Sean Combs gets standing ovation from fellow inmates after court verdict—lawyer
Sean "Diddy" Combs was met with a standing ovation from his fellow inmates after he returned to prison following his acquittal of sex trafficking and racketeering charges, according to his lawyer.
Combs was cleared of the charges, which could have led to life in prison, on July 2. However, he was found guilty of two lesser prostitution charges.
Attorney Marc Agnifilio told The Associated Press and PEOPLE that the inmates saw the embattled rapper's acquittal as a sign of hope.
"They all said: 'We never get to see anyone who beats the government," the lawyer said.
The hip-hop mogul remains behind bars for now in Brooklyn, as he was convicted of two prostitution-related charges, for which he could face up to 10 years in prison each. US District Judge Arun Subramanian will determine the sentence at a later date.
On Combs' overall state, Agnifilio told PEOPLE that he's "doing okay."
“He burns hot in all matters. I think what he has come to see is that he has these flaws and there’s no amount of fame and no amount of fortune that can erase them," he said. “You can’t cover them up.”
The verdict early on Wednesday followed a criminal trial in which two of Combs' former girlfriends, including R&B singer Casandra "Cassie" Ventura, testified that he physically and sexually abused them.
Jurors also heard testimony from the Bad Boy Records founder's former personal assistants, who said their jobs included setting up hotel rooms for "Freek Offs" and buying their boss drugs.
Sarah Krissoff, a former federal prosecutor in Manhattan, said the jury may have viewed Combs' conduct as evidence of toxic romantic relationships, but not sex trafficking.
In a statement after the verdict, Manhattan U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton and Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Ricky Patel said sex crimes were "all too present" across society and that Americans wanted it to stop.
Combs still faces dozens of civil lawsuits accusing him of abuse. Ventura sued him in November 2023 for sex trafficking, and they settled a day later for $20 million.