentence, that they believe Sean Combs sentencing guidelines should be anywhere from 51 months to 63 months in prison. But the defense has also made their calculation as to how much time they believe Sean Combs should face, saying that his sentencing guidelines should be anywhere from 21 to 27 months, with the understanding that he's already served 10 months in jail waiting for this trial. Who ultimately decides is the judge. The judge will take the recommendation from probation, the arguments from both sides, and look at the sentencing guidelines and say, this is what I'm going to give Sean Combs. Of course, a big part of the argument, as I said earlier, is are those sentences going to run consecutively or concurrently? Being acquitted of the other charges theoretically should not affect the case. But in actuality, those allegations can still be applied to Sean Combs during sentencing. So you are sentenced not just on what you are convicted of, but what you are technically accused of. And so while Sean Combs is not a sex trafficker, by law, the government will still bring up the alleged incidences of Cassie being brutally assaulted, allegations of Cassie being compelled or forced to go across state lines for commercial sex, and all of the alleged recitations that come from the RICO and sex trafficking, and those would be applied to the sentencing doesn't sound fair in some regards. Depending on who you ask, if you beat a charge, why should those allegations be used against you? But they still can be. Hey listeners, what do you think of the verdict and what questions do you have about it? Leave us a question or comment at 929-388-1249. You might hear your message in the podcast and stay tuned to this feed for a deeper look at this verdict and what it means. If you appreciate this coverage, please share it and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And if you're looking for even more coverage of the Diddy trial, you can check out abc and abcnews.com bad the case against Diddy is a production of ABC Audio. I'm Brian Buchmire.

[Nicole Byer]

Hey everybody, it's Nicole Byer here with some hot takes from Wayfair. A cozy corduroy sectional from Wayfair. Um, yeah, that's a hot take. Go on and add it to your cart and take it. A pink glam night stand from Wayfair. Scalding hot. Take it before I do. A mid century modern cabinet from Wayfair that doubles as a wine bar. Do I have to say it? It's a hot take. Get [e-mail] and enjoy that free shipping too.

[Ad Sponsor]

Wayfair Every Style, Every Home ESPN presents.

[Ryan Coogler]

The T Mobile Home Run Derby, the only night Major League Baseball hits this.

[Brian Buckmire]

Hard.

[Ryan Coogler]

Because Atlanta has some extra pop. Feel the power of the dirt.

[Brian Buckmire]

And.

[Ryan Coogler]

Try to keep up with the beat of the ATF. The T Mobile Home Run Derby Monday, July 14th at 8 Eastern on ESPN.