After six weeks of testimony and more than 30 witnesses, both the prosecution and defense in the Sean “Diddy” Combs case are set to rest their cases this week, with the case going to the jury as soon as Friday.
Prosecutors told the court on Monday that they plan to rest their case on Tuesday, after Homeland Security Special Agent Joseph Cerciello finishes his testimony, which began Friday. Combs’ lead attorney, Marc Agnifilo, said last week that the defense’s case could take between two and four days, although he amended his position and said they could rest as early as Tuesday as well. The defense’s case may include the submission of exhibits into evidence, but they told the court they will not be calling any witnesses.
By choosing not to call any witnesses to the stand, Combs’ legal team is leaning on its cross-examinations of the government’s witnesses to make their case. Combs’ attorneys have repeatedly argued that he never coerced his accusers and that the women took part in “freak-offs” voluntarily.
Closing arguments — each side expected to last four hours — are expected to start on Thursday. Jurors will likely start their deliberation on Friday and a verdict is expected before the July 4 holiday.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to five felony 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. He is accused of using his billion-dollar empire as a criminal enterprise.
Prosecutors accused Combs of sex trafficking his ex-girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura and another woman, “Jane,” along with two counts of transporting individuals to engage in prostitution. They presented extensive records, aiming to show how Combs allegedly used his companies to pay for flights for Ventura, Jane, and male escorts to take part in multi-day sexual encounters.
Linking back to a range of documents — including photos, text messages, bank statements, hotel records, and travel itineraries — prosecutors were able to identify more than a dozen instances where Combs paid for the flights of a male escort to fly cross-country between 2009 and 2024.
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Last Friday, prosecutors shared new texts between Combs and Ventura included as part of a summary chart compiling the dozens of times Combs and Ventura organized freak-offs, as prosecutors allege Ventura was a sex trafficking victim through physical force and coercion.
In one crass text, Combs wrote to Ventura: “You really think you can have me jerk my dick for ten hours and not come… Your [sic] nuts. One minute you down asking about shit. Then the next minute you acting like you doing something you don’t want to. Make up your minds. I’m trying to figure out how I get this nut out my dick.”
Last week also brought Combs’ recent former employee to the stand, Brendan Paul, who has been referred to as Combs’ alleged drug “mule” in various civil lawsuits. The 26-year-old was arrested for cocaine possession when federal officials pulled up on Combs during the March 2024 raids on his homes. When asked by Combs’ defense attorney Brian Steel if he agreed with the “mule” descriptor, Paul laughed. “Absolutely not,” he said.
From Rolling Stone US
