Diddy lost a key juror Thursday (June 13) in his federal sex trafficking and racketeering case after the court removed a Black male panelist for misleading statements about where he lives.
The juror, identified as Juror #6, had told the court during jury selection that he lived in the Bronx with his fiancée and daughter.
However, during a private discussion with the judge, he later stated that he had moved to New Jersey with his girlfriend and had been there for several weeks.
When pressed again, he claimed to spend four to five days a week in New York. The conflicting accounts prompted the prosecution to request his removal, citing a “lack of candor.”
The judge agreed, saying the juror’s shifting story suggested he was trying to stay on the panel by shading the truth.
“There’s no reason to lie unless you’re trying to get onto the jury,” the judge said, adding that the inconsistencies were “inconsistent” and that the juror “should not return on Monday.”
The decision immediately drew pushback from Diddy’s defense team, who argued that the removal could damage the racial balance of the jury.
The main panel includes five Black jurors, four white jurors, two Hispanic jurors, and one Asian juror. Of the six alternates, four are white and two are Black.
Attorney Xavier Donaldson, representing Diddy, warned that removing Juror #6 could send the wrong message about diversity in the courtroom.
“There have been issues with the representation of African American and Hispanic jurors in this District,” Donaldson said. “We’ve taken a step with this jury; now we’re taking a step backward.”
Donaldson also argued that the juror’s living situation was not unusual and should not have been grounds for dismissal.
The judge, however, maintained that the removal was necessary to preserve the integrity of the trial and called on the use of one of the alternate jurors.
The prosecution declined to elaborate further but rejected the idea that race played a role in the decision.
Diddy is facing five federal charges, including racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and two counts of transporting individuals for prostitution.
The trial, now in its fourth week, continues Monday (June 16) with the remaining jurors.
