A U.S. District Court judge on Wednesday pushed back Luigi Mangione&#8217;s federal trial one month despite the prosecution expressing concerns that any delay could add fuel to Mangione&#8217;s cult following.
Judge Margaret Garnett said the trial&#8217;s start date will move from the beginning of September to October due to “paramount issues” related to Mangione&#8217;s ability to participate in each part of the trial, The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/01/nyregion/mangione-weinstein-trial-manhattan.html">reported</a>. Mangione is also facing a state trial in New York over the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, and the suspect&#8217;s defense team raised concerns that the beginning of the federal trial would overlap with the state trial, which is set to begin in June.
Mangione&#8217;s lawyers asked Garnett to move the federal trial&#8217;s start date to January 2027, but they&#8217;ll now have to accept the one-month delay. Mangione threw a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/luigi-mangione-erupts-in-courtroom-outburst-after-judge-sets-state-trial-date?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Luigi+Mangione+Erupts+In+Courtroom+Outburst+After+Judge+Sets+State+Trial+Date">tantrum</a> in state court in February after the judge set his trial date for June.
The prosecution likely isn&#8217;t too pleased with Garnett&#8217;s decision either. Assistant U.S. attorney Dominic Gentile argued before the judge that it was necessary for the federal trial to &#8220;proceed as the court has already scheduled&#8221; because of the concerning wave of support for Mangione. Gentile told the judge that just outside of the courtroom there was a crowd of demonstrators “who follow this defendant and believe what he did was right.”
Mangione has been lifted up as a type of vigilante hero by radical leftists who are incensed by the health insurance industry. Some of Mangione&#8217;s supporters, often donning hats and costumes of the Super Mario Nintendo character Luigi, have gathered outside of the courthouse in New York for each of his court appearances.
<div id="attachment_1070767" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1070767" class="wp-image-1070767 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-2255405660-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-2255405660-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-2255405660-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-2255405660-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-2255405660.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Supporters of Luigi Mangione gather outside of Manhattan Federal Court on January 09, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)</div>
Thompson, a 50-year-old father and husband, was in New York City for UnitedHealthcare&#8217;s annual investor conference when he was gunned down from behind on December 4, 2024. After arresting Mangione, authorities found a diary on him that included passages raging against the health insurance industry and also contained a line about taking out &#8220;the CEO at the annual parasitic bean counter convention.&#8221;
Garnett said the state trial limits the options for the federal court, stating, &#8220;Whether we like it or not, we are at the will of the state case,&#8221; NBC News <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/luigi-mangiones-federal-trial-unitedhealthcare-ceo-killing-pushed-back-rcna266248">reported</a>.
&#8220;It’s the nature of dual prosecutions,&#8221; she added.
Earlier this year, Garnett threw out the federal murder charge that made Mangione eligible for the death penalty. Attorney General Pam Bondi had directed federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty. Mangione now only faces two stalking charges in the federal case. He faces a charge of second-degree murder in the state case.
Mangione has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Luigi Mangione

Luigi Mangione Doesn’t Get His Way And One Growing Problem Is Starting To Follow Him

