Photograph: Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Photographs
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Sean “Diddy” Combs’s Manhattan Federal Court docket sex-trafficking trial enters a brand new section Monday, Could 12 with opening statements. Diddy, 55, faces 5 counts on fees reminiscent of racketeering conspiracy, intercourse trafficking (by drive, fraud, or coercion), and transportation to have interaction in prostitution. Prosecutors allege that Combs used his huge leisure empire to function a “prison enterprise.” They contend that the top objective of this enterprise was abusing ladies with violence. Authorities allege that they found proof of “Freak Offs” — intercourse events fueled by medication that lasted for days — whereas raiding his houses in Miami and Los Angeles final yr. They declare that a lot of the abuse occurred at these Freak Offs.
How did this allegedly occur? Prosecutors declare that Combs lured ladies into his world after which pressured them to take part in these “elaborate and produced intercourse performances that Combs organized, directed, masturbated throughout, and infrequently electronically recorded.” When the Freak Offs ended, Combs and his victims “sometimes obtained IV fluids to get well from the bodily exertion and drug use,” authorities alleged. Extra particulars about Diddy’s alleged prison misdeeds have come out since his arrest final yr. In a revised indictment in March, Diddy was accused of controlling a number of workers by forcing them to toil grueling hours with minimal sleep — after which threatening them to maintain them in line. Prosecutors additionally allege that “on one event, Combs dangled a sufferer over an condo balcony.” In the meantime, civil lawsuits have additionally accused him of sexual abuse towards boys and males. Since we’re now on the a part of Diddy’s authorized drama the place a jury will decide his fate, here’s a rundown of what’s to be expected, together with updates from each group’s opening statements.
In the meantime, civil lawsuits have additionally accused him of sexual abuse towards boys and males. Since we’re now on the a part of Diddy’s authorized drama the place a jury will decide his fate, here’s a rundown of what’s to be expected, together with updates Cassie’s testimony and a recap of opening statements.
Cassie is the prosecution’s star witness after being in a relationship with Diddy for a bit of greater than 10 years. She described their relationship as enjoyable, till it allegedly descended into violence. “He would mash in my head, knock me over, drag me, kick me — stomp me within the head if I used to be down,” she claimed. The prosecution confirmed Cassie a nonetheless from a video that depicted Combs beating her at a lodge. “We had been having an encounter… it was known as a ‘Freak Off,” Cassie described. “Sean proposed to me this concept … known as voyeurism; he would watch me in sexual exercise with one other particular person, particularly one other male.” Cassie stated she was over Freak Offs early on. “I knew it wasn’t one thing I wished to be doing as recurrently because it turned,” Cassie informed jurors. “I used to be simply attempting to make him joyful.” However, Cassie stored collaborating out of concern. She claimed Diddy had taped these encounters — and she or he felt that he might blackmail her at any time. “It was all the time at the back of my thoughts.”
Diddy’s trial started on May 5 with jury selection, however opening statements kicked off the principle a part of these proceedings on Could 12. For the prosecution, prosecutor Emily Johnson stated they might hear from Cassie and that the jury will see movies of the alleged “freak off” events. For the protection, Teny Geragos known as Diddy a “sophisticated man,” mentioning a “mood” and a ingesting and drug drawback.
“To the general public, he was Puff Daddy or Diddy — a cultural icon, a businessman, bigger than life — however there was one other aspect to him, a aspect that ran a prison enterprise,” Johnson stated, including that over the course of twenty years, Diddy engaged in offenses reminiscent of intercourse crimes and kidnapping. For years, Diddy “pressured” Cassie to have intercourse with male escorts whereas he watched and recorded the encounters. “The defendant informed Cassie that if she defied him once more, he’d publicly launch the movies of her having intercourse with male escorts, which he stored as blackmail,” Johnson stated.
“This case shouldn’t be a couple of celeb’s non-public sexual preferences,” she stated. “The defendant made ladies have intercourse when they didn’t wish to.” She stated Diddy threatened them, drugged them, and beat them into compliance. As soon as, Diddy turned so mad at Cassie that he “stomped repeatedly on her face” in an SUV. One other time, Cassie felt like she was choking when Diddy “made an escort urinate in her mouth.” Johnson additionally stated that one other accuser, known as “Jane” in court docket, fell into Diddy’s darkish net in 2020. After a couple of months collectively, Diddy launched her to freak-offs. Jane participated as a result of she cared about Diddy and thought it will result in extra time collectively, not as a result of she appreciated them. Jane wished the escorts to put on condoms however “many instances, the defendant didn’t allow them to,” Johnson stated. One other accuser, “Mia,” labored for Diddy. Johnson stated that Diddy pressured himself on Mia a number of instances.
