Federal authorities have reopened a sex trafficking and racketeering investigation involving Sean Combs.
Federal prosecutors concluded their extensive sex trafficking and racketeering case against Sean “Diddy” Combs after seven weeks of testimony in Manhattan federal court. The U.S. Attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York presented a total of 34 witnesses, which included former romantic partners of Combs, employees from his Bad Boy Records label, and members of law enforcement.
The jury, consisting of eight men and four women, could begin deliberations as early as Friday following the closing arguments. Remarkably, Combs will not testify in his defense nor call additional witnesses, despite his legal team indicating an intention to present testimony from three individuals.
The last witness to testify was an agent from the Department of Homeland Security, who corroborated a range of electronic evidence, including text messages exchanged between Combs and his staff. These communications allegedly involved arrangements for sexual performances in hotel rooms across the nation. The jury also heard about video recordings, which were not accessible to the public or media.
At 55 years old, Combs faces serious charges, including sex trafficking through force, fraud, or coercion, as well as racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution. If found guilty, he could potentially spend the rest of his life in prison. The government has alleged misconduct involving members of Combs’ inner circle, including bodyguards and high-ranking staff, suggesting they employed tactics such as kidnapping, arson, and bribery to maintain his public persona and insulate their boss from allegations of wrongdoing.
The trial exposed claims that Combs orchestrated sexual encounters with vulnerable young women during events characterized as “freak-offs,” “wild king nights,” or “hotel nights.” Testimony indicated that Combs’ staff facilitated these encounters by organizing transportation, lodging, and payment for escorts, enabling an environment heavily laden with drugs and sexual exploitation.
Several women provided accounts of their experiences during these “freak-offs,” describing them as coercive and abusive. Notably, former partner Casandra “Cassie” Ventura and another anonymous witness shared harrowing stories of manipulation and aggression, revealing that they often felt tremendous pressure to participate in degrading acts, irrespective of physical harm they had suffered.
Despite acknowledging past violent behavior toward women, Combs’ defense team has asserted that the sexual activities in question were consensual in nature. The case has attracted significant media attention, not only for the serious allegations against Combs but also due to the high-profile nature of his career, which has shaped the music industry.
Meanwhile, Combs has remained in custody at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center since his arrest in September 2024, with multiple requests for bail denied. In addition to the current criminal charges, he faces numerous civil lawsuits alleging sexual assault and abusive behavior, all of which he continues to deny.
As proceedings advance, the outcome of this case may have lasting implications not just for Combs, but also for the broader conversation around accountability and the treatment of women within the entertainment industry.
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