Monday, June 23, marks the commencement of week seven in the federal criminal trial against Sean “Diddy” Combs. As The Shade Room previously reported, Combs is facing a racketeering charge and two counts of sex trafficking. Additionally, he’s facing two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. Ultimately, the 55-year-old is facing a life in prison.
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Week six of the federal trial included the dismissal of a Black male juror, substituted for a white male, while an issue with another juror arose, the specifics still publicly unknown. Additionally, the prosecution rounded up its summary witnesses, who took the stand with charts detailing the timeline of photo exhibits, texts, flight information, hotel bookings, and more between Diddy, his former partners, and male escorts. Lastly, Diddy’s alleged “drug mule,” Brendan Paul, took the stand. Paul testified to working as Diddy’s assistant, and assisting with his “wild hotel nights” and personal drug use. Ultimately, Paul shared that he didn’t believe women, particularly “Jane Doe,” were being coerced into sexual acts with Diddy.
RELATED: Diddy Trial Week 6: Judge Dismisses Black Juror, Jury Is Shown Videos Of Explicit Sexual Encounters, Brendan Paul Takes Stand (RECAP)
Now, the prosecution is nearing the end of presenting its case. It’s expected that Diddy’s defense team will soon fire back against the racketeering, sex trafficking, and prostitution charges against him. At this time, per CNN, closing arguments are expected to be shared on Thursday, June 26.
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By: Jadriena Solomon
Diddy Trial Week 7, Day 28: Prosecution’s Final Witness, Joseph Cerciello Of Homeland Security Investigations, Continues Testimony
Joseph Cerceillo returned to the stand on Monday, June 23. Cerceillo explained that “several” explicit videos featuring Jane Doe are cited in his exhibit chart. Furthermore, the videos are hours long and also feature Diddy, he explained. At that point, court began with the jury viewing the videos, which are presently sealed from the public.
According to CNN, the jury watched 12 minutes of footage, totaling 13 clips taken between November 2021, December 2021, February 2022, August 2022, and October 2022. Per Cerceillo, the clips seen by the jury are not even all of the footage obtained by the government. Furthermore, he added that 50 clips alone had been recorded between December 17, 2021, and December 21, 2021.
By: Jadriena Solomon
#1
Diddy Trial Week 7, Day 28: Joseph Cerciello Breaks Down Jane & Diddy NYC Trip Between September 17-19, 2023
Cerceillo continued his testimony, breaking down a trip Jane took with Diddy to New York City between September 17, 2023, and September 19, 2023. A chart he presented showed information for flights and hotels booked by Jane and a male entertainer. Furthermore, a credit card under “Bad Boy Ent” was used to pay for Jane’s travel.
Jane reportedly paid for the escort’s travel. However, she had been sent $5,000 from Diddy’s account manager. The escort’s travel, presumably, was booked by Diddy’s travel manager.
At that point, the jury broke for a short break and CNN reported that by that time, the jury had now watched 40 minutes of sexual explicit footage.
By: Jadriena Solomon
#2
Diddy Trial Week 7, Day 28: Cerciello Continues To Break Down September 2023 Messages
Cerceillo picked up his testimony, breaking down more messages from the September 2023 NYC trip. Furthermore, the messages showed Diddy messaging a Cowboys for Angels escort, informing him of when to arrive at the hotel. In turn, the escorts informed Diddy that he needed to clear his $600 balance.
“Lol he couldn’t even perform,” Diddy texted in response which prompted the service to explain that he was paying for the man’s time.
The jury was also shown messages between Jane and the escort, coordinating his arrival at the hotel. Furthermore, messages also showed Brendan Paul coordinating IV drips for Diddy, Jane, and the escort.
To add, continued texts showed Diddy instructing Kristina Khorram to keep a woman named “Chelsea” at a hotel. Meanwhile, he ordered Khorram to book a suite for him and Jane at another hotel. Furthermore, he told Khorram that Chelsea would join him at his Miami home after Jane left the area. Another record showed that Jane’s flight from Miami to Los Angeles was booked by Diddy’s travel manager.
By: Jadriena Solomon
#3
Diddy Trial Week 7, Day 28: Cerciello Details Records From November, 2021
Cerceillo then broke down records from November 8, 2021, to November 10, 2021. In messages, Diddy asked Jane if she wanted to see him and escort Paul. Afterward, Diddy messaged Paul, asking him to let him know when he was nearby.