Court

New York

trial

On Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in a small run-down courtroom in Adams County, Ohio, sat a man in an American flag suit, American flag sunglasses, a marijuana-shaped ring, and a legendary rap catalog. It was Afroman&#8217;s defamation trial and he was determined to win.
Afroman, real name Joseph Foreman, went from drinking Colt 45s and living his life to fighting what he calls &#8220;crooked cops&#8221; after he was sued by seven Adams County Sheriff&#8217;s deputies for defamation and humiliation. The deputies claimed Afroman defamed them and used their likeness for profit after the rapper dropped numerous viral songs about cops who raided his home.
The judge found the rapper not liable for defamation or invasion of privacy regarding his music videos and Afroman is still celebrating what he calls a &#8220;win for free speech.&#8221;
Afroman <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/fng-260323-afroman">told me</a> that responding to the cops with rap videos was the most American thing he could do.
&#8220;There&#8217;s one power I have, and I&#8217;m not giving it up,&#8221; Afroman told The Daily Wire, wearing the same American flag suit he wore in court. &#8220;I have the freedom of speech. So after they kick down my door, disconnect my cameras, steal my money &#8230; with my freedom of speech, I will address all of these issues.&#8221;
&#8220;I&#8217;m a classic American. I&#8217;m a soul brother. I walk with a stroll. I play soul music. You know, all of that is America,&#8221; Afroman said. &#8220;The fist that everybody throws up. That&#8217;s American. You know, rap music — It&#8217;s American, man.&#8221;
<iframe loading="lazy" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/audXVeEsDwo?si=ypbAIzOTHF5AOhhR" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
&#8220;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xxK5yyecRo">Lemon Pound Cake</a>&#8221; and &#8220;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bNy7XO-SCI&amp;list=RD0bNy7XO-SCI&amp;start_radio=1">Will You Help Me Repair My Door</a>&#8221; are two of the botched-raid inspired songs racking in millions of views on YouTube. The lyrics are catchy with verses detailing what Afroman saw on the footage of the raid from his surveillance cameras. The pre-chorus of &#8220;Lemon Pound Cake&#8221; details an officer caught on camera checking out the cake on Afroman&#8217;s counter.
Afroman said writing the songs was no different than writing his classic track.
&#8220;I&#8217;ve been writing about my pain for years, you know, &#8216;Because I Got High&#8217; wasn&#8217;t funny until I put it on paper. It kind of made it funny, you know what I&#8217;m saying?&#8221;
&#8220;Because I Got High&#8221; is Afroman&#8217;s most popular song and was even nominated for a Grammy in 2002, and now his lemon pound cake track is entertaining the internet. Afroman said the words to the viral soundtracks came easy to him once he sat down to write in the same kitchen that was raided.
&#8220;I like my kitchen. I never thought I&#8217;d like my kitchen because I used to hate washing dishes as a boy. So the kitchen was like my favorite and my worst. I loved it when it was time to eat, but I hated when it was time to clean up. You know?&#8221; Afroman said. &#8220;But I wrote it right here on my kitchen table.&#8221;
Don&#8217;t let Afroman&#8217;s outdated <a href="https://x.com/ogafroman?s=20">profile</a> on X fool you, right now it reads &#8220;2024 Presidential Candidate,&#8221; but he has fans asking about his intentions for 2028.
&#8220;If America needs me to be the president, I&#8217;ll be the president. If America needs me to be the vice president, I&#8217;ll be the vice president. If America just needs me to be a good citizen, I&#8217;ll be a good citizen,&#8221; Afroman said.
Afroman is from California but says he plans to stay in Ohio, despite the cop saga. How did Afroman end up in Ohio? He says it was all because of a woman.
&#8220;I try to be smart, but I have my, you know, side effects,&#8221; Afroman said. &#8220;I like big butts and I cannot lie.&#8221;
Under oath or from his kitchen on a podcast, Afroman doesn&#8217;t lie. His lyrics tell it like it is, and his lifestyle is unapologetic. His freedom of speech court win catapulted the singer back where he belongs — in the spotlight.
Since the trial wrapped, Afroman has nearly 28 million views on his videos related to the 2022 raid, and the rapper turned chess player, turned courtroom sensation, is grateful for every one of them.
&#8220;Don&#8217;t forget about your boy, Afro. I&#8217;m putting a record out here in a little bit, but I just like the good vibes it&#8217;s giving everybody right now.&#8221;