Sure, Teny Geragos tried to painting Diddy as a man who was, certainly, a foul boy — however not one who dedicated intercourse trafficking: “Sean Combs is a sophisticated man, however this isn’t a sophisticated case — this case is about love, jealousy, infidelity, and cash.” Folks had been fascinated by Diddy, Geragos informed jurors. “Folks actually cherished him,” she stated. Geragos gestured at Diddy and he stood, dealing with the jury, arms in pockets. “His identify is Sean Combs.” Geragos stated that Diddy admits to committing home violence however that this was not the identical as intercourse trafficking. “When he drank or did the unsuitable medication, he would get violent,” Geragos stated. “He’s not happy with that, and that’s one thing we’re going to personal.” Whereas there are issues about Diddy’s intercourse life “which will make you uncomfortable and might not be what you love to do in your bed room,” she stated, these had been non-public consensual acts consistent with the “swinger’s life-style.”
When Diddy walked into Manhattan federal court docket for his sex-trafficking trial on Monday morning, the rapper’s entrance carried the air of a household reunion.
A number of of Diddy’s youngsters had been in attendance, together with three younger daughters, and he beamed at them upon strolling in, tapping his coronary heart, as their eyes met. A few of them responded by returning a coronary heart hand.
He appeared in good spirits typically, hugging his attorneys earlier than sitting on the protection desk. In some unspecified time in the future earlier than court docket began, he should have expressed thirst. A court docket deputy requested if he’d been given water. Diddy responded: “May use a bit of extra should you don’t thoughts.”
As soon as each side have introduced their opening statements, the prosecution will begin to name their witnesses. Prosecutor Maurene Comey stated on Could 7 that the federal government expects to have two quick witnesses on Monday, who must testify instantly for scheduling causes. Comey revealed that “one other witness will take up virtually your complete remainder of the week.” Lead Diddy protection lawyer stated that prosecutors informed the rapper’s group who the primary three witnesses are and that, in complete, their testimony will doubtless take up the primary week.
Throughout Diddy’s many pretrial proceedings, a small coterie of household or pals could possibly be seen in court docket. Throughout jury choice, one man was current in clear assist of Diddy. He carried a trucker hat with him that stated “PUFF” on the entrance and “free” on at the least one temple. He sat within the gallery behind powerhouse protection lawyer Mark Geragos (who reps the rapper’s mother however technically is one among Diddy’s attorneys, too.)
There are so many for Diddy — he has a slew of lawyers co-led by Marc Agnifilo and Teny Gergaos, who delivered opening statements on Could 12. Comey, James Comey’s daughter, who introduced down Jeffrey Epstein affiliate Ghislaine Maxwell, is the lead prosecutor. Discover an entire rundown of the Avengers team of attorneys in Diddy’s case here.
The decide presiding over Diddy’s case, Arun Subramanian, was nominated by former president Joe Biden in January 2023. Subramanian was confirmed by the U.S. Senate that March. He graduated from Columbia College’s legislation college in 2004 and his alma mater described him as the primary decide of South Asian descent within the Southern District of New York. Subramanian additionally served as a clerk for Supreme Court docket Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the college stated. His mother and father got here to the U.S. from India a number of months earlier than he was born in 1979. Subramanian informed a gaggle of legislation college students that he determined to pursue changing into a decide shortly after she died in 2020. “I wouldn’t be right here if it weren’t for the justice,” he was quoted as saying. “For that and all the things else, I’m perpetually in her debt.” Subramanian has performed proceedings with an method that mixes no-nonsense effectivity with a little bit of humor. For instance, Subramanian stated, “I felt I used to be studying an appendix from like, The Lord of the Rings” when referencing the prolonged record of individuals and locations jurors can be requested about understanding.
Diddy was provided, however rejected, a proposed plea deal. Not solely did Diddy say “no” to the deal, he additionally handed on an settlement that will have uncovered him to much less jail time than if he had been convicted at trial. In court docket on Could 1, his protection lawyer Marc Agnifilo stated that they “mentioned it with him and collectively got here to a choice.” Diddy has maintained his innocence.