Within that time, Jane also texted an escort named Sly about traveling between Los Angeles and Atlanta. Furthermore, Diddy reportedly messaged his travel manager to book a flight and hotel for Sly as Jane relayed the information to the escort.
More messages between Diddy and Khorram were also shown — in one, he requested $5,000 cash and was notified that baby oil had been dropped off. Furthermore, Cerceillo shared that several explicit videos were taken during those days. Ultimately, Jane sent Sly a hefty Cash app, and a large amount of money was deposited into Paul’s bank account.
Furthermore, messages shared on November 14, 2021, showed that Khorram booked Diddy and Jane a hotel in Los Angeles. Khorram reportedly texted Diddy when an assistant was setting up the room and when Paul was coming up.
By: Jadriena Solomon
#4
Diddy Trial Week 7, Day 28: Cerciello Details Records From January 2023
At that point, Cerciello reveiwed records from January 2023. Specifically, the messages were from when Diddy and Jane entertained with three male escorts.
Diddy sent Jane an audio message, saying, “Hey let me know right now if I should book debauchery for 9 o’clock Yes or no answer.”
In turn, Jane texted Diddy, letting him know it was a “thumbs up.” After, she asked Diddy for money to buy new clothes.
“sent you $15,000 baby girl,” Diddy said in a later audio message sent to Jane.
The jury then saw flight records for all three escorts. One was scheduled through Cowboys for Angels, and Jane paid for that specific escort with $1,100 on Cash App.
“send this as proof of payment,” she later texted Diddy.
By: Jadriena Solomon
#5
Diddy Trial Week 7, Day 28: Cerciello Details Records From June 18, 2024
Cerciello then reviewed records from June 18, 2024, related to the assault interaction between Jane and Diddy. Afterward, the court then broke for lunch with the defense’s cross-examination of Cerciello intended to begin around 1:45 p.m. EST.
By: Jadriena Solomon
#6
Diddy Trial Week 7, Day 28: Defense Reviews Who Paid For 2023 NYC Trip, Explicit Texts From Jane
Before starting Cericello’s cross-examination, Attorney Geragos pointed out that Diddy paid for the September 2023 invoices. Geragos said that Combs, not his business entities, were listed on the travel companies’ receipts, including for flights for Jane and male entertainer Sly for a NYC trip, which Jane testified was a “hotel night.” That’s key given that prosecutors are seeking to prove Combs used his companies for racketeering.
Under cross, Cerciello said that incidents from the summary chart involving Jane happened before April 2023, which is also before Diddy began paying her new home rent. The special agent also testified that Combs and Jane could have possibly seen each other outside of the instances in the chart.
Geragos also circled back to Cericello’s testimony for prosecution about the time frame, November 8-10, 2021. Geragos highlighted a message from Jane to Combs that was not included in the chart. She texted Diddy that she felt horny, and he asked her to describe what she wanted to do explicitly. Jane texted back details about a sexual encounter she wanted with Diddy and a male entertainer named Paul.
Other texts showed her asking Paul about seeing him. Geragos also directed the jury to watch a sexually explicit video from November 10, 2021. Prosecution had asked the jury earlier to watch another X-rated video from the same day.
Defense also showed texts of Jane inviting Sly to two separate encounters with Diddy in December 2021. After one of the sex gathering, she texted the entertainer, complimenting him for making her “feel beautiful” and being a “sweetheart.” In another message, Jane told Sly she was having flashbacks, and included a drooling emoji.
By: Cassandra Santiago
#7
Diddy Trial Week 7, Day 28: Jury Dismissed, Both Sides To Start Closing Arguments Soon
After the defense reviewed Jane’s past texts to Diddy, the judge dismissed the jury for the day. Attorney Geragos said she has about an hour and 15 minutes of questions for Agent Cerciello on Tuesday. Both sides agree that their closing arguments will last about four hours each on Thursday and go into Friday. Prosecutors will also be able to rebut the defense’s closing.