Illustration by Daily Wire staff

Colt 45s And Crooked Cops: I Talked To Afroman About Winning The Internet

Afroman

America

Entertainment

News

Ohio

Secretary of State Marco Rubio will have another task added to his plate, but this one wasn&#8217;t ordered by President Donald Trump.
Rubio is expected to take the witness stand on Tuesday in the federal trial of a former Republican congressman who is accused of secretly lobbying on behalf of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro.
The trial of David Rivera began on Monday in Miami with prosecutors alleging that Rivera &#8220;offered access&#8221; to U.S. politicians without registering as a foreign lobbyist and was paid $20 million by a Venezuelan state-owned company to attempt to improve U.S.-Venezuela relations, Reuters reported. Rivera and his co-defendant, Esther Nuhfer, met with U.S. lawmakers, including Rubio, as they allegedly attempted to persuade politicians to hold off on economic sanctions on Venezuela.
&#8220;They sold their loyalty. They offered access, the defendants did, to United States politicians that they&#8217;ve spent decades establishing relationships with,&#8221; prosecutor Roger Cruz said during opening statements on Monday.
&#8220;The evidence will show that for $50 million these two defendants made a pact to secretly lobby for Nicolás Maduro, the communist director, and his second in command Delcy Rodríguez,&#8221; Cruz added, according to the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/rubio-rivera-miami-trial-venezuela-5993890ac0d3deece86f6ed900959a64">Associated Press</a>.
Rivera allegedly convinced then-Foreign Minister Delcy Rodríguez, who is now Venezuela&#8217;s acting leader, to award him a three-month $50 million contract in exchange for his lobbying. Rivera signed the contract in 2017, according to federal prosecutors. The allegations against Rivera stem from after he was in Congress, where he served just one term from 2011 to 2013. Rivera shared a home with Rubio in the early 2000s when they were both serving in the Florida legislature.
When Rubio takes the stand on Tuesday, he will become the first sitting Cabinet member to testify at a criminal trial since Labor Secretary Raymond Donovan testified during a mafia-related trial in 1983. The timing of the criminal trial is intriguing, given that Rubio is currently playing a major role in President Donald Trump&#8217;s Venezuela strategy following the capture of Maduro and the efforts to revitalize and oversee Venezuela&#8217;s oil industry.
Rubio&#8217;s testimony will likely focus on his 2017 meetings with Rivera when Rubio was serving in the U.S. Senate. During the first of those meetings, Rivera revealed details about working with Venezuelan media tycoon Raúl Gorrín, who supposedly held vast influence inside the Venezuelan regime and was working to convince Maduro to hold fair elections, according to an indictment unsealed in 2022. Gorrín has also been charged in the United States with bribing Venezuelan officials.
Rivera and Gorrín also communicated in a private group chat with others and used code names for Maduro, whom they called &#8220;bus driver,&#8221; and Rodríguez, whom they referred to as &#8220;the lady in red.&#8221; According to the indictment, Rivera texted Rubio two days after the meeting, writing, &#8220;Remember, U.S. should facilitate, not just support, a negotiated solution. No vengeance, reconciliation.&#8221;
Rivera, alongside Gorrín and others, met with Rubio a second time and allegedly said in a private group chat with Gorrín that Maduro would have to pay him for setting up the meeting with the U.S. senator. Rivera and Gorrín also asked Texas Republican Congressman Pete Sessions to set up a meeting between Rodríguez and Exxon Mobil.
The defense argues that Rivera and Nuhfer were not required to register as foreign lobbyists under U.S. law because they were focused on commercial issues, such as convincing Exxon to move back to Venezuela, not on political lobbying, the Associated Press reported. Rivera&#8217;s defense also claims that because he was hired for consulting by the American subsidiary of Venezuela&#8217;s state-owned oil company, he was not required to register as a foreign lobbyist.
Rivera’s defense attorney Ed Shohat told the jury on Monday, &#8220;Not one single policy of the U.S. was impacted by this case.&#8221;
The defense team wanted Maduro, who is awaiting his own trial in the United States, to testify, but the former dictator said he would exercise his Fifth Amendment right if called to testify. The defense team also sought to subpoena White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, who was working as a lobbyist for Gorrín&#8217;s network at the time, to testify in the trial, but that effort was shot down.

David Rivera/Marco Rubio

Rubio To Take The Stand In Bombshell Corruption Trial

Rubio To Testify In Trial Of Former Congressman Accused Of Secretly Lobbying For Venezuela

