Sean Combs trial: Judge dismisses juror
Judge Arun Subramanian, who is overseeing the federal criminal trial against hip-hop tycoon Sean Combs, has dismissed one of the jurors who has been hearing the case and replaced him with an alternate juror.
The original juror, known as Juror No. 6, has given inconsistent answers about his place of residence. When he was seated on the jury, he said that he lived in The Bronx, a borough of New York City and an area within the bounds of the Southern District of New York, with his fiancée. Last week, however, the juror told a court staff member that he recently moved in with his girlfriend in New Jersey, which is outside the jurisdiction of SDNY. Prosecutors expressed concerns that the man was not being candid.
Subramanian dismissed Juror No. 6 as court concluded on Friday afternoon; on Monday, the judge upheld that decision.
The original juror, a man of color, will be replaced with an alternate juror who is a white man. The defense team had vigorously argued to allow Juror No. 6 to stay, saying that replacing him would pose an unfair disadvantage to Combs as a Black defendant.
In his ruling Monday, Subramanian said that he took the defense’s argument seriously, but ultimately that his concerns about the juror’s “candor and whether he shaded answers to get on and stay on the panel” of such a high-profile case prevailed.
Prosecutors have also repeatedly raised concerns that they have observed Combs nodding at jurors, visibly reacting to testimony and otherwise trying to engage with the jury as federal witnesses have testified against him. Earlier in the trial, Subramanian admonished Combs and told the defense team that their client needed to stop such behavior, saying that it was “absolutely unacceptable.” The judge added that Combs would be barred from the courtroom if he continued. Last Friday, the prosecution raised the issue again. Subramanian said while it was impossible to police every reaction in the courtroom, Combs had previously been warned and should know how to behave.
His brother’s mental illness isolated his family. Now he’s helping other caregivers
When it comes to serious mental illness, family caregivers are crucial partners. But often, they must fend for themselves. A new solution offers them support.
Out with the mayo: How Ukrainians reclaim holiday food
For many people from former Soviet countries, New Year's is a big holiday feast time. A Ukrainian restaurant in Washington gives NPR a taste of what's on the menu.
50 wonderful things from 2025
Each year, critic Linda Holmes looks back on the year and compiles a list of the things that brought her joy.
Farmers are about to pay a lot more for health insurance
Tariffs, inflation, and other federal policies have battered U.S. farmers' bottom lines. Now many farmers say the expiration of federal health care subsidies will make their coverage unaffordable.
Why do we make New Year’s resolutions? A brief history of a long tradition
One of the earliest mentions of New Year's resolutions appeared in a Boston newspaper in 1813. But the practice itself can be traced back to the Babylonians.
In one year, Trump pivots fentanyl response from public health to drug war
Experts say Biden's focus on addiction health care saved tens of thousands of lives and slowed fentanyl smuggling. Trump scrapped Biden's approach in favor of military strikes.