By: Cassandra Santiago
#8
Diddy Trial Week 7, Day 29: Defense Revisits Past Texts From Jane Under Continued Cross-Exam. Of Special Agent
When Diddy’s trial resumed on Tuesday (June 23), Special Agent Joseph Cerciello retook the stand for continued cross-examination from Teny Geragos. The defense lawyer brought up text messages between Jane and male entertainer Sly from December 2021. In one message, she asked Sly to send her “something” before asking him to catch a flight to her that same night or the following day. He mentioned already-set Christmas plans, and she then suggested it could be a day trip.
Defense also pointed to texts between Jane and Diddy in April 2022 before they linked with a male entertainer named “Leo.” Combs texted her about “crazy fantasies” he had about her and Leo, and she seemingly matched his energy in her reply.
“Baby I wanna make love to you I haven’t selfishly had you to myself for 5 months. I’m fine with the other stuff but I really just need you right now,” Jane texted. Combs responded, “Ok whatever you want,” and then later asked if Leo would be free after their “one on one time.”
After meeting with Leo, Jane later texted Diddy, “…Still thinking about you loving all over me.”
Defense also revisited texts between Diddy, Jane, and another male entertainer, Paul, who frequented hotel nights with her and Combs. The October 2022 exchanges included Jane asking Paul if he was “ready for some fun,” and then providing instructions for arrival. Diddy also texted Paul around the same time, writing, “Hold up the staff is outside they leave now hang tight.”
By: Cassandra Santiago
#9
Diddy Trial Week 7, Day 29: Defense Shows Texts Of Jane & Combs Attempt To Hide Hotel Nights & Entertainers
Defense attorney Teny Geragos also highlighted records and texts about a hotel night in January 2023. At the time, it appears Diddy and Jane were trying to prevent staff from seeing the male entertainer. Combs requested to “walk in on” Jane and Paul, and she agreed to the plan. Diddy then suggested Paul arrive at 9:30 “so he doesn’t run into anyone.” Jane later texted Paul, “Okay let me make sure the coast is clear.”
A few months later, in April 2023, Diddy texted Jane about preventing his former chief of staff, Kristina Khorram, from finding out about their hotel night plans. Combs texted Jane to find a location, and she arranged for an entertainer to meet them. She replied, “Yes” when Diddy asked if she was in the mood. Afterward, he texted her, “Did you get [the] pill?” and asked about the coast being clear. She replied, “Joey is gone and Italian is pulling up.” The next day, Jane texted Diddy an X-rated message and expressed how much she loved loving on him and vice versa.
Geragos also reviewed more of Jane’s messages from May 2023 about a hotel night. She sent Diddy multiple texts about arranging a trip with an entertainer. After no response to a few of her messages, she wrote, “Baby all is set.”
Geragos introduced more texts of Jane arranging a hotel night. In one, she asked an entertainer about flying to Miami and days later shared an update about the hotel stay.
“Give me a sec clearing out the assistant they had to stop by to drop off stuff,” Jane texted him the day of, asking him to wait in the lobby.
Hours after the meet, Jane texted the entertainer to thank him for coming and offered payment through Zelle.
After this introduction of materials, the jury took a short break.
By: Cassandra Santiago
#10
Diddy Trial Week 7, Day 29: Cerciello Returns To The Stand, Detailing August 2023 Text Exchange
Cerciello returned to the stand, recounting texts shared between Diddy and Jane in August 2023. In the conversation, the pair discussed having an entertainer sign a non-disclosure agreement.
“He seems cool babe, hopefully he doesn’t know anybody we know lol,” Jane texted Diddy after he asked how the “new guy” seemed.
Then, Jane assured Diddy that she would make sure the man signed the NDA. However, to date, it remains unclear if Jane followed through on that promise or if the pair used the man for a hotel night.
By: Jadriena Solomon
#11
Diddy Trial Week 7, Day 29: September 2023 Messages Are Detailed
Teny Geragos then detailed texts shared between Jane and Diddy in September 2023. In the messages, they discussed flight options for “entertainer” Sly.
“I love being kinky for you, I love driving you wild,” Jane texted Diddy.
In other messages, Jane told Diddy she needed outfits for their hotel night, was pale, and needed her nails done.
“I f**king love it,” he replied.
The next day, Jane texted Sly, “Tonight was amazing as per usual.”
By: Jadriena Solomon
#12
Diddy Trial Week 7, Day 29: Cross-Exam. Circles Back To February 19, 2024 Texts
At this point, the court reflected on text messages shared between “KK” and Brendan Paul on February 19, 2024. In the messages, Paul told KK that Diddy was in between his “wild king mode” and being “gucci bag active.”