Marco Rubio

Venezuela

Hockey Canada Sexual Assault Trial Verdict To Be Delivered

Feminist Rape Hoax Obliterates Lives Of Canadian Hockey Stars

Canada

false accusations

Hockey

Judges

Matt Walsh

Opinion

Rape

Sexual Assault

This month, America commemorates the 100th anniversary of a landmark cultural event that taught us about the dangers of censorship. July of 1925 witnessed the “Scopes Monkey Trial,” where a Dayton, Tennessee, public school teacher was put on trial for violating a state law that prohibited teaching human evolution.
The teaching of scientific ideas should never be banned, much less criminalized. We like to think of censorship as something from the dark ages of the past, before our modern enlightened era vanquished intellectual intolerance. But 100 years after Scopes, we have what the late Supreme Court Justice Scalia once called “Scopes-in-reverse,” where scientists and scholars face reprisals if they challenge neo-Darwinian evolution.
For about 20 years I’ve been collecting examples of academic speech codes that prevent faculty from discussing scientific alternatives to Darwin. For example:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Back in 2005, Cornell’s interim president devoted a State of the University Address <a href="https://president.cornell.edu/the-presidency/archives/rawlings/20051021-state-of-the-university-address/">to denounce</a> &#8220;intelligent design (ID),&#8221; arguing that it has no place in science classrooms. &#8220;The answer is that intelligent design is not valid as science, that is, it has no ability to develop new knowledge through hypothesis testing&#8230;&#8221;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Also in 2005, the president of the University of Idaho instituted a campus-wide <a href="https://evolutionnews.org/2008/10/banned_book_week_and_intellige_2/">speech-code</a>, where “evolution” was “the only curriculum that is appropriate” for science classes. This was done in retaliation against biology professor Scott Minnich, who had just testified in favor of intelligent design at the Kitzmiller v. Dover trial — a case which ultimately banned ID from public schools in Dover, PA.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Jerry Coyne, a University of Chicago evolutionary biologist and atheist blogger, <a href="https://evolutionnews.org/2011/03/jerry_coyne/">once wrote</a> that “adherence to ID…should be absolute grounds for not hiring a science professor.” In 2013, Coyne attacked Eric Hedin, a physics professor at Ball State University (BSU), for briefly teaching about ID in an honors seminar. BSU’s president then caved, and issued a speech code declaring that “intelligent design is not appropriate content for science courses.”</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">In 2020, two Norwegian scientists published <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022519320302071">a paper</a> in Journal of Theoretical Biology citing the work of leading ID theorists and arguing for “a Design Science.” Facing pressure, the journal’s editors then issued <a href="https://retractionwatch.com/2020/10/15/editors-say-they-wont-retract-intelligent-design-paper-despite-subject-being-not-in-any-way-a-suitable-topic-for-their-journal/">a disclaimer</a> addressing no substantive arguments in the paper but implementing another speech code, announcing: “intelligent design is not in any way a suitable topic for the Journal of Theoretical Biology.”</li>
</ul>
Perhaps the most ironic recent example of evolutionary censorship will take place this month at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, not far down the road from Dayton, as it celebrates a “<a href="https://www.vanderbilt.edu/evolution/scopes-symposium/">Scopes ‘Monkey’ Trial Centennial Symposium</a>.” Co-organized by <a href="https://www.vanderbilt.edu/evolution/">Vanderbilt’s Evolutionary Studies Institute</a> and the National Center for Science Education, the symposium includes many credible speakers from science, philosophy, and law. Intelligent design is on the schedule, and there is an entire session devoted to the Kitzmiller v. Dover case. Yet exactly zero pro-ID scientists or scholars are slated for the symposium.
In February, and again in May, I emailed the organizers of the Scopes Symposium, offering to provide names of credible pro-ID scientists who would be open to participating in their event. No one even replied.
The irony is palpable: a symposium that is supposed to be remembering the dangers of censorship regarding evolution is itself practicing censorship regarding evolution.
An even worse irony is that Vanderbilt’s website hosts an official <a href="https://www.vanderbilt.edu/dialogue-vanderbilt/free-expression/">“Dialogue Vanderbilt” / “Commitment to Free Expression”</a> page which boasts of the university’s supposed commitment to “bringing together people of differing viewpoints for a common purpose.” The page continues:
<blockquote>Transformative education, pathbreaking research and the timeless search for truth all require a wide variety of viewpoints, the uninhibited exchange of ideas, the persistent challenging of conventional wisdom, and courageous and vigorous debate.
A university that dutifully transmits canonical knowledge, but is not at the same time alive with diverse perspectives, probing critique and the practice of query and argument, is a university in name only.</blockquote>
The page then lauds the importance of “institutional neutrality,” quoting former Vanderbilt Chancellor Alexander Heard stating: “A university&#8217;s obligation is not to protect students from ideas, but rather to expose them to ideas, and to help make them capable of handling and, hopefully, having ideas.”
The one-sided Scopes Symposium completely rejects these ideals, aiming to “protect” students from non-Darwinian viewpoints — directly violating the Chancellor Heard’s warning. By Vanderbilt’s own standards, apparently it is “a university in name only.”
A century ago, religious fundamentalists excluded evolution from education. Yet today, evolution advocates do the same to intelligent design. Vanderbilt’s Scopes symposium is just the latest reminder that in our modern era of “Scopes-in-reverse,” the power dynamic has shifted 180 degrees, but the problem of censorship still remains.
* * *
Casey Luskin holds a PhD in Geology from the University of Johannesburg and a law degree from the University of San Diego. He is Associate Director of the Center for Science and Culture at Discovery Institute and co-author of the book &#8220;Science and Human Origins.&#8221;
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

