Judge Removes Juror From Diddy Case, Hits Back At Defense Over Racial Bias Claim
Written by djfrosty on June 17, 2025
The judge overseeing the Sean “Diddy” Combs sex trafficking and racketeering trial dismissed a juror on the panel after discovering inconsistencies regarding where they lived. The judge hit back at Diddy’s defense team after they alleged the removal of the juror was a sign of racial bias.
Deadline reports that Judge Arun Subramanian ordered the removal of Juror No. 6, who was reported to be a 41-year-old Black man who is employed in an administrative role in a correctional facility. At issue with Judge Subramanian was the juror’s inability to confirm whether he lived in New York or New Jersey, thus giving pause on whether or not he could be a sound member of the jury panel.
The defense team for the beleaguered mogul addressed the judge via a letter claiming that the removal of the juror would make it so that no other Black juror alternate could join the panel and said they would attempt to seek a mistrial. In times past, the defense has stated that the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York operated under a racial bias.
As indicated in the report, the judge, who was considering the move last Friday, came into the court Monday morning (June 16) and announced the removal of the juror.
“The defense asked the Court to base its decision on race,” Judge Subramanian said in the court. “That would be inappropriate. So, Juror 6 is excused and is replaced by the first alternate.
He continued, “As to the defense’s allegation of prosecutorial misconduct here, that is inviting the Court to make a decision based on race – and cannot be granted.”
Juror No. 6 was replaced by a 57-year-old white man. It was expected that the trial would be concluded by the July 4 holiday.
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Photo: Source: Pool / Getty