‘Diddy’ Combs breaks down in prayer, sends 14-word emotional message after verdict reached

Music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs was found not guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking on Wednesday. He was convicted of a less serious prostitution charge after a high-profile seven week trial in New York. The jury found Combs guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

When the verdict, which the jury pronounced after 13 hours of deliberation over three days, was read out in the courtroom, Sean Diddy Combs, 55, smiled and looked relieved. Combs nodded his head repeatedly as the verdict was read out and pumped his fist as the jury cleared him on a sex-trafficking charge, saying “thank you” for being cleared on the most serious charge. He also held in hands in the prayer gesture and waved them in the direction of the jury approvingly, reported The New York Post.

He shook hands with one of his lawyers and said "thank you" to members of the eight-man four-woman jury as they left the courtroom.


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Sean Diddy's emotional message to his mother

After Sean "Diddy" Combs was found not guilty of three out of the five counts he was facing, he had an emotional message for his mother. Diddy was seen kneeling down in front of his seat and had his head bowed, appearing to be praying after being led out of the courtroom by marshals, reported CNN.

He stood up and faced the gallery and began to clap, causing the gallery to clap and cheer. As the gallery was reportedly cheering, Diddy and his attorney's embraced each other. He then faced his family with a smile on face and said, "Thank you. Love you mom. I love you. I love you. I love you." “I’ll be home soon,” he said, and “I love you, baby.”

Combs appeared overwhelmed as court adjourned for at least a few hours. In the audience, his relatives stood and applauded as he faced them, according to The Hill. His relatives applauded him and his lawyers as he was led out of court.

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The rapper had pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him. Diddy also vehemently denies all allegations of wrongdoing against him, including those alleged in civil lawsuits. The mixed result came on the third day of deliberations.

Combs was convicted of flying people around the country, including his girlfriends and paid male sex workers, to engage in sexual encounters, a felony violation of the federal Mann Act. Recently, a new lawsuit was filed against Diddy on Tuesday, July 1 when the jury was still deliberating. A former model and actor accused Diddy, Jane Doe 1 and multiple other Does for assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence and sexual battery as well as civil conspiracy and aiding and abetting. The plaintiff is seeking $10 million for damages.

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Diddy was initially arrested and indicted on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution in September following Homeland Security agents raided his Los Angeles and Miami homes as part of a sex trafficking investigation.

The federal indictment had alleged that Diddy was a the mastermind of a "criminal enterprise" and threw "Freak-Off" parties that included sex, drugs, and, according to the charges, illegal activity.