Juror No. 6 in the Sean “Diddy” Combs sex trafficking case is gone.
Judge Arun Subramanian officially removed the juror on Monday, June 16, amid concerns the man lied about where he lives.
“The record raises serious concerns about the juror’s candor and whether he shaded answers to get on, and stay on” the jury, the judge said, according to CBS News.
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The juror stated that his primary residence is in the Bronx, making him eligible to serve on a federal jury in New York City.
But the man allegedly told a court officer he lives in New Jersey with his girlfriend, outside the district, and the information made it back to the judge.
Subramanian said there were “clear inconsistencies” in the man’s answers during jury selection and when he was questioned last week about whether he lives in New York or New Jersey.
Combs’ attorneys argued against removing the juror, who is a 41-year-old Black man, saying his dismissal would lead to less diversity on the jury panel.
But on Friday, Subramanian said he was leaning toward ousting the man because he may have an “agenda.”
The judge announced the man was dismissed at the start of court on Monday, citing the juror’s “shifting answers,” the Associated Press reported.
“In other words, there’s nothing that the juror can say at this point that would put the genie back in the bottle and restore his credibility,” the judge said.
The man was replaced by a 57-year-old white man from Westchester.
Ahead of the judge’s final decision, the defense requested a mistrial be declared if the Black juror was dismissed.
Court is scheduled to continue Tuesday.
Prosecutors have said they expect to wrap up their case this week, and in the coming days they plan to call Diddy’s alleged drug “mule” Brendan Paul.
Combs is charged with five felony counts, including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The Bad Boy Records founder faces up to life in prison if convicted.
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