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Combs Guilty on Prostitution Charges; Combs Convicted of Two Prostitution Charges. Aired 10:30-11a ET

Aired July 02, 2025 - 10:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[10:30:00]

LAURA COATES, CNN CHIEF LEGAL ANALYST: I believe you're saying he wants to go back to his home in Miami, which of course was the subject of a lot of discussion. He lives on 1 and 2 Star Island. Talk about the level of wealth we're talking about here. He will not have access to a plane or the ability to travel, we're being told in my ear right now. And so, they're making that request.

Now. It is not unheard of for somebody to be released pending sentencing, particularly if they're not sentenced on the far more serious of charges. And remember, part of the consideration for any judge deciding whether somebody will be released and until sentencing is there a threat to the community? Do they pose a risk to the community? Do they pose a safety threat to themselves or others?

Now, for him to be held on prostitution would suggest that he would -- that prostitution or transportation as such would be enough to hold. I'm not familiar with that happening with a lot of different people. So, the judge could take into consideration, well, the jury has found they do not pose a threat in this moment in time. They want to set aside or put some conditions of release. It could be an ankle monitor, it could be otherwise.

But again, the risk of flight, the posing of a threat to the community, all things that the judge will consider. Can you imagine?

ELIZABETH WAGMEISTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: And, Laura, I want to read to you the exact quote that comes from our Nicki Brown, who is in that courthouse. This is what Marc Agnifilo, who was Combs' defense attorney said, he said, quote, "He has been acquitted of very, very serious charges. He has been convicted of a far less serious charge." The judge asking, as Laura just said, is your proposal that he leave this courtroom and walk outside, and Agnifilo said, yes, it is.

Now, he's right. Agnifilo is absolutely correct that he has been acquitted of the most serious charges. But I still want to underscore the fact that Sean Combs, one of the biggest celebrities in the world, one of the most powerful entrepreneurs and men in the world has now been convicted, he has been found guilty on two sex crimes counts.

COATES: Yes. And remember, it was not trafficking. I want to just unpack for a second even more the significance of this moment. OK. Here is what the prosecution had to prove on the RICO charge. They had to prove that there was a group of people in enterprise that were engaged in a number of criminal activity over a 10-year period, and it was a pattern. Some of those things called predicate acts were things like kidnapping or arson or bribery or forced labor, everything like that.

Now, part of what happened in the trial, as you know, were various mini trials that were happening because the verdict form was, do you find him guilty or not guilty of RICO? And then they had to explain, had the government proven their case for kidnapping, for arson, for bribery?

Now, some of what the jury heard about kidnapping was one of two things, and there were instances. One was that a former employee named Capricorn Clark was, she said, given a lie detector test over a five- day period because there was the thought that she had stolen some form of jewelry and that she was then taken to this warehouse area and held against her will. Also, they said that Cassie Ventura was kidnapped when she was told and made to go to hotels after violent acts were committed against her on the -- by the hands of Diddy, and to which she was not able to return to his home or go to her mother.

For arson, it was that Kid Cudi car and that Molotov cocktail into his Porsche. Forced labor with the number of hours people were spending working for him outside of the so-called normal business hours and the like. And of course, this is the big one, and you know a lot about this, I'm talking about the bribery charge that was based on the CNN or obtained video of the Intercontinental Hotel assault and abuse of Cassie Ventura. They had testimony, right, from a security guard who got a hundred grand in a brown paper bag that was flipped through a machine in a hotel.

WAGMEISTER: Absolutely. And look, those are the predicate crimes. And in addition to believing or proving those predicate crimes, Laura, they have to first believe that there was an agreement to conspire, that there was a conspiracy in place. So, it may not be that these jurors didn't believe that Sean Combs bribed a security guard with a hundred thousand dollars, it may not be that they did not believe that Kid Cudi's car was blown up and that the prosecutors proved arson, but if they didn't believe that there was a conspiracy in place at all, that Sean Combs was the head of this criminal enterprise, as prosecutors have alleged ever since he was indicted, well then the predicate crimes don't matter. Isn't that right?

COATES: Yes. And think about this. I mean, here's the great irony. Do you know the name of Combs' business enterprise? Combs Enterprise. That was not the actual enterprise that his prosecutors wanted them to believe about, but it was Combs Enterprise.