On the stand today, Cerceillo confirmed that the date was not listed in his summary chart. Additionally, he explained that he did not review texts between Diddy, Jane, and KK from around that date.
By: Jadriena Solomon
#13
Diddy Trial Week 7, Day 29: Texts Show Jane Flew To Miami Before Diddy's May 2024 Apology Video
Flight records show that Jane flew to Miami from Los Angeles days before Diddy’s apology video was made public. Defense attorney Geragos noted that Cerceillo’s records did not show a third-party meeting with Jane and Diddy during that time.
As previously reported, during Jane’s testimony, she noted being at Diddy’s home in Miami when he was informed of the surveillance footage showing him assaulting Cassie. Additionally, Jane alleged Diddy met with his family to discuss his public response to the footage. Furthermore, she noted giving him brief feedback on his response.
By: Jadriena Solomon
#14
Diddy Trial Week 7, Day 29: More Videos And Receipts Shown, Agent Ends Testimony After Redirect, Prosecution Rests Its Case
Defense attorney Geragos showed the September and November 2023 jury records showing Diddy paid his travel management company from his account for services related to Jane, and entertainers on “hotel nights. Geragos pointed out that Special Agent Joseph Cerciello did not note that Diddy personally paid, despite helping the government prepare the summary chart. The chart says the travel manager paid the expenses, per CNN.
Geragos showed the jury more explicit footage of Jane, at least six minutes of which were filmed between July 31 and August 1, 2024. Before ending the cross, Geragos played another video from December 17, 2021.
Afterward, prosecutors did a brief redirect before resting their case against Diddy. They asked the agent about Combs paying for travel for Jane and an entertainer, and would that, in essence, mean Diddy paid to transport a sex worker across state lines. After objections, prosecutors asked the agent to establish that Diddy paid for expenses related to the entertainer traveling from Atlanta, Georgia, to Miami, Florida.
After wrapping the redirect, the prosecution rested its case. The judge then dismissed the jury for a lunch break.
By: Cassandra Santiago
#15
Diddy Trial Week 7, Day 29: Diddy's Defense Says Prosecution Hasn't Proven Its Case
Diddy’s defense called for a Rule 29 motion seeking the acquittal of Combs on all charges, claiming the feds hadn’t proved their case against Combs.
Defense Attorney Alexandra Shapiro went count by count in the courtroom, saying their team believes prosecutors did not prove the charges against their client. For racketeering, Shapiro said the government did not prove that Combs conspired with anyone.
“There’s at best thin proof that any of the other employees willingly participated in crimes with and for Mr. Combs, ” Shapiro said specifying small amount of drugs he got from employees for personal use.
Shapiro argued that his assistants didn’t know much about what happened or if anything happened in those hotel rooms. Additionally, she argued that Diddy “actually took steps to conceal the nature of the sexual activity he was engaging in from his employees.”
The lawyer also said Diddy, Cassie, and Jane booked entertainers for freak-offs and hotel nights, not his other employees. She pointed at texts they showed between Jane and Diddy communicating about hiding run-ins with staff.
Alexandra Shapiro also said there’s no evidence that Diddy’s former chief of staff, Kristina Khorram, knew about or facilitated coercion against Combs’ ex-girlfriends, namely Cassie and Jane. Aside from buying drugs for personal use, the defense said there’s no evidence KK participated in facilitating any crimes. Messages presented in court, Shapiro noted, show Doddy sometimes lying to Khorram.
“That’s not the way co-conspirators act with each other,” she added.
While prosecutors sought to prove the conspiracy started in 2004, KK allegedly wasn’t significantly involved until 2016, per the defense.
By: Cassandra Santiago
#16
Diddy Trial Week 7, Day 29: Defense Claims Prosecutors Did Not Prove Cassie Was Coerced, Judge Postpones Ruling On Acquittal
Defense Attorney Shapiro also zeroed in on the sex trafficking charge involving Cassie. She argued that the government provided no text evidence that Cassie didn’t want to participate in the “Freak Offs.”
“A person in Mr. Combs’ position clearly would’ve understood that, on the contrary, she enjoyed the sexual activity and did not feel coerced,” Shapiro said.
