Diddy Trial Sparks Firestorm as Prosecutors Move to Strike Black Juror Amid Sealed Allegations
In yet another dramatic twist in the explosive trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs, federal prosecutors have ignited controversy by seeking the removal of a Black male juror — known as Juror No. 6 — a move the defense is calling a “thinly veiled effort” to eliminate a juror based on race and cultural affinity.
The prosecution’s request, filed under seal, came before the jury reentered the courtroom Tuesday. Judge Arun Subramanian acknowledged a vague “issue” raised by the government without offering public details. Lead prosecutor Maurene Comey defended the request, claiming it stemmed from “a lack of candor” — without clarifying whether the alleged deception was related to voir dire, personal conduct, or trial-related matters.
Juror No. 6, reportedly a fan of 1990s hip-hop — a cultural detail that has not gone unnoticed in this high-profile case — became the center of a constitutional clash. Diddy’s attorneys quickly pounced on the motion, accusing prosecutors of attempting to manipulate the racial makeup of the jury under the guise of procedural concern.
“We object to Juror No. 6 being stricken,” defense attorney Alexandra Shapiro argued in court. “If the government is going to put in a letter, we’d like the opportunity to be heard.”
As of now, the judge has not ruled on the juror’s fate, pending a formal letter from the defense.
The controversy unfolds just as a key witness — Diddy’s ex-girlfriend, known only as “Jane” — undergoes cross-examination, with juror credibility now threatening to overshadow her testimony.
Legal observers are already drawing comparisons to past cases where race-based juror dismissals were contested under Batson v. Kentucky, the Supreme Court ruling barring racial discrimination in jury selection.
What remains unclear: What specific behavior or revelation prompted the government’s motion, and whether this move was strategic — or prejudicial.
For now, the fate of Juror No. 6 hangs in the balance — and with it, questions about fairness, optics, and the balance of justice in one of the most closely watched celebrity trials in years.