William Jennings Bryan At Scopes Trial

A Century After The Scopes Trial, Censorship Still Thrives In Evolution Debate

Bible

Charles Darwin

Debate

Supreme Court

Tennessee

Vanderbilt University

Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs will head back to court in the fall as a federal judge has set a date for his sentencing. The rapper’s defense attorneys originally petitioned for expedited sentencing, but have since agreed to the original proposed date.
Court documents confirmed that the 55-year-old rap artist will face sentencing on October 3 after being found guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. Combs was acquitted of the more serious charges of sex trafficking and racketeering.
The Bad Boy Records founder’s attorney submitted a petition to have his client released on a $1 million bond, but that was turned down and Combs will remain incarcerated until the sentencing date. People <a href="https://people.com/diddy-sentencing-oct-3-11761014">noted</a> that the rapper will likely be credited for time served for the amount of time he spends behind bars.
The outlet further noted that the government is seeking to sentence Combs to between 51 and 63 months in jail. The defense is seeking a 21 to 27 month sentence. If he had been convicted of all charges, the rapper could have been facing life in prison.
The federal investigation into Combs gained national attention earlier this year when raids on his Los Angeles and Miami properties yielded large amounts of electronic devices, reportedly containing potential evidence connected to the charges. Prosecutors alleged that Combs orchestrated a network of parties and events where women were trafficked and abused. Meanwhile, the rapper claimed that his sexual exploits were unorthodox but fully consensual.
Beyond the courtroom, the fallout has already impacted Combs’ vast business empire. This has led to speculation about whether his music legacy can survive the scandal.
The upcoming sentencing hearing is expected to draw intense media coverage as observers watch to see whether one of the entertainment world’s biggest moguls will ultimately face significant prison time or be let off easy. Many critics are already furious that Combs was acquitted of the more serious charges. 
After the verdict was delivered, Combs appeared to celebrate the jury’s decision that acquitted him on the most serious charges. He raised his hands in a prayer motion and then hugged one of his defense attorneys, Teny Geragos.
His lawyer also said Diddy received a standing ovation from fellow inmates following the conclusion of the trial.

Sean Combs

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Has Sentencing Date Set After Trial Conviction

Sean 'Diddy' Combs Has Sentencing Date Set After Trial Conviction

Celebrities

Crime

Jail

Sean 'Diddy' Combs

Despite an early hiccup in the deliberation process, a federal jury has apparently reached a verdict on four of the five counts against disgraced rapper and music mogul <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/diddy-trial-on-pause-after-just-one-hour-of-jury-deliberations-note-reveals-problem-with-juror-25" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sean &#8216;Diddy&#8217; Combs</a>.
The jury sent a note to Manhattan Federal Court Judge Arun Subramanian on Tuesday, stating that they had <a href="https://www.cnn.com/entertainment/live-news/sean-diddy-combs-trial-07-01-25" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reached a verdict</a> on counts 2, 3, 4, and 5 — but were struggling to reach a consensus on the top charge, racketeering conspiracy.
Upon receipt of the jury&#8217;s note, Combs&#8217; attorney Marc Agnifilo asked the judge to recall the jury to the courtroom for further instructions, saying that the defense wanted the jury to continue deliberating. The prosecution also favored continued deliberations, CNN reported, adding that all parties were working to agree on &#8220;the wording of that instruction.&#8221;
Just about an hour after deliberations began on Monday, the trial hit a bit of a snag when the jury sent another note to Judge Subramanian. That note revealed that the majority of the jury had concerns about &#8220;Juror 25&#8221; and questioned whether or not he would be able to &#8220;follow Your Honor&#8217;s instructions.&#8221;
The foreperson requested the chance to speak with the judge personally — or, if that was not possible, suggested that the judge should interview Juror 25.
<a class="c-link" href="https://get.dailywire.com/freedom/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=freedom&amp;utm_content=freedomeditorial" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://get.dailywire.com/freedom/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=freedom&amp;utm_content=freedomeditorial" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-2388">JULY 4 SALE: Get Six Months Of DW+ Free</a>
A live report from CourtTV stated that during jury selection, the juror in question had revealed he’d seen the video of Combs attacking then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura and said that “he had formed an opinion about that particular video,” but said at the time that he would be able to “set his opinion aside” when it came time to discuss the case.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
JUST IN: Jury deliberating Diddy&#8217;s fate sends note to Judge
&#8220;We have a juror, No. 25, who we are concerned cannot follow your honor&#8217;s instructions.&#8221;<a href="https://t.co/XkHn2q4y3s">pic.twitter.com/XkHn2q4y3s</a>
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) <a href="https://twitter.com/Breaking911/status/1939760285184819411?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
At the time, the judge instructed the jury to continue deliberations.
Combs, who faces charges that include sex trafficking, transportation for the purpose of prostitution, and racketeering, could be facing life in prison of he&#8217;s convicted on any of the top three charges against him.

Sean “Diddy” Combs

Jury Reaches Partial Verdict In ‘Diddy’ Sex Trafficking Trial, One Charge Still Pending

Courts

Sex Trafficking

U.S.