Shapiro admitted to the former relationship being “toxic for many reasons,” and that Combs was “regrettably violent towards her at times,” but she reiterated that domestic violence does not equate to sex trafficking.
Judge Subramanian opted to reserve his decision on the motion.
By: Cassandra Santiago
#17
Diddy Trial Week 7, Day 29: Defense Begins Presenting Case, Reads Texts Between Cassie & Diddy
After the judge noted his decision, the jury broke for a 15-minute break. Once the group returned, Defense attorney Anna Estevao began presenting the defense’s case and submitting exhibits into evidence.
Furthermore, Estevao began by reading texts between Cassie and Diddy.
In March 2017, the defense asserted that Diddy and Cassie discussed their freak-offs.
“You think you can FO without getting high? Lol,” Diddy texted Cassie.
In response, Cassie told Diddy, “Yeah I’ll just have to be at my level and what is good for me.”
In April 2017, Diddy asked Cassie what she “was going to do.”
“Be your little freak,” she responded.
By: Jadriena Solomon
#18
Diddy Trial Week 7, Day 29: Defense Rests Its Case
At that point, the defense rested its case with the government not intending to rebut. At that point, the judge explained that the court will resume on Thursday, June 26, for closing arguments.
By: Jadriena Solomon
#19
Diddy Trial Week 7, Day 30: Judge Lays Out Schedule For Closing Arguments
Before Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik began her closing on Thursday, Judge Arun Subramanian told the jury they would hear a closing argument from a defense lawyer on Friday and a rebuttal by a prosecutor. Afterward, he will instruct them on the law and allow them to begin deliberating as early as late afternoon.
The jury will have the right of self-determination. Judge Subramanian told the court that once closing arguments are over, the jury can decide their schedule for deliberations.
— TheShadeRoom (@TheShadeRoom) June 26, 2025
As previously reported, defense lawyers have argued that Sean Combs was involved in domestic violence but committed no federal crimes. They built their case for acquittal through lengthy cross-examinations of most of the government’s 34 witnesses. Some witnesses testified only in response to subpoenas and made it clear to the jury that they didn’t want to be there.
By: Cassandra Santiago with contributions from Michael R. Sisak and Larry Neumeister via AP Newsroom.
#20
Diddy Trial Week 7, Day 30: Prosecutors Gives Closing Arguments
After the judge’s explanation, the two days of closing arguments in the sex trafficking trial began. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik told the jury the hip-hop mogul used “power, violence and fear” to rule a criminal enterprise that facilitated kidnapping, arson, and brutal sex crimes at the heart of the case. Slavik provided the jury with a road map for a closing argument expected to last several hours.
She described Combs as someone “who doesn’t take no for an answer,” while he committed crimes of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy for two decades.
Combs “counted on silence and shame” to enable and prolong his abuse, Slavik said. He used a “small army” of employees — an inner circle that included personal assistants and bodyguards — to harm women and cover it up, she said.
The theory of racketeering law is that “when someone commits crime as part of a group, they’re more powerful and dangerous,” Slavik said. “The defendant was a powerful man, but he became more powerful and dangerous because of his inner circle, his businesses — the enterprise.”
AUSA Slavik reminded the jury of the 2016 beating of Cassie Ventura at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles and an alleged 2024 choking and slapping of "Jane.”
Calling both situations “shockingly similar” incidents that were eight years apart.
“They’re not separate…
— TheShadeRoom (@TheShadeRoom) June 26, 2025
For context, prosecutors say Combs coerced and abused women for years as he used his “power and prestige” as a music star to enlist a network of associates and employees to help him while he silenced victims through blackmail and violence, including kidnapping, arson and physical beatings. They say the Bad Boy Records founder induced female victims into drugged-up, elaborately produced sexual performances with male sex workers in events dubbed “Freak Offs.”
By: Cassandra Santiago with contributions from Michael R. Sisak and Larry Neumeister via AP Newsroom.
#21
Diddy Trial Week 7, Day 31: Defense Gets Ready To Kick Off Closing Arguments
#22
Diddy Trial Week 7, Day 31: Defense Gives Closing Arguments
The defense began their closing arguments by saying Diddy’s trial has been a tale of two trials: one of exaggeration and one of evidence. Per Marc Agnifilo, there’s the trial “as told by witnesses,” and then a trial “as told by the mouths of the prosecutors.”
