A black male juror was kicked off the Sean “Diddy” Combs sex-trafficking case on Monday after the judge said the man lied to be on the panel.
Judge Arun Subramanian booted “Juror 6” over vigorous objections from the disgraced rapper’s lawyers who argued it would reduce the panel’s diversity.
The juror who will replace him is a 57-year-old white accountant from Westchester County.
On Monday, the judge said: ‘The defense raised concerns about replacing an African American juror with a white one… . The Court takes this seriously- but further questioning is inappropriate and might negatively impact the jury. This is why we have alternates.’
The judge admonished Diddy’s attorneys for making the juror dismissal issue about race, saying it would be ‘improper’ to make the decision based on the juror’s races.’
The judge said Diddy ‘has not got the right to a boutique jury’ that mirrors his own race.
Diddy, 55, is accused of using his fame and fortune to run a decade-long scheme in which he controlled and manipulated his longtime girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie Ventura, 38, and others using violence and threats, forcing them into “freak-off” s£x marathons that went on for days.
The rapper has pleaded not guilty to charges of s£x trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in pr0stitution. He faces life in prison if convicted.
The prosecution is expected to wrap up their case over the next few days.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.