Here in New York, hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs is to remain in custody awaiting sentencing after a jury acquitted him of all but two lesser counts in his sex trafficking federal trial. Combs was convicted Wednesday on two prostitution-related charges, but acquitted of more serious racketeering and sex trafficking charges. The verdict culminated nearly seven weeks of trial in which two of Combs’s former partners testified he brutally physically and sexually assaulted them. This is the attorney for Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, whose 2023 civil lawsuit against Combs helped spur a federal investigation.

Douglas Wigdor: “We’re pleased that he’s finally been held responsible for two federal crimes, something that he’s never faced in his life. He still faces substantial jail time. Of course, we would have liked to have seen a conviction on the sex crimes and RICO, but we understand beyond reasonable doubt is a high standard, and we’re just pleased that he still faces substantial jail time.”

Hotel surveillance footage from 2016, released last year, showed Combs running after Cassie Ventura, violently throwing her on the ground as she tried to escape; he repeatedly kicked her and then dragged her back to their room. Prosecutors accused Combs of repeatedly assaulting several women, drugging and coercing women and men to perform sexual acts, and being part of a criminal organization that engaged in sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery and other crimes since at least 2008. Combs faces up to 20 years in prison.