Now, behind us, by the way, the crowds are building up right now, you're hearing people shout and honking either trying to be people out of traffic or having them solicit them to say to free and honk for free Diddy. You have seen an accumulation of people over the past couple of minutes who are coming to this scene based on this.

[10:35:00] I want to just develop a little bit more of the idea of what else was involved in the RICO charge. What was not proven because this jury did not believe they made their case. And you know what a big thing was, the enterprise. Because as Elizabeth was keenly observing, you've got the idea of the agreement for conspiracy that was alleged, but they had to have an enterprise. That's a group of people who are associated together and committing crimes.

They even named people who the prosecution said were alleged co- conspirators. One of them, a woman by the name of Kristina Khorram, who has said that she has not committed any offense. She has said that she is guilty of nothing and has not been charged with anything. D- Roc, also a security guard. These names came in like oxygen into the courtroom, neither of them was called, and there was a big to do from the defense to say, they need to call these people. Why not? Well, that might have factored into the -- there're to a -- to prove an enterprise.

WAGMEISTER: Absolutely. The jury could have been wondering, we keep hearing their names. Why are we not hearing from them? Now, Laura, we have some news in from our team inside. We have a government response to that motion for Sean Combs to not be held.

COATES: Yes.

WAGMEISTER: And here is what prosecutor Maurene Comey said, that the government opposes the motion. The trial showed evidence of conduct that involved extensive abuse and the prolific use of drugs that the defense did not contest. She said Combs, quote, "continued to commit a litany of crimes," end quote, after he knew that he was under investigation.

Remember, this brings us back to before this trial began. Combs was denied bail three times from three different judges, this judge being one of them who denied him bail, agreeing with the government, which said at the time that they believe that Combs is a danger to society, that he had been trying to manipulate and tamper with witnesses from behind bars. So, that's what they're referring to here.

And to continue with what the prosecutor said inside that courtroom, she said that he does not have respect for the law and would likely commit new crimes if released. She also confirmed that the government intends to seek a sentence of incarceration and that comb still faces up to 20 years in prison for the two counts that he's been convicted of.

COATES: Yes, this is really important. First of all, why 20 years? And I just told you that prostitution could have 10 because they want to run it consecutively, meaning back-to-back. Now, here's when you can do that. It can be concurrent if the same underlying time period and facts are consistent between both charges. Here, you're talking about acts that are years in between. And so, the prosecution is entitled to ask for these charges and sentences to run consecutively.

However, according to the guidelines and first-time offenders of disordered crime and Sean Diddy Combs does not have a prior felony conviction, that will factor into how the judge views this. And as far as him being able to leave because of prolific drug use, well, the reality in this country and all across the globe is that drug use is in fact prolific. And the idea that the defense has talked about over time of him having an addiction at different points or unable to refrain from using drugs, that might factor into what the judge looks at this.

But ultimately, what this prosecution team is asking for is a very thing the jury did not find, they did not believe when they were talking about witness tampering, that was one of the predicate crimes that could under -- that could be under the RICO charge. They may not have bought it. And so, the judge, his hands are tied out of respect for the justice system in this country.

And like it or not, once there is a jury of peers who makes a decision, whether it's in your favor or against, we as a judicial society have to abide by that to the extent that there are no existing appellate issues. Now, that's a good point. The appeals, just because he's been convicted, that's not the end of the decision for Sean Diddy Combs. And I want you to understand this particular point. Yes, he has been found guilty of those two transportation to engage in prostitution. However, they have preserved their appellate rights throughout this trial, and they have taken issue with a lot of the evidence they came in and in particular, RICO. Why? Because they have believed that RICO was an overcharge.

And now, that that was able to come in, which is the right of the prosecution because of discretion, they will argue on appeal that that tainted the mindset of the jurors because it was purely pretextual. They will argue -- whether successful or not, they will argue that the entirety of the RICO charge was meant only to strategize a way to get a conviction, not because they thought they could actually reach their burden of proof. And if an appellate court were to believe that and believe that the entirety of the charges were tainted by that, he might have a shot in a prayer on an appeal. Either way, you are right. Two convictions for Sean Diddy Combs. These are felony offenses.

