Sean Combs: The jury gets the case.

Summary

Dateline NBC Episode Summary: "Sean Combs: The Jury Gets the Case"

Release Date: July 1, 2025
Host: NBC News
Episode Focus: Coverage of Sean Combs' racketeering trial as the jury begins deliberations.

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1. Introduction to the Verdict Phase

The episode marks a pivotal moment in the high-profile Sean Combs racketeering trial, where after over six weeks of testimony, the jury has commenced deliberations. Host Blaine Alexander sets the stage by highlighting the significance of the upcoming verdict.

Quote:

"This is judgment day." – Blaine Alexander (09:15)

2. Courtroom Atmosphere and Jury Instructions

NBC News correspondent Chloe Melas provides an on-the-ground perspective from outside the courthouse, describing the palpable mix of anticipation and anxiety among attendees. Inside the courtroom, legal analyst Danny Savalos emphasizes the critical nature of jury instructions, which outline how jurors should consider the evidence and apply the law.

Key Points:

• The jury consists of eight men and four women from Manhattan, the Bronx, and Westchester.
• Judge Arun Subramanian’s instructions, known as charging the jury, are highlighted as potentially decisive in the trial's outcome.

Quote:

"Jury instructions are quietly and arguably the most critical part of a trial." – Chloe Melas (12:13)

3. Juror Engagement and Dynamics

Chloe observes that many jurors are highly engaged, taking notes and attentively listening to the judge's directions. However, she notes the diversity of reactions, with some jurors appearing eager to conclude the trial and return to their personal lives.

Quote:

"Several of these jurors look incredibly engaged... some jurors might think this was a case that was overcharged and maybe much ado about nothing." – Chloe Melas (04:03, 07:24)

4. Sean Combs’ Demeanor and Support System

The discussion shifts to Sean Combs’ behavior in court. Despite the gravity of the situation, Combs maintained a relatively calm exterior, though visibly stressed, especially when his children were present in the courtroom. Support from his family, including his mother, has been consistently noticeable.

Quote:

"He did, though, seem eerily calm." – Chloe Melas (05:23)

5. Public and Media Reaction

Chloe Melas addresses the polarized public opinion surrounding the trial. Social media, podcasters, and influencers are divided, with some viewing the charges as a "witch hunt," while others see it as a long-overdue accountability for Combs’ alleged abuses.

Quote:

"It's split. I've seen it all." – Chloe Melas (07:49)

6. Anticipated Verdict Timing and Deliberation

Speculation about the verdict timing suggests a release before the Fourth of July holiday. The jurors are expected to deliberate primarily on the racketeering charge, with possibilities of concluding deliberations within one to two days.

Quote:

"I think they're going to be spending the majority of their time deliberating rico." – Danny Savalos (08:57)

7. Legal Analyst Insights on Jury Instructions

In a detailed segment, Danny Savalos explains the importance of jury instructions in guiding jurors on how to evaluate evidence and witness credibility. He underscores that these instructions provide the framework within which the jury must operate to reach a unanimous decision.

Quote:

"The jury decides the facts, and the judge tells them what the law is, and they must follow the jury instructions." – Chloe Melas (12:13)

8. Listener Inquiry: Future Charges Against Sean Combs

The episode addresses a listener's question regarding potential future charges related to domestic abuse. Chloe Melas outlines the possibilities, noting that while past incidents may be statute-barred, more recent allegations could still be actionable, potentially leading to additional civil or criminal cases.

Quote:

"If you're talking about the hotel beating video and Cassie Ventura, then the answer is probably not... but if we're talking about Jane and the alleged incident last summer in California... it's possible." – Chloe Melas (18:01)

9. Conclusion and Forward Look

As the jury deliberates, the episode wraps up with anticipation of the impending verdict, highlighting the widespread attention and the significant implications of the trial’s outcome.

