Two of the lawyers from the 20th century’s most infamous trial have weighed in on the Sean “Diddy” Combs verdict, which the jury handed down on Wednesday, July 2, after less than three days of deliberation.
Robert Shapiro, who initially led the late O.J. Simpson’s legal team in his 1995 trial, praised Diddy’s lawyers following Wednesday’s verdict. The jury found Diddy, 55, guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution but not guilty on the arguably more serious charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking.
“The defense team did a terrific job on a case the U.S. Attorney overcharged,” Shapiro, 82, told Fox News Digital on Thursday, July 3. “An acquittal in federal court is highly unusual. Congratulations to Mark [Agnifilo] and Teny [Geragos] for building an incredible group of talented lawyers.”
Alan Dershowitz, who served as an adviser for the Simpson trial, also praised Diddy’s legal team, saying it was wise to keep the disgraced mogul off the witness stand.
Diddy’s Lawyers Say They’re ‘Not Nearly Done Fighting’ After Trial Win
“Ultimately, the smart decision was not putting O.J. on the witness stand,” Dershowitz, 86, told Fox News Digital on Thursday. “The smart decision here was not putting Combs on the witness stand. The difference is we want a complete victory. They got a partial victory, but an almost complete victory, so I commend them for excellent work.”
He continued, “I think this was a good day for justice today, and it showed the power of juries to stand up against the federal government. And that’s a necessary check on the excesses of prosecutors.”
Diddy was arrested in September 2024 and charged with racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. He pleaded not guilty to all charges and has denied further allegations against him.
How Diddy Reacted After Verdict Was Reached in Sex Trafficking Trial
After the verdict came in on Wednesday, his lawyers vowed to continue “fighting” for their client. “Today’s a great victory. It’s a great victory for Sean Combs, it’s a great victory for the jury system,” Agnifilo said in a press conference. “We are not nearly done fighting. We are just getting started.”
The defense asked for Diddy to be released on bail following the partial guilty verdict, but Judge Arun Subramanian denied the request. For now, Diddy will remain in custody at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center until his sentencing on October 3. The judge will consider an expedited sentencing date at a hearing on Tuesday, July 8.
In his interview on Thursday, Dershowitz slammed the court for denying Diddy’s bail.
“Vindictive and wrong,” he said. “He was convicted of transactional, consensual sex with two adults.”
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Found Guilty of Transportation, Acquitted of Other Charges
Dershowitz and Shapiro were both part of the so-called “dream team” that represented Simpson after he was accused of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman in 1994. The team also included Johnnie Cochran, Barry Scheck, F. Lee Bailey and Robert Kardashian.
Simpson, who died last year at age 76, was acquitted following the lengthy trial, but he was later found liable for the wrongful deaths of Brown Simpson and Goldman in civil court. He was ordered to pay their families $33.5 million in damages.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support. If you or someone you know is a human trafficking victim, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