Behind us, again, let's just describe this scene. Because, look at it, behind you. You have people who are holding up shirts, who have consistently been talking about Sean Diddy Combs, You know the impact he's had culturally, musically, business wise. They touted it during the trial. You have seen evidence of that throughout seven weeks.

[10:40:00]

WAGMEISTER: And we do have an update right now on that motion from the defense to have him walk out of here today. The judge asked the parties to submit letters on their position by 1:00 p.m. today, and he said he would make a decision afterward. Combs' defense told the judge that Combs was looking at potentially spending the rest of his life in prison, but he was acquitted of those charges. He said, quote, Mr. Combs has been given his life by this jury." He said that Combs would be, quote, "nothing short of a fool if he violated any conditions set by the court if he was released."

And here's a direct quote from Combs' defense attorney Marc Agnifilo, quote, "He treasures, I assure you, the opportunity that he has been given and he will not run afoul of anything that this court imposes on him."

Now, we will not have a decision immediately because the judge has asked them to submit by 1:00 p.m. and the judge is off the bench. So, this has happened very quickly. As you said, the jury's job is done, the judge is off the bench.

Now, I actually want to take us back to day one of this trial, to opening statements, because I wonder if this was ringing in the juror's ears as they were deliberating. The defense's position, their defense of him was, he is a bad guy. They said, our client is a bad guy. He has done indefensible things like beat women. However, this is domestic violence. This is not racketeering. This is not sex trafficking. They said to the jury on day one, you may not like him. You may not agree with his sex life. They said his sex life is very peculiar and you're going to hear about it during this trial. But they said that you are not here to judge him. You are here to follow the law. And the defense has been saying from day one that they did not believe that the law in these charges lined up with what their client had done.

COATES: So, important. So, important to have that stated, because this has been a question of what people believe he should have been charged with and what they believe he should not have been charged with. And let me be clear, there is a thing called prosecutorial discretion, and they have the right to investigate and pursue the matters that they believe they have the evidence to fully pursue and prove beyond a reasonable doubt.

I will say as well, the idea of challenging or questioning why the prosecution made this decision, how the case was investigated, the judge specifically said to the jury they were not to consider that. In fact, in closing arguments, they attempted to do so through the context of selective prosecution as to -- that Sean Combs, here was the phrase, had been targeted by the prosecution, Maurene Comey and the prosecution did not object in the moment, but later on they did come out to say this was highly improper and they gave a curative instruction.

Even so, though, the judge said to them, they couldn't consider that. I wonder if it was a factor in all of this. We have some color from the courtroom.

WAGMEISTER: Yes, we have a big update right now. Remember how they were just saying, this is the best possible outcome for the defense. Combs agrees and the defense agrees. Combs, after being let out by marshals, as he was being let out, he knelt down in front of his chair and bowed his head down as if he was praying. When he stood up, he faced the gallery and he began to clap, prompting the gallery to clap and cheer. Combs' attorneys, they all exchanged hugs and the gallery continued to cheer for him. I mean, what a moment in that courtroom.

COATES: What a moment. You know what, I have to tell you, first of all, you've got about what, 17 or 20 seats that were reserved every single day for Sean Diddy Combs' team. His -- not just his attorney that I'm talking about. The attorneys had their own area, but his family members. He had his adult children. Six of them who were there. The mothers of their children saved for Kim Porter, who has passed away tragically several years ago, whose name came up throughout the trial and was referenced and made everyone's heart sank when she was in fact mentioned. You had people who were friends and loved ones of him as well. You had reporters who was there -- who were there.

I will tell you in the overflow room I was sitting at one point, I like to see there -- go there and see what the court of public opinion was thinking to get a sense and a pulse of the people. After Marc Agnifilo gave his closing argument, which some criticize as meandering and non-linear, but folks, nonetheless, they erupted in cheers after his closing argument and began to chant innocent. That was not the same that happened with Maurene Comey, albeit a strong prosecution team who I have to say was very skilled, was very compelling in their delivering, but as they say, them's the breaks. The jury gets to decide how they evaluate it, and it's not about whether they like you, whether you actually have the evidence. What do you have?