Quote:

"Our senior producers are Alison Orr and Liz Brown Kuriloff... with help from the Dateline True Crime Weekly team." – Blaine Alexander (20:01)

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• "This is judgment day." – Blaine Alexander (09:15)
• "Jury instructions are quietly and arguably the most critical part of a trial." – Chloe Melas (12:13)
• "He did, though, seem eerily calm." – Chloe Melas (05:23)
• "It's split. I've seen it all." – Chloe Melas (07:49)
• "The jury decides the facts, and the judge tells them what the law is, and they must follow the jury instructions." – Chloe Melas (12:13)

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Conclusion:
This episode of Dateline NBC provides an in-depth look into the final stages of Sean Combs' racketeering trial, offering listeners comprehensive coverage of the courtroom dynamics, legal intricacies, and the broader societal reactions. With expert analysis and on-the-ground reporting, the episode ensures that audiences are well-informed as the case heads towards its conclusion.

Transcript

[Blaine Alexander]

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[Danny Savalos]

Consult a licensed healthcare provider to determine if treatment is right for you. This is ON Trial, a special series from DATELINE True Crime Weekly, bringing you daily coverage from the Sean Combs racketeering trial. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him. I'm Blaine Alexander and it's Monday, June 30th. Just a heads up here in this episode, we're going to be talking about some graphic details and harrowing subject matter. Today, after more than six weeks of testimony, the jury of eight men and four women from Manhattan, the Bronx and Westchester got the case. Before they did. Judge Arun Subramanian gave them instructions. It's called charging the jury. NBC News legal analyst Danny Savalos is going to join us to tell us why those instructions might actually be the entire ball game in this case. But first, of course, we're joined by NBC News correspondent Chloe Melas. She's outside of the courthouse, as she has been for almost two months, to tell us what's going on inside. Hi, Chloe.

[Unnamed Correspondent]

Hey, Blaine.

[Danny Savalos]

It is unbelievable that we are actually here. I've got to say, over a year.

[Unnamed Correspondent]

I'VE been waiting for this.

[Danny Savalos]

Yes, yes, absolutely. So I really just want to first talk about the mood around the courthouse. You got there pretty early today. You had a hit with today's show. So we're talking about well before 7am what was the atmosphere like this morning?

[Unnamed Correspondent]

I mean, there were already people congregating to get inside the doors of the courthouse, members of the press from all over the world. You can feel sort of the anticipation, the anxiety a bit in the air.

[Danny Savalos]

Does it feel different today than it has, say, over the past few weeks?

[Unnamed Correspondent]

I would say there's a sense of relief that things have moved on track, that it does look like this might wrap up before the 4th of July. So the judge said that this is when he wanted the jury to get the case. And well, he was right.

[Danny Savalos]

He's done it. Absolutely. They've done it. So the jury is brought in and the judge is charging the jury. What did it feel like inside the courtroom?

[Unnamed Correspondent]

I mean, it's incredibly exciting, right, to be at this pivotal moment in this nearly two month trial. And the judge, though, going through all of these directions, essentially what sorts of evidence and testimony they can pay attention to and other things that they should exclude and not have, you know, be a part of their decision making process. It's eight men, four women, and perhaps they're not going to see eye to eye on everything. Oh, sorry. That's what New York City's like.

[Danny Savalos]

When you're out on the street in front of the courthouse, we can expect a lot of that. When you talk about jury instructions, this isn't necessarily the most gripping stuff. I'm curious how jurors were responding. Were they taking notes? Were they leaning in? Were people kind of zoning out? What did it look like?

[Unnamed Correspondent]

Several of these jurors look incredibly engaged, right? I mean, they're taking notes, they're paying very close attention. And there always have been a few that look like they can't wait to get out of there and go to a barbecue or the pool. And look, I can't. I can't blame them, but it is their civic duty. Blaine, I just can't wait to get to talk to some of these jurors. I'll be fascinated to find out what those conversations are like in the deliberation room. And what were they convinced of and what were they not convinced of, if anything?

[Danny Savalos]

Absolutely. Absolutely. I'm curious about Combs himself. How did he appear today? What was his demeanor not as stressed.

[Unnamed Correspondent]

Out as he looked when prosecutors were making their closing arguments? I mean, he had his head in his hands. He was, like, looking around, fidgety. And I mean, Combs is fighting for his life. Six of his kids were in the courtroom. The judge actually closed the room after the jury began deliberating and allowed him to spend some time with them. Right. I mean, that's pretty nice. This is judgment day. So he did, though, seem eerily calm.