The sex-trafficking trial of disgraced music mogul Sean &#8220;Diddy&#8221; Combs ground to screeching halt on Monday, just one hour after the jury began deliberating, when the jurors slipped a note to Manhattan Federal Court Judge Arun Subramanian questioning whether or not &#8220;Juror 25&#8221; would be able to carry out his civic duty.
The note, sent to Subramanian around 12:40 p.m. local time, stated that the majority was unsure of said juror&#8217;s ability to adhere to the judge&#8217;s instructions — but it did not give any indication as to why they believed that was the case.
&#8220;We have a juror, ‘Juror 25,’ who we believe cannot follow your honor&#8217;s instructions,&#8221; the note said, according to a report published Monday by the New York Post.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
JUST IN: Jury deliberating Diddy&#8217;s fate sends note to Judge
&#8220;We have a juror, No. 25, who we are concerned cannot follow your honor&#8217;s instructions.&#8221;<a href="https://t.co/XkHn2q4y3s">pic.twitter.com/XkHn2q4y3s</a>
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) <a href="https://twitter.com/Breaking911/status/1939760285184819411?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The juror&#8217;s name was not revealed, but the Post described him as &#8220;a 51-year-old man with a thick European accent,&#8221; and noted that he works as a scientist in Manhattan and holds an advanced degree in molecular biology.
A live report from CourtTV stated that during jury selection, the juror revealed he&#8217;d seen the video of Combs attacking then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura and said that &#8220;he had formed an opinion about that particular video,&#8221; but said at the time that he would be able to &#8220;set his opinion aside&#8221; when it came time to discuss the case.
<a class="c-link" href="https://get.dailywire.com/freedom/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=freedom&amp;utm_content=freedomeditorial" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://get.dailywire.com/freedom/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=freedom&amp;utm_content=freedomeditorial" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-2388">JULY 4 SALE: Get Six Months Of DW+ Free</a>
The foreperson requested the chance to speak with the judge personally — or, if that was not possible, suggested that the judge should interview Juror 25.
Combs&#8217; trial came to an end on Friday after seven weeks of testimony and evidence, and the jury began deliberating at 11:30 a.m. on Monday. The rapper and music producer has pleaded not guilty to all charges, including sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion; transportation to engage in prostitution; and racketeering — and could spend up to life in prison if he&#8217;s convicted on any one of the three biggest charges against him.
Thus far, the judge has directed the jury to continue deliberations until further notice.

Sean “Diddy” Combs attends trial in New York federal court

Diddy Trial On Pause After Just One Hour Of Jury Deliberations, Note Reveals Problem With ‘Juror 25’

Diddy Trial On Pause After Just One Hour Of Jury Deliberations, Note Reveals Problem With 'Juror 25'

Sex Crimes

A black juror in Sean &#8220;Diddy&#8221; Combs&#8217; federal trial in Manhattan was dismissed on Monday due to “lack of candor.”
U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian questioned the 41-year-old man’s ability to follow instructions, especially considering how he had given different answers about where he lived. The man had indicated that he lived in both the Bronx and New Jersey, according to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/16/arts/music/sean-combs-diddy-trial-juror-dismissed.html">The New York Times</a>. 
Prosecutors called out the fact that Juror #6 said in conversation that he was cohabiting with his girlfriend in New Jersey. This didn’t match up with what the man said during jury selection, which was that he lived in the Bronx with his fiancée.
Judge Subramanian said he had &#8220;concerns about his candor and whether he shaded answers to get on and stay on the panel,” <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/diddy-trial-juror-6-dismissed-1236291789/">per</a> The Hollywood Reporter.  
“There’s nothing that the juror could say at this point that would put the genie back in the bottle,” the judge said on Monday.
Subramanian decided that the juror would be dismissed and replaced with an alternate, who is a 57-year-old white male accountant from Westchester County, New York, the outlet noted.
Combs’s defense team argued that the dismissal is unfair because the juror being dismissed is black, calling it a “thinly veiled effort to dismiss a black juror.” The judge rejected that claim.
“To be perfectly clear, from the outset of this proceeding to the current date, there has been no evidence and no showing of any kind of any biased conduct or biased manner of proceeding from the government,” he said.
Combs, 55, is on trial on charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force and coercion, and transportation for prostitution. The trial began on May 12 and is expected to last eight weeks.
Over the past six weeks, prosecutors have presented more than 18 witnesses, including the rapper’s ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, and former assistant Jonathan Perez. They have all described violent, drug-fueled group sex events called “freak‑offs” and coerced participation during these parties.
Comb’s defense team is focused on proving that all sexual encounters were consensual. If convicted, the Bad Boy Records founder could spend the rest of his life in prison.
&nbsp;