“That, I submit to you, is the false trial. That is the exaggerated trial. That is not the real trial,” he added, saying that the trial of evidence of is about Diddy’s lifestyle — a swinger lifestyle. “Whatever you want to call it, that’s what it is. That’s what the evidence shows.”
The lawyer went on to say that Diddy’s employees have said nice things about him, adding that he’s a “self-made, successful Black entrepreneur.”
“Did they always like him? No way. Let’s not even go there,” he said. “But they loved him. They didn’t want to leave him.”
Furthermore, the lawyer noted that no witnesses were a part of the alleged racketeering scheme.
“You didn’t hear that from the evidence, you didn’t hear that from a witness,” Agnifilio said.
From there, the lawyer appeared to mock the 2024 searches on Diddy’s homes.
“Boxes of Astroglide, taken off the streets, whoo! I feel better already. Artificial lubricant, not for me. And they got the baby oil,” he said. “And they found the personal use drugs. They did it. It’s all worth it. Thank goodness for the special response team. They found the Astroglide, they found the baby oil, they found like five valium pills. Way to go, fellas.”
From there, the lawyer alleged that instead of calling the police, the witnesses called lawyers to sue Diddy for his money.
“Cassie Ventura sued Sean Combs for $30 million because Sean Combs has $30 million,” he said. “This very investigation came out of that civil case. No $30 million, no lawsuit. No $30 million, no lawsuit, no criminal case. That’s why we’re here. We’re here because of money.”
Per Agnifilio, Diddy’s romance with Cassie and Jane did have elements of domestic violence. However, their relationship was not a part of a racketeering conspiracy. To note, later in his testimony, he noted Diddy did not earn money from his freakoffs with his partners.
“It’s a real relationship and they were in love. Cassie’s no joke, and that why he loved her. She matched him. She was like him,” he said before adding. “She was always free to leave. She chose to stay because she was in love with him.”
Per the lawyer, Cassie enjoyed sex.
“They were their best selves when it came to sex. They fought when it came to other women …I guess you could call them swingers, I guess you could call it a lifestyle,” he said, explaining there are no texts where Cassie said she didn’t enjoy their sex life.
Agnifilio then went on to remind the jury that Kid Cudi said Cassie “played” him.
“She played him good too. She played them both… She lied to [Diddy] for a long time, over and over and over, as she had another relationship with another singer-songwriter under his nose. She’s not afraid of him,” he said.
As for Capricorn Clark’s allegations about being kidnapped, the lawyer told the court that the woman is “a little out there.” He added that Clark rode home with Diddy’s security after allegedly being held against her will for five days in 2004.
“I have no doubt she was unsettled, but she was not kidnapped,” he said.
Additionally, Agnifilio casted doubt on Clark’s claim that Diddy took a gun to Kid Cudi’s home, asserting that Cudi never mentioned the presence of a weapon to police. Agniflio also alleged Diddy wanted to fight Cudi rather than bomb his car.
Per CNN, during Agnifilio’s speech, Diddy has been “very fidgety, tapping his foot on the floor under the table, shaking his legs, fidgeting with his hand.”
Around 11:10 AM EST, the jury took a break.
By: Jadriena Solomon
#23
Diddy Trial Week 7, Day 31: Defense Resumes Closing Arguments
When jurors returned, the judge instructed the group to remember that he will be the one instructing them on the charges they need to consider for Diddy’s ruling. During the break, prosecutor Maurene Comey flagged that the defense improperly questioned the jury to reconsider Diddy’s charges of arson and kidnapping. However, the prosecution noted that Diddy is not being charged for those actions. Instead, they are only predicate terms in his actual racketeering charge.
At that point, Agnifilo continued with his closing. He alleged the sexual interactions between Mia and Diddy were consensual. Additionally, he said Mia wanted to keep the interactions a secret from Cassie and exhibited an “act of love” when she created a scrapbook for Diddy’s 45th birthday. At that point, he showed the jury a photo Mia posted of Diddy’s employees.
“Think of a word or phrase that comes to mind. Joy? Family? Home? Belonging? Racketeering enterprise? This, this is your racketeering enterprise, folks,” he said.
Agnifilo argued that Diddy nor his employees were involved in schemes to distribute drugs.