[Danny Savalos]

You talked about his family there in the courtroom. I'm curious if anybody else showed up to support him. Obviously. Earlier we had a celebrity sighting from Kanye west, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West. Yay. Have we seen any more celebrity sightings?

[Unnamed Correspondent]

We haven't. What we have seen is his mother in the courtroom. Mama Combs nearly every single day. His children, some friends of his nieces, nephews. A former, longtime publicist of his. It's been packed on his side the last couple of days.

[Danny Savalos]

What's the overflow like? Is that area still packed? Is it still kind of buzzing?

[Blaine Alexander]

It is.

[Unnamed Correspondent]

You really get to hear what members of the press who can't be in the courtroom because it's too full. So people are kind of sharing their thoughts, and then obviously people from the street, members of the public. And so you'll be in there for certain testimony. Like when I go in in the afternoon sometimes, and I can't get back into the main courtroom, you hear gasps, you hear laughter, you hear people calling things out. Sometimes there's outbursts. Sometimes people are getting thrown out of there. One guy ate like a sucker Subway sandwich and he got kicked out. I mean, for a journalist, I don't know if you are, but I'm definitely a bit of an adrenaline chunky. So this lead up and now a verdict potentially soon. It's what it's all about.

[Danny Savalos]

I think we all are, to a degree, to be in this profession. Right. And I. And I completely understand that.

[Chloe Melas]

Right.

[Danny Savalos]

So now it's just a waiting game, Chloe. I mean, what does that look like? Where are people going to be waiting as we wait for the jury to come back?

[Unnamed Correspondent]

Well, I shall be waiting on a hot New York City sidewalk. A lot of people are under their tents. Umbrellas.

[Danny Savalos]

Yes.

[Unnamed Correspondent]

But a lot of people are staying inside the courthouse. There's a cafeteria on the eighth floor. And then members of Combs family and his legal team, they're elsewhere. So they will find out when the jury has reached a verdict, and the judge will give them time to get back. But it's not going to be long. I think it's about 15, 20 minutes. So they can't go far. And especially with New York City traffic.

[Danny Savalos]

So, Chloe, of course everyone's talking about this. You talked about being out there on the sidewalk sandwiched amongst other media, but what is the world saying about this? I mean, we're talking about traditional media, your legacy media. But then there are also a lot of podcasters, a lot of bloggers, a lot of tiktokers and influencers who are also there covering this and dispatching this information. What's the chatter?

[Unnamed Correspondent]

It's split. Split. I've seen it all.

[Danny Savalos]

Yeah.

[Unnamed Correspondent]

I've seen people say that the government has not proven their case, that this is a witch hunt. Let Diddy live. You know, he had a freaky lifestyle, but a lot of people, potentially in Hollywood, in politics, athletes might partake in the same sorts of things.

[Danny Savalos]

Right?

[Unnamed Correspondent]

So I've seen that. But then there's others who say this is a man that has abused his power and gotten away with it for years. He is a drug addict and an abuser of women, both physically and emotionally, and that this is a reckoning. I do think it's telling, though, Blaine, that you haven't seen any big name celebrities come out in his defense outside of Kanye. So that kind of tells you something.

[Danny Savalos]

Yeah. Last question to you, Chloe. I mean, as much as there are tea leaves to be read here, do you have any thoughts, best guesses on how long we may have to wait for a verdict here?

[Unnamed Correspondent]

I think it's going to come down before the fourth.

[Danny Savalos]

I mean, we're talking about a lot for jurors to kind of have to parse through. We're not just talking about a, you know, simple one count indictment here. This is. This is a lot of information for them to sift through here.

[Unnamed Correspondent]

I think they're going to be spending the majority of their time deliberating rico, if I had to guess. And if they have about, you know, two days or two and a half days on that, I think it's enough.

[Danny Savalos]

Okay, well, Chloe Moss, our eyes and ears inside the courtroom at all times. Thank you so much. And we will be watching with you.

[Unnamed Correspondent]

Thank you. Here we go.