US Federal Courthouse i

Juror Dismissed In ‘Diddy’ Trial For ‘Lack Of Candor’

Juror Dismissed In 'Diddy Trial' For 'Lack Of Candor' Over Where He Lives

Manhattan

Rapper Kid Cudi, real name Scott Mescudi, took the stand during Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal trial on Thursday to testify for the prosecution.
The 41-year-old Grammy Award winner described an incident involving his Porsche being damaged by an explosive device, which he claimed was orchestrated by Combs as retaliation for Mescudi dating the rapper’s on-again, off-again girlfriend, Cassie Ventura.
During her testimony last week, Ventura said Combs had threatened to blow up Mescudi’s car when he found out the two were romantically involved.
The jury was shown images of Mescudi’s damaged car.
Mescudi said he received a phone call from Ventura in December 2011 during which she sounded &#8220;stressed, nervous, and scared&#8221; about Combs discovering they had been seeing each other. He said later that day, Combs’ former assistant called to inform him that Combs was inside his house.
Mescudi said he headed home and called Combs on the way, asking if he was there. Combs reportedly sounded “calm” when he responded and said he was waiting to talk. When Mescudi arrived home, he said no one was there, but claimed some gifts had been opened and his dog was locked up in a bathroom. Mescudi considered meeting up with Combs, but wound up filing a police report instead.
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Later, Mescudi said he interacted with Combs via text. When the rapper said he wanted to “get to the bottom of things,” Mescudi says he replied, &#8220;You broke into my house. You messed with my dog. I don&#8217;t really wanna talk to you.&#8221;
Mescudi said he received a call from his dog sitter in January 2012 informing him that his car was on fire. A Molotov cocktail was later discovered near the vehicle. Though Combs was never connected with the crime, Mescudi says he believes the act of vandalism was done in retaliation for his involvement with Ventura.
Mescudi said he met with Combs the day after the vandalism occurred and described his demeanor as “calm,” which he said was “off-putting.” Mescudi said he asked, “So what are we going to do about my car?” Variety <a href="https://variety.com/2025/music/news/kid-cudi-testifies-diddy-trial-cassie-car-explosion-1236406502/">reported</a>.
Combs replied, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Mescudi said during his testimony, “He was lying.”
Besides relating details of their personal interactions, Mescudi also corroborated Ventura’s claims of physical abuse, <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/sean-diddy-combs-trial-recap-day-13-2nd/story?id=122096856">saying</a> Combs &#8220;would hit her&#8221; and &#8220;kick her.&#8221; He said they broke up because the &#8220;drama&#8221; was &#8220;getting out of hand,&#8221; and he &#8220;just wanted to give it some space, for my safety and for her safety,&#8221; adding that he knew Combs was “violent.”
Combs pleaded not guilty to charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution. If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.

Kid Cudi

Diddy Trial: Rapper Kid Cudi Thinks Combs Orchestrated Molotov Cocktail Attack

New York City

Day eight of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ trial included testimony from his former assistant, George Kaplan, who detailed how he both set up and covered up his employer’s infamous “freak off” parties in hotel rooms.
Kaplan testified that he worked long days, clocking 80 to 100 hours per week and at least once being on shift for close to 24 hours straight, per <a href="https://www.cnn.com/entertainment/live-news/diddy-trial-cassie-court-case-05-21-25">CNN</a>. The former executive assistant reported that he was paid around $125,000 and that Combs threatened his employment frequently, saying he would be let go over mistakes, such as purchasing the wrong item at a store. 
Kaplan said he was tasked with answering phone calls, emails, and texts from Combs, including requests for “clothing or potentially food from somewhere, or drugs or liquor or an iPad or a speaker,” the outlet noted. He was also required to fly to various cities such as New York, Miami, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., and Orlando to deliver a “hotel bag” containing a speaker, candles, liquor, baby oil, extra clothing, and Astroglide lubricant. 
Combs’ former assistant said he also understood his job to include visiting the hotel room after his employer left to clean up evidence of the parties, which might consist of empty bottles of baby oil and lube, and in one instance, drug residue. He testified that this was done to “protect” Combs’ image and ensure hotel cleaning staff could not take pictures and publicize them, as ABC News <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/sean-combs-trial-day-12-recap-jurors-hear/story?id=122050227">reported</a>.
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Kaplan confirmed that the “freak offs” lasted several days and included prostitutes, drugs, and alcohol. The assistant claimed Combs asked him to buy illegal drugs on two occasions, including a bag of MDMA in Miami and an unknown substance in Los Angeles. 
Also on day eight of the trial, clinical and forensic psychologist Dawn Hughes testified about the tendency for victims of domestic abuse to stay in abusive relationships. This comes after the prosecution’s star witness, Cassie Ventura, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/diddy-trial-combs-ex-girlfriend-cassie-ventura-shares-graphic-details-of-freak-offs">took the stand</a> to testify against Combs. Ventura and Combs were together for 11 years, and she accused him of physical, mental, and sexual abuse during that time.
Rapper Kid Cudi is expected to testify on Thursday, and Kaplan will face cross-examination from the defense. Combs’ legal team seeks to prove that his unconventional sex life was shocking but not illegal. Meanwhile, he has been charged with sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Combs pleaded not guilty to the charges. If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.