[10:45:00]

WAGMEISTER: Laura, we have another update from our Kara Scannell in the courtroom, Combs with his family. He faced his family, Kara says that his face was beaming. He said, thank you. Love you, mom. I love you. I love you. I love you. His family and friends erupted into applause. This is what our Kara Scannell is observing right now. Some family members wiped tears away from their eyes after Combs left the family section started chanting, dream team to the lawyers, who slapped each other on the back and embraced. Teny Geragos who did that opening statement, she hugged Combs' family members, and she had tears rolling down her cheeks.

So, look, even though Sean Combs, he has been convicted of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, he knows exactly what this moment is. This, for him, was essentially life or death. It was either his life was going to be spent in prison or it was not. And right now, he faces up to 20 years. But as Laura Coates has said, he could just serve two.

So, Combs knows that he has evaded the most serious charges. His children know that their father will be home at least at some point. He won't be spending the rest of his life in prison. This is really, even with two convictions, this is. A victory, I have to say for the defense.

COATES: You know why I think they're also probably crying through the defense team. I say for the fact that there's a huge human element of this, of course, because you cannot forget the human element of this. Yes, we have heard about the monstrous allegations against Sean Diddy Combs. You may have personal viewpoints about him or who you think he is. The jury had to have a particular focus on the evidence in the courtroom.

But what is astonishing here, remember the gamble that they took. They didn't call a single witness. They didn't call a single witness, including Sean Diddy Combs. They thought about the strategy. It was a huge risk. A defendant has every right not to take the stand. And in fact, the jury is instructed that they cannot hold it against you because it's your right not to take the stand.

Remember, the government's got to prove you're guilty. I don't have to prove I'm innocent. And that was the position of Sean Diddy Combs and his team, but not calling a single witness at all. People sort of gasped and thought, are you confident? Are you cunning? Is it a good strategy or was it silly? Well, guess what, everyone? It just paid off. There were moments during that trial.

What you did hear from Sean Diddy Combs, how, voice notes. The marvel of modern communication technology. You heard Sean Diddy Combs' voice, a familiar voice for many people, because they've known him over the last decades, counting in music. You've heard his voice, but you were only able to hear his actual voice in this courtroom not because he testified, but because of voice notes that he was leaving for the purported victims in this case.

And speaking of the victim. I a.m. wondering what Cassie Ventura is feeling today. I'm wondering what the pseudonyms victim Jane is feeling today. The alias named Mia is feeling today because they took the stand. They, by all accounts -- and we were there, they were emotional, they were wronged. They gave testimony that I think they wanted to take to their graves. That was a way -- a phrase that even Mia talked about.

And they were on that stand for days. Cassie, she gave birth to her third child a few days after testifying. Her husband was there. In fact, you were sitting near her husband through the testimony. Tell me what you're thinking right now about them.

WAGMEISTER: Well, here's what I want to say about Cassie Ventura. This trial would not have happened without Cassie Ventura. Sean Combs would not be convicted on two counts of prostitution without Cassie Ventura. The government's investigation began after Cassie Ventura filed her bombshell lawsuit back in November of 2023 where she came forth with civil allegations that she said that she had been abused, been in a cycle of abuse over the course of a decade.

Again, that lawsuit is what sparked this criminal investigation, this trial would not be happening without it. We all saw with our own two eyes that Cassie Ventura was horrifically beaten him by her boyfriend at the time by Sean Combs in that hotel surveillance footage that our team first broke from 2016. So, there's two --

COATES: Well, I don't want you to miss this because you --

WAGMEISTER: Yes. Go ahead.

COATES: -- I want you to understand, Elizabeth Wagmeister has been on this story from the beginning. She has been so critical in all the coverage and making sure that the public had all the information that they needed to be able to follow this story and how, and I don't want you to miss this because the attorney for Cassie Ventura has issued a statement, and I want you to read it.

[10:50:00]

WAGMEISTER: All right. Laura, let's read this. So, Doug Wigdor, who is Cassie Ventura's attorney, said quote, "This entire criminal process started when our client, Cassie Ventura, had the courage to file her civil complaint in November of 2023. Although the jury did not find Combs guilty of sex trafficking, Cassie beyond a reasonable doubt, she paved the way for a jury to find him guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution. By coming forward with her experience, Cassie has left an indelible mark on both the entertainment industry and the fight for justice. We must repeat with no reservation that we believe and support our client who showed exemplary courage throughout this trial. She displayed unquestionable strength and brought attention to the realities of powerful men in our orbit and the misconduct that has persisted for decades without repercussion. This case proved that change is long overdue, and we will continue to fight on behalf of survivors."