[Danny Savalos]

Here we go. And when we come back, NBC News legal analyst Danny Savalos is here to tell us what exactly the judge said to the jury and if he thinks the prosecution has made its case.

[Blaine Alexander]

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[Danny Savalos]

Welcome back everyone. And we are joined by Danny Savalos, my friend. Good to have you here.

[Chloe Melas]

Oh, thanks for having me.

[Danny Savalos]

You know, Danny, you and I have talked about a lot of court cases over the years, but certainly none like this. The first question I want to ask you what are jury instructions?

[Chloe Melas]

Right. Jury instructions are quietly and arguably the most critical part of a trial, and yet Hollywood. All the movies and TV shows we've ever watched completely ignore the jury instruction process. And I think I know why. It's not sexy, it's not exciting. It is incredibly boring, even for me as an attorney. The jury instructions are at the end of the case, what the judge tells the jury about how to apply the law to the Facts. The jury decides the facts, and the judge tells them what the law is, and they must follow the jury instructions. They take a long time for the judge to read, and they're dry and sometimes boring. But they can be the difference between an acquittal and a conviction.

[Danny Savalos]

So it kind of gives the jury a framework to work within as they go back to the deliberation room.

[Chloe Melas]

Exactly right. So, for example, they've heard all about these different facts, and they have them all swimming around in their head or on their notepad. And then the judge will tell them, essentially, if you are to convict Mr. Combs of, for example, transportation and aid of prostitution, well, here are the elements they have to show transportation. They have to show prostitution. It's a little more complicated than that. But those are the elements of those crimes, and they have to read out the elements for each of these crimes. And then a bunch of other things like credibility of witnesses. The jury actually gets instructions on how to evaluate the credibility of different witnesses and evidence.

[Danny Savalos]

You know, I wanted to talk about that, because in this trial, I mean, a lot of this hangs on witness testimony, of course, Testimony from Jane Cassie Ventura. What did the judge say about that?

[Chloe Melas]

So what the judge gave the jury was what I would say is a pretty standard set of jury instructions for witness credibility. Typically, a jury is told it's your job to determine the credibility of witnesses. There are no magic formulas. You can consider all kinds of things, and you can look at their demeanor. You can consider whether they had a bias. And that, by the way, is very important, because often witnesses have motivations to testify. Right. Certainly the defense explored the motivation of money, lawsuits, things like that. And they're instructed that they can consider things like that. So really, the instruction is largely, use your instincts.

[Danny Savalos]

Sure. And I would imagine that that is what could lead to a lot of the disagreements back in the deliberation room. Right. And so it comes down to each individual's kind of gut feeling when it comes to credibility.

[Chloe Melas]

Yes, absolutely. And I know this from talking to jurors and even, you know, as serving as an arbitration judge myself with a panel after the case is over, invariably you find that no two people really saw the case exactly the same. You might have one juror who thinks this witness was completely not credible, and then someone else says, well, I believe every word that witness says. Reasonable people disagree on whether or not people are credible. Because here's the thing. We all bring our own life experiences. We all bring our own unconscious biases. We bring all kinds of things to the table when we evaluate the evidence. And so it's no surprise that jurors often find themselves, at least at the beginning, in bitter disagreement about what they saw in that courtroom.

[Danny Savalos]

And the jurors also got some specific instructions about their behavior, what they are allowed to do during this time.

[Chloe Melas]

Exactly, right. Yeah. So, I mean, they're told, of course, not to talk to anyone about the case, not to do any background research. You know, a lot of what a judge does during a trial is manage jurors. These are a bunch of strangers who come together, and they all behave differently, and sometimes they don't always get along. So, believe it or not, you know, it may sound like he's talking to schoolchildren, but there are several instructions that deal with juror behavior. You can't go investigate the case. You can't talk about it with friends.

[Danny Savalos]

No Googling. Right?

[Chloe Melas]

No Googling. No investigating. None of that. But there are some important ones, you know, and really, it's don't give up your beliefs just to get to a unanimous verdict. Now, that's one I look at with a somewhat skeptical eye, because, you know, part of jury deliberation is haranguing and arguing with each other until you maybe change people's minds. And that happens all the time. So if they get to unanimous after a lot of argument, then presumably some people have changed their mind throughout the course of deliberations, which is the way the system is supposed to work.

