Judge Arun Subramanian has denied the motion requested by Sean "Diddy" Combs's side for a mistrial over alleged prosecutorial misconduct as well as "conspiracy theory" among jurors. The rapper and former record label executive is on trial for sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution.
The Guardian reported that on May 28, 2025, the American musician’s lawyers argued for a mistrial midway through the court proceedings in the federal sex trafficking trial for which the rapper has pleaded not guilty.
Although Diddy’s lawyers alleged that prosecutors improperly suggested that the rapper was involved in evidence tampering and destruction tied to the alleged Kid Cudi arson incident, their request was quickly denied by Judge Arun Subramanian.
Trending
According to CNN, defense attorney Alexandra Shapiro argued for a mistrial based on “prosecutorial misconduct”, reportedly after some prospective jurors during the jury selection claimed that they believed that Sean “Diddy” Combs could have brought his way out of things. Responding to that, Shapiro said,
“This type of conspiracy theory is out there, and the type of implication we believe these questions were designed to create plays right into that.”
Notably, this motion for mistrial was made by the defense shortly after the testimony resumed in the New York court. Replying to the defense's motion, the US District Judge, as per USA Today, denied the request made by the defense and said,
“There was absolutely no testimony from the witness that was prejudicial in any way shape or form.”
Meanwhile, according to reports, in agreement with Judge Arun Subramanian, prosecutor Christy Slavik allegedly stated that a mistrial is “absolutely unwarranted.”
Who is testifying in the Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial today?
On Wednesday, May 28, 2025, prosecutors call several witnesses to the stand in the New York court to give their testimonies in the Sean Combs trial. The witnesses include a woman identified by the pseudonym “Mia”, who has been one of Diddy’s former employees. She claimed that Sean “forced himself on her sexually” while she was working for the rapper.
According to CNN, other witnesses who took the stand today include a Los Angeles Police Department officer named Christopher Ignacio, a Los Angeles Fire Department Arson investigator named Lance Jimenez, and celebrity stylist Deonte Nash.
Notably, the 55-year-old rapper is facing federal charges of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation to engage in prostitution after he was arrested in September of 2024. Although he has pleaded not guilty, but if convicted, he could face up to life in jail. The trial is also expected to continue for six more weeks.
The trial began on May 12, 2025. Until now, more than fifteen witnesses have testified in the court, including Diddy's ex-girlfriend Cassandra 'Cassie' Ventura, Kid Cudi, Dawn Richard, and more.