George Kaplan

Diddy Trial: Witness Says He Concealed ‘Freak Off’ Party Aftermath From Hotel Staff

Diddy Trial: Former Assistant Testifies About Hiding 'Freak Off' Party Aftermath From Hotel Staff

Three of the five Memphis, Tennessee, police officers who were charged in the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols in 2023 were acquitted of state charges on Wednesday.
Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith were found not guilty of all charges by a jury that deliberated for two days, Fox 13 Memphis <a href="https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/former-memphis-officers-not-guilty-of-all-charges-in-state-trial-related-to-tyre-nichols/article_64c2937c-fdfd-4714-88d9-a4b929d04376.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. The former police officers faced charges of second-degree murder, aggravated assault, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, two counts of official misconduct, and official oppression. While the former officers celebrated their acquittal on state charges, they still face sentencing after being convicted of obstruction of justice in a federal trial.
The trial, which was carried out in front of an out-of-town jury from Hamilton County, Tennessee, took nine days. Prosecutors argued that Bean and Smith had a duty to intervene after their fellow officers, Desmond Mills Jr. and Emmitt Martin, began kicking Nichols in the head while he was on the ground. Haley arrived on the scene after Martin first kicked Nichols and then kicked Nichols&#8217; upper arm. According to prosecutors, Haley failed to step in and prevent escalating violence, adding that the former officer yelled, &#8220;Beat that man&#8217;s (expletive).&#8221; Haley&#8217;s defense attorney brought in a use-of-force expert during the trial who testified that Haley&#8217;s kick to Nichols&#8217; arm was an attempt to get him into handcuffs, not to continue any violence.
Nichols got into a confrontation with the Memphis Police officers after he was pulled over on January 7, 2023. Nichols attempted to flee after being pepper-sprayed and got close to his mother&#8217;s home before the officers soon caught up with him and took him to the ground. Video <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udIwBuozE28&amp;list=PL8QBkS_wk32WqmDIbofsZCyneo1JbM3Tn&amp;index=2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">footage</a> from a camera mounted on a nearby pole showed Nichols being kicked and punched while he was on the ground. The 29-year-old man died after being transported to a hospital.
&#8220;It&#8217;s hard for us to imagine how someone could say that none of the defendants were guilty of any of the charges,&#8221; said Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy. &#8220;I think that any fair-minded person who watched the video would come to the conclusion that everybody there had some responsibility for Tyre Nichols&#8217; death.&#8221;
Some on the Left <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/27/opinions/tyre-nichols-memphis-police-department-jones/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pointed</a> to the beating death of Nichols to paint the police as racist, despite all five officers being black. Demonstrators marched in Memphis following Nichols&#8217; death, demanding an end to &#8220;police terror&#8221; and claiming that police &#8220;uphold white supremacy.&#8221;
<div id="attachment_917367" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-917367" class="wp-image-917367 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-1460352554-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-1460352554-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-1460352554-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-1460352554-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-1460352554-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-1460352554-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-1460352554-1800x1200.jpg 1800w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-1460352554-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Demonstrators march in Memphis following the death of Tyre Nichols (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)</div>
All five officers accused of beating Nichols to death were fired from the Memphis Police Department shortly after his death. Bean and Smith face 20 years in federal prison after being found guilty of witness tampering. Haley could serve a life sentence in federal prison after being found guilty of using excessive force, being deliberately indifferent to Nichols&#8217; medical needs, witness tampering, and conspiracy to witness tamper, USA Today reported.
Martin and Mills Jr. both took plea deals and testified during the federal trial, while Mills also testified during the state trial. Prosecutors recommended a 40-year prison sentence for Martin and a 15-year sentence for Mills, according to Fox 13.  Sentencing for all five officers in the federal trial is expected to take place soon since the state trial has concluded.

Tyre Nichols

Three Former Memphis Police Officers Found Not Guilty In Beating Death Of Tyre Nichols

Memphis

Police

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