[Danny Savalos]

And I know that in there, the judge also expressed gratitude. I mean, this has been a big chunk of these people's lives for the past two months or so.

[Chloe Melas]

Judges really are careful to be as respectful as they can be to jurors, while at the same time, you know, practically kidnapping them out of their lives for several weeks. So one of the things I had not heard before was the judge was actually inviting them to that he would give them a tour of the courthouse. I thought that was really nice. I saw that. That was a nice touch. Yeah, Yeah, I thought that was great.

[Danny Savalos]

It'll be interesting to see who takes the judge up on that, considering the time that they've spent there in that courthouse. But.

[Chloe Melas]

Right, right.

[Danny Savalos]

In your opinion, did the prosecution meet its burden of proof here in this case?

[Chloe Melas]

The prosecution has put in more than enough evidence for a jury to convict Combs to find him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of all elements. But that doesn't mean that I don't think an acquittal is possible. I think an acquittal is possible. I think the jury may at least some jurors Might think this was a case that was overcharged and maybe much ado about nothing. But I still think when they get in that jury room and they look at the elements in the jury instructions, the government has given them enough to convict.

[Danny Savalos]

Well, Danny, this is interesting. We actually have a question from one of our listeners who wants to know a little bit more about this process. Hi, this is Sandy from Atlanta, Georgia.

[Blaine Alexander]

My question regarding Diddy's trial after this is over, can he still be charged for domestic abuse?

[Danny Savalos]

I understand that's not a viable charge.

[Blaine Alexander]

In the current case going on, but I'm curious if he can still be charged after this for domestic abuse.

[Danny Savalos]

Thank you. So what do we think, Danny? What's the answer?

[Chloe Melas]

Hi, Sandy. Thanks for listening. So there are a couple different possibilities. If you're talking about the hotel beating video and Cassie Ventura, then the answer is probably not. That was about a decade ago. So probably any statute of limitations for assault in that state or in any state may have passed. But if we're talking about Jane and the alleged incident last summer in California. California, where she said he supposedly kicked down her doors and forced her into a freak off. Well, if it was just last summer, then the statute of limitations for aggravated assault and some other crimes can be up to three years in California. So theoretically, it's possible. It's really a question of do state authorities, knowing what they know now, do they think this is a case they feel like bringing? Because as you mentioned earlier, you know, assault cases are really he said, she said they're about witness credibility. So, I mean, if the local prosecutors feel they have a case, then they can seek an indictment or charges against Diddy. But I'm not getting the sense that anyone's really excited to do that at this stage.

[Danny Savalos]

And, Danny, after this is over, I mean, is it possible that we see more civil cases?

[Chloe Melas]

Yes. And again, the statute of limitations plays a role. But there have been some 80 civil cases filed against Diddy, and there really may be more. In fact, I would expect more to be filed after a verdict because in the course of a criminal prosecution, prosecutors often dig up a bunch of evidence that plaintiffs attorneys can use afterward in a civil case. A great example is the case of O.J. simpson. O.J. simpson was acquitted of murder, but thereafter he was sued and found liable for the deaths of his victims. And that really just highlights the difference in the burden of proof between beyond a reasonable doubt and just a mere preponderance of the evidence, often expressed as loosely 51%.

[Danny Savalos]

Okay, Danny Savala is breaking it down for us. As always, thank you so much and always a joy to talk to you.

[Chloe Melas]

Thank you.

[Danny Savalos]

Thanks so much for listening and we will be back with a new episode as soon as we get a verdict. If you want to read the latest developments and analysis from inside the courtroom, check out the NBC newsletter Diddy on trial go to nbcnews.com diddy to find that newsletter. On Trial is produced by Franny Kelly with help from the Dateline True Crime Weekly team. Our senior producers are Alison Orr and Liz Brown Kuriloff. Original Music by Jesse McGinty. Paul Ryan is executive producer and Liz Cole is senior executive producer of Dateline.