Federal prosecutors are set to begin presenting their case Monday against Sean “Diddy” Combs, alleging he transformed his influential hip-hop empire into a racketeering operation that exploited women for his own sexual gratification over a span of twenty years.
Jury selection will enter its final phase in the morning, followed by opening arguments, and testimony could commence as early as Monday afternoon, according to a report.
The 55-year-old rapper is facing a five-count federal indictment. If convicted on all charges, he could face a minimum of 15 years in prison. Since his arrest in September, he has been held at a federal detention center in Brooklyn.
RELATED STORIES
Defense attorneys for the music mogul contend that prosecutors are mischaracterizing his lifestyle, arguing that while his behavior may have been excessive, it did not rise to the level of criminal conduct.
READ ALSO: Jury selection in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs sex trafficking case postponed to next week
According to the prosecution, Combs manipulated women into participating in drug-fueled group sex and enforced their silence through acts of brutality. The indictment details alleged incidents where he choked, punched, kicked, and dragged women—often yanking them by the hair.
Watch a recent episode of The BreakDown podcast below and subscribe to our channel PanaGenius TV for latest episodes.
Among the initial witnesses expected to take the stand is Combs’ former partner, singer Cassie, who has played a central role in the unraveling legal saga.
In 2023, Cassie filed a lawsuit accusing Combs of years of physical and sexual abuse, including rape. Though the suit was swiftly settled within hours, it sparked a broader criminal probe and prompted a cascade of similar allegations from others.
Prosecutors intend to present security footage reportedly showing Combs assaulting Cassie in the corridor of a Los Angeles hotel in 2016.
Jurors are also likely to view recordings from alleged sex parties referred to as “Freak Offs,” where, according to prosecutors, women were coerced into sleeping with male sex workers while Combs documented the acts. These gatherings, the indictment notes, sometimes spanned several days and left participants needing intravenous fluids for recovery.
Combs’ lead defense counsel, Marc Agnifilo, has described his client as “not a perfect person” and disclosed that Combs was in therapy, including treatment for substance abuse, before his arrest.
READ ALSO: Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs tells judge he’s “a little nervous” as sex trafficking trial begins
Still, Combs’ legal team insists that the sexual encounters were consensual and that any incidents of violence were isolated and not representative of his character.
Following the release of the hotel hallway video by CNN last year, the founder of Bad Boy Records publicly apologized, stating: “I was disgusted then when I did it. I’m disgusted now.” He added that he took “full responsibility” for his actions.
The trial is projected to span at least two months.
