As Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal trial nears its conclusion, the defence mounted a final push to discredit the prosecution’s star witnesses and cast doubt on the core allegations of sex trafficking, racketeering, and abuse. In closing arguments, lead defence attorney Marc Agnifilo acknowledged that Combs physically assaulted ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura but insisted the abuse, while inexcusable, did not amount to criminal conspiracy or trafficking.

“We own the domestic violence,” Agnifilo told the jury. But he described the relationship between Combs and Ventura as a “great modern love story,” portraying their intimate life as consensual and rooted in mutual exploration rather than coercion. “This is his girlfriend, this was their personal life, they are swingers, this is their lifestyle,” Agnifilo said, dismissing the trafficking charges as “the lowest hanging fruit.”

He further attempted to paint Ventura as a sexually empowered and confident woman, highlighting her romantic involvement with actor Michael B. Jordan after her relationship with Combs. “She was not going to slow down,” he said. “She is not clutching her pearls. This was her lifestyle.”

Agnifilo also addressed the drug-related allegations, conceding that Combs used substances like ecstasy and Xanax but only personally, not as part of a broader criminal network. “There is no evidence of distribution, and certainly none tied to a racketeering conspiracy,” he said.

The defence sought to undermine the credibility of “Mia,” a former assistant who accused Combs of sexual assault and coercion. Agnifilo pointed to an Instagram post in which Mia praised Combs on his 45th birthday. “That was not forced labor,” he said. “That was admiration.”

As for the broader charges of racketeering, the defence argued that prosecutors had overstated the nature of Combs’ behavior and blurred the lines between toxic personal relationships and criminal acts. “Love and money often coexist,” Agnifilo said. “That doesn’t make it a conspiracy.”

Combs faces five serious federal charges. one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. If convicted, he could face life in prison. However, with key witnesses like Ventura and Mia now under scrutiny, and with the defense casting doubt on the criminality of Combs’ lifestyle, the outcome of the case remains uncertain.

Erizia Rubyjeana

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