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Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ trial adjourned after juror calls in sick

Lauren del Valle Kara Scannell
By Nicki Brown, Lauren del Valle and Kara Scannell, CNN
Updated 10:09 AM EDT, Wed June 18, 2025
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What we covered here

• No court today: Sean “Diddy” Combs’ criminal trial was adjourned for the day after one of the jurors called out sick. The trial is expected to resume Friday morning, as there is no court tomorrow due to the Juneteenth holiday.

• Trial timeline: With today’s delay, prosecutors likely won’t rest their case until Monday. The defense team has estimated their case will take two to five days, and closing arguments will take additional time. The judge previously said he believed the case could go to the jury sometime next week, but today’s delay potentially throughs a major wrench into the trial’s scheduling.

• Federal charges: Combs has pleaded not guilty to charges that include racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. If convicted on all counts, he could face up to life in prison.

• Editor’s Note: If you or someone you know is struggling with intimate partner violence, there are resources available, including the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

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Our live coverage has ended. Court will be closed tomorrow for the Juneteenth holiday, and the trial is expected to resume Friday morning.

How today's delay could impact the trial timeline

From CNN's Elizabeth Wagmeister and Kara Scannell

The trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs has been adjourned for the day after one of the jurors called in sick — a move that potentially throws a major wrench in the scheduling of the trial.

Judge Arun Subramanian said he believes the juror’s absence is a one-day issue but, regardless, it does throw off the court’s tight schedule.

Subramanian has said since the start of the trial that he wants this to be done by July 4.

Prosecutors were expected to rest their case on Friday, but with today’s delay, they likely won’t rest until sometime on Monday. (Remember: Court is closed tomorrow for the Juneteenth holiday, and Friday is a pre-scheduled half-day, with court running from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. ET.)

The defense has said they expect to use between two and five trial days to make their case, and closing arguments will take additional time. All of those steps need to happen before the jury begins deliberating — which makes for a tight schedule if we’re aiming for a verdict before July 4.

Trial adjourned after juror calls in sick

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ criminal trial is adjourned for the day due to a juror calling in sick.

The parties are scheduled to return at 8:30 a.m. Friday, with testimony from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The court will be closed Thursday for the Juneteenth holiday.

The lawyers will discuss exhibit issues while we wait to learn more about sick juror

Judge Arun Subramanian said the court is going to make some further inquiries as to the juror who called out sick this morning.

In the meantime, prosecutors and defense attorneys will debate some exhibits the sides don’t agree on.

Judge says he's not sure if court can proceed today after juror calls out sick

Judge Arun Subramanian presides over court on Monday.
Judge Arun Subramanian presides over court on Monday.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters

Judge Arun Subramanian just took the bench and said that there’s a sick juror who’s unable to attend court today.

Their partner called and told the court that the juror had vertigo symptoms and had to go home.

The judge said he doesn’t see how we can proceed today. Defense attorneys and prosecutors are going to discuss their options at a sidebar now.

Combs' former assistant arrives at the courthouse ahead of expected testimony

Brendan Paul arrives at court in New York on Wednesday.
Brendan Paul arrives at court in New York on Wednesday.
Eduardo Munoz/Reuters

Brendan Paul, one of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ former assistants who is expected to testify in his criminal trial, just arrived at the courthouse and is going through security.

Prosecutors said they plan to call Paul and question him for about 90 minutes today.

CNN's Laura Coates takes you inside the courtroom in "Trial by Jury: Diddy"

From CNN staff

All eyes were on the jury in the courtroom of the Sean “Diddy” Combs trial this week after juror No. 6 was dismissed.

Former federal prosecutor and white-collar defense attorney Gene Rossi explains why he was booted just as the prosecution gets ready to rest its case — and why the defense is up in arms about it. He also shares why his opinion has shifted when it comes to which side has the upper hand.

Plus, CNN entertainment correspondent Elizabeth Wagmeister zeros in on why the prosecution’s summary witness is so crucial in a complex case.

Click here for the latest episode of the CNN podcast, “Trial by Jury: Diddy,” hosted by CNN anchor and chief legal analyst Laura Coates.

Here's what you should know about yesterday's testimony

Defense lawyer Teny Geragos cross examines DeLeassa Penland during Combs' trial in New York on Tuesday.
Defense lawyer Teny Geragos cross examines DeLeassa Penland during Combs' trial in New York on Tuesday.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters

Judge Arun Subramanian said yesterday that the criminal case of Sean “Diddy” Combs could head to the jury sometime next week.

Here’s what you should know about what happened in court yesterday:

Special agent testimony continues:

  • Special agent DeLeassa Penland, with the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York continued testifying yesterday.
  • Penland walked the jury through records related to a September 2014 hotel stay in Los Angeles. The records included charges on Sean “Diddy” Combs’ American Express card for a round-trip flight from New York City to Los Angeles for a man referred to as “Dave.”
  • On cross-examination, defense attorney Teny Geragos questioned Penland on the lists of individuals associated with meetings in the government’s summary charts. She said there could have been other people present but, “If I did not have the evidence, their name is not in this chart.”
  • Geragos asked Penland if she reviewed any materials indicating a meeting around New Year’s Eve 2016-2017. Penland confirmed that she did not.
  • Penland also confirmed that all five of the explicit videos the jury watched in court yesterday were recovered from a “Frank Black” user profile on one of Cassie Ventura’s devices. The videos are sealed because they’re sexually explicit.

Judge reprimands lawyers:

  • Subramanian reprimanded defense attorneys and prosecutors yesterday morning over an article that he said revealed details of a sealed proceeding held Friday. Subramanian said, “Well someone is lying,” after lawyers from both sides said they didn’t know who could’ve leaked the information.

Combs’ former assistant:

  • Brendan Paul, Combs’ former assistant invoked the Fifth Amendment on the stand yesterday. The jury was not present. Subramanian will sign an immunity order compelling Paul to testify.
  • Direct examination of Paul is expected to take about 90 minutes today, according to Assistant US Attorney Maurene Comey.

More on the 2016 InterContinental Hotel altercation

  • Assistant US Attorney Emily Johnson presented a timeline of records related to the March 2016 altercation at the InterContinental between Combs and Ventura. The records included text messages, calls and photos, beginning with Ventura inquiring about an escort’s availability on March 4.
  • The timeline of records related to the altercation also detailed a flurry of calls and texts between Combs, Ventura, Combs’ former chief of staff Kristina Khorram, and Combs’ former security guard Damion Butler, who goes by D-Roc. Combs repeatedly called and texted Ventura after the incident.