Testimony in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' sex trafficking trial to end Wednesday, prosecutors, defense attorneys say - Newsday
Testimony in the federal racketeering and sex trafficking case against Sean "Diddy" Combs will end Wednesday, prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed on Monday, meaning the jury will likely begin deliberating by the end of the week.
Both sides are expected to deliver four-hour summations on Thursday.
U.S. District Court Judge Arun Subramanian promised the jury of four women and eight men that they would complete the trial before the Fourth of July holiday.
Prosecutors put 34 witnesses on the stand over seven weeks of testimony to prove that the Bad Boy Records founder used his vast business empire to coerce two former Combs girlfriends into participating in drug-fueled sex marathons in darkened luxury hotel rooms over the last 25 years.
Testimony showed that Combs introduced the concept of bringing a second man, usually a male escort or stripper, into the couple’s bedroom early in the relationship. Combs' executive assistants, security staff and chief executive officer were all drafted to play a role to set up the events, which he called "freak-offs," "hotel nights" or "wild king nights."
Combs, who has pleaded not guilty, is charged with two counts of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and two counts transporting for the purpose of prostitution.
Defense lawyers have emphasized text messages from the women that showed that there were times when they said they enjoyed the trysts and played an active role in setting them up, picking the escorts, renting hotel rooms and buying baby oil and personal lubricant, which prosecutors showed Combs used by the case.
Casandra Ventura, 38, a pop singer who performed under the name "Cassie," and Jane, a social media influencer and model who testified under a pseudonym, both initially said that they found the lifestyle thrilling, but soured after the relationship seemed to be little more than a string of freak-offs.
Ventura had a 10-album record deal with Bad Boy when she was 21, but after the initial release, the label lost interest in her talent, she told the jury. Combs paid her rent and bought her cars, she said, but he also became violent when he felt she disobeyed him. Jane said she made a "love contract" with the producer in which he agreed to pay her $10,000 a month for a 5,300-square-foot home in California, where she still lives with her son. Both ex-girlfriends said they became disenchanted with the relationship when Combs saw him taking out other women.
The hip-hop mogul’s attorneys have argued that he had an unusual love life, with multiple partners — sometimes it was dysfunctional and accompanied by drug addiction. Jane and Ventura said they took copious amounts of ecstasy to prime them for the freak-offs. None of that amounts to a federal crime, defense lawyers said.
The jury saw video of the sex binges and security footage that showed him beating Ventura when she tried to leave in the middle of one of their sessions.
To win their racketeering conspiracy case, prosecutors must convince the jurors that Combs committed two other crimes — kidnapping, arson, drug distribution, forced labor, sex trafficking or transporting persons for the purpose of prostitution.
Prosecutors, led by Maurene Comey, a daughter of former FBI Director James Comey, have slowly built the case over the last month and a half with testimony from former staffers, rap star Kid Cudi, male escorts and federal and local law enforcement.
Combs will not take the stand on his own behalf, and defense lawyers will not present any of their own witnesses, indicating they see a path for acquittal or at least a hung jury.