Now, there's one point that I want to make in reacting to this. There's two things to consider here. There is the criminal case and then there is the mountain of civil cases against Combs. Yes. Combs has been absolved of the most serious charges here, as we have said over the past few moments. This is a good day. The best day may be that Sean Combs could have anticipated other than a full acquittal, and yet, let's not forget that he has been accused, he has denied all these accusations, he has been accused of around 70 civil suits from 70 separate accusers who have claimed that they were drugged by Combs, that they were sexually assaulted by Combs.

In fact, the most recent (INAUDIBLE) yesterday with horrific allegations. So, now, it remains to be seen, will -- what will he be sentenced to? Will these civil accusers be scared that he may be out of prison shortly and that they will want to pull back their suits, or will they continue with those suits? Will we see more accusers before this trial?

I spoke to a plaintiff's attorney who told me that he had 400 additional claims that he was exploring that he believed were credible. So, for Sean Combs, his -- the court of public opinion is very different than the court of law. Diddy will never be the same. Could he have a comeback? Absolutely. This is Hollywood. OK. This is America. But Diddy will never be the same. He cannot be seen next to women in Hollywood after they saw that video of Cassie Ventura with domestic violence, with not just allegations but proof. This is going to be a very different reality for Sean Combs, even though he is not spending the rest of his life in prison.

COATES: An important point. And I should mention, remember, in a civil litigation, it's no longer proof beyond a reasonable doubt. It's by the preponderance of evidence. A fancy way of saying more likely than not. And for many cases of people who've experienced what it's like to go through a criminal trial and then followed up with a civil trial, sometimes they decide to settle cases for the sheer purpose of avoiding having to do anything different.

Also, I want to talk for a second about the importance of asset forfeiture. I know it's not the sexiest conversation that's happening when you're describing what this is like. But I want to just be clear on how all of this goes down.

OK. So, if Sean had been convicted of all the charges, in fact he has -- does have two charges, there is still the real possibility where his money can still be at risk there. You can just -- you can -- for example, you could go and learn more about asset forfeiture. I was -- I did a post on this on TikTok as well, and thinking about what this looks like.

And here's the important part about asset forfeiture. The government can take money if they believe that the nature of the offense gave you some kind of a windfall of money. If that's the case, they can take the windfall because they don't want you to reap a benefit from the crimes that you have allegedly committed, they can take it from you. That's not going to happen in the cases of the RICO charge, because of course that no longer is happening. It's going to instead be something different.

But I want to reset for everyone the significances, as I'm watching. You are watching behind me. Right now, you are seeing this revolving door. Why is everyone looking at this, and why is more security coming outside? For the same reason the judge told this -- told the courtroom the overflow room, essentially, keep it up -- keep it down. Don't act up. Don't react to anything that happens in this verdict. They also were told that same be stoic admonition at the very beginning of the trial, and they were told that they were not to make any kind of reaction.

In fact, when you're in the courtroom, when somebody would make a reaction to something, or even gasp in any way to what was being said, guess what happened? The marshals would promptly escort you out and say, uh-uh, not here, not in the federal courthouse.

Well, right behind me, and you're looking right now, we're waiting to see the family come outside. We're going to see anyone else outside. But here's why you likely won't see Sean Denny Combs coming outside, at least right now, because the judge has told them that the parties, although the defense has requested he go home right now, the judge said no, no. You have to give me some letters by 1:00 p.m. today describing why you think he should be able to leave or not, and then I'll make a decision.

[10:55:00]

So, here we are. It's almost 11:00 a.m. And we know right now that two hours from now the prosecution and the defense, they are going to submit letters, and then the judge will decide.

Are you telling me that Sean Diddy Combs could possibly walk out of the front door of this courthouse? You know who I want to bring in right now? Because conversation, somebody who is spending eyes and ears every single day in this trial. I'm talking about our great Kara Scannell, who has literally brought us everything we needed.

OK. Kara, you knew I'm going to ask you, describe the moment for us that that verdict is read. In fact, go a little bit back, describe what was happening when they knew the verdict was coming. KARA SCANNELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So, the only lawyer in the entire courtroom was Combs' lead attorney, Marc Agnifilo, and we saw the courtroom deputy appear with an envelope in his hand. So, I walked over to Marc. He said it was a note. This is a family leaving. This is the van that the kids use to come and go to court.

COATES: I'm seeing his mother get on the van right now, his son turning on the van. Ms. Janice is on the van right now. His sons, his daughters recognized by the long grays that they've had to the court receiving as well. They're coming out. Of course, his son right there, Justin and also Christian. Christian releasing an album with Kanye this past last week talking in -- on one track was I think it was called "Free Puff."

You see what's happening? This is monumental. Go ahead, Kara.

SCANNELL: Yes. No. I mean, his kids were beaming in the courtroom. And just to go back to that moment, we know that now there is a verdict. And unlike any other time, we have Combs' legal team goes into the side room. They didn't bring Combs right out. So, they went into the side room and that is what was our first signal, that there was a verdict, that this was different, that things had changed.

COATES: There she is.

SCANNELL: So, they were in -- there's his mother walking out and his -- his mother walking out there.

COATES: One of his daughters.

SCANNELL: And his sons and the daughters behind.

COATES: And he's two twin daughters behind.

SCANNELL: Yes. So, when they come back into the courtroom after a delay, it is very serious. His kids are filing it. His mother is there. His sister is there. And his mom and sister have been there for the majority of this trial, which has been for several weeks. Once the judge gets on the bench and says that they have a verdict, it is silent. Everybody is waiting for the judge.

Combs is just sitting there. Sitting down with his head down. He's got his glasses on. It looks like he's reading something, but he is not reacting in this moment. His lawyers' faces are drawn. They actually are frown. They're very nervous as legal team. And then, the jury comes out, no jurors looking at Combs. They all file into their seats.

COATES: Wait, tell me about that. They're -- these jurors have come in. They came in yesterday and they actually (INAUDIBLE) ahead, I understand when they had that hung part. Now, they didn't look at him either?

SCANNELL: They didn't look at him at all. So, it felt a little ominous. because that is the thing that people always look for.

COATES: Right. SCANNELL: Does the jury reveal anything as they're heading to their seats?

COATES: Wow.

SCANNELL: They walk to their seats. The judge has them -- you know, tells them he's going to have the foreperson read. So, the foreperson stands up. Says that they have a verdict. He has the -- the deputy gives him the sheet, the foreperson has it with a microphone. Then he hands it to back to the judge so the judge can review it, and then he hands it back to the foreperson.

COATES: Did the judge make any expression whatsoever when he had the note?

SCANNELL: He studied it. I thought he paused and studied it and he looked at it carefully. Then he handed it back to his deputy who gave it to the foreperson, and then the deputy said, I'm going to go count by count through this. And then they pulled each of the jurors to ensure that it was their ultimate vote and their decision.

So, after that first count, count one, racketeering conspiracy, a serious big count in this, when that first not guilty came out from his -- I'm sitting right behind the two rows of his family, you hear them say yes. And then, when they get to the second count, not guilty on the sex trafficking, Cassie Ventura, you actually hear woo-hoo in the room.

Even though the judge (INAUDIBLE) be quiet. It was this overwhelming sense of emotion from the family, the sense of relief from the family as those counts came out. And then, I think we're going to go to a break soon, but we can talk more about how comas reacted afterwards when the judge -- when his lawyer asked, the jury had left and the judge asked the lawyers if they had anything to say, and Combs' lawyers asked for him to be released immediately to walk out of this courtroom today. And the judge said he was going to consider that. He said, I understand Combs doesn't want to spend another moment at the Metropolitan Detention Center. Combs vigorously shook his head no. It was the first kind of reaction we saw. He did hug his lawyer, Teny, on the side. That was really the first signs of motion until he left the court.

COATES: We have a lot more behind me. The family is in the van. No doubt rejoicing. There is so much energy around this courthouse right now. Mixed emotion, cheering, congratulations, shock. Also, the reality is setting in. We'll be right back after a quick break.

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