“There’s no doubt that he had personal-use drugs. He obviously has a drug problem… These are things that he did with his girlfriend — they did them together. There’s no indication that he’s selling it to Cassie or ‘Jane,’ or somehow move the drugs or distribute the drugs,” he added.
At that point, Agnifilo spoke on the March 2016 assault footage. He showed the footage to the jury but omitted the parts where Diddy was violent with Cassie. Instead, he alleged that he was pursuing her to get a cell phone that was in her possession. He added that Cassie returned to the hotel room with Diddy and a security guard after the assault because “this room was not a scary place.”
In addition, the lawyer alleged the drugs Diddy consumed that day were “different — the drugs were off, the drugs were bad.”
Around 1:07 p.m. EST, the jury broke for lunch.
By: Jadriena Solomon
#24
Diddy Trial Week 7, Day 31: Defense's Closing Arguments Continue
When the judge returned to the bench, he told the court he plans to give the jury their instructions for deliberation on Monday. Then, when Agnifilo resumed, he explained that although Diddy threatened to release the freakoff tapes of his partners, he never would’ve done it.
“The music’s nice, the mood seems friendly and easygoing, and everyone is smiling, they’re laughing, forget the sex part. There’s a real, genuine intimacy and just nice quality to these evenings,” the lawyer said of the freakoffs.
As for Jane, Agnifilo said she loved Diddy, but her mentality was “focused on what I am getting out of it that the world can see.”
“The government said they’re not saying every single ‘hotel night’was sex trafficking. Well then, which ones were, and how’s Sean Combs supposed to know the difference?” he said, circling back to her and Cassie.
He added that Jane was used to being in celebrity circles due to the father of her child. Therefore, she knew what to expect from that kind of lifestyle.
“She’s agreeing to it, he sees her agreeing to it. She regrets it, she resents him for it — that’s all coming later,” he said in part.
Furthermore, he then mentioned the June 2024 incident between Jane Diddy. He explained that Jane’s actions were “inexplicable” and questioned if she was just “looking to get a rise” out of Diddy. In addition, he admitted that Diddy was violent with Jane but questioned how many times he actually hit her.
Afterward, Agnifilo blasted the prosecution for only having two male sex workers as witnesses. He reiterated that both men claimed they were not prostitutes and didn’t cross state lines to have sex with Cassie. Furthermore, he argued that Diddy paying for an escort’s time and them choosing to participate in sex is not illegal. He then spoke on the videos of the freakoffs.
“In every porn movie, I’m assuming, the actors get paid to have sex. How is that not prostitution? I don’t know. And you don’t either,” he said.
From there, Agnifilio argued against Diddy’s racketeering charge, asserting that he was indicted alone and the prosecution did not bring any of the alleged co-conspirators to court. Furthermore, he alleged the prosecution noted guns were found in one of Diddy’s residences to paint him as a “bad person.”
Ultimately, he argued that the jury should acquit Diddy.
“You should feel bold. You should feel the courage that you will need to call this as you see it, and I am asking you to summon that courage and to do what it needs to be done. He is not a racketeer. He is none of these things. He is innocent. He sits there innocent. Return him to his family who have been waiting for him,” he said.
Diddy reportedly embraced Agnifilo afterward.
By: Jadriena Solomon
#25
Diddy Trial Week 7, Day 31: Judge Speaks The Prosecution Rebuttals
After the defense wrapped, the Judge spoke to the jury, asserting that the defense improperly suggested that the government targeted Diddy.
“The judge said he’s going to instruct the jury that the government’s decisions about prosecutions are not for the jury to consider,” CNN reported.
Prosecutor Maurene Comey rebutted the defense’s closing by explaining that any enterprise could have both lawful and unlawful activity. She asserted that the government isn’t asserting that Diddy’s companies were illegal, but that money was used from his companies for illegal activity. From there, she used Agnifilo’s point about him wanting to fight Cudi to the prosecution’s advantage.
“It makes total sense that when he’s going to kill another man he’s bringing a gun. When he’s beating on a woman half his size he doesn’t need a gun. But when he’s going after a man who can match him physically, he’s bringing a gun,” she said.
She added the government did argue Diddy was the one who arsoned Cudi’s car. Instead, they believed he directed the act.
“He said he was going to blow up the car, and low and behold, it blew up,” she said.
From there, she circled back to Eddy Garcia signing an NDA to keep quiet about the March 2016 assault footage.
“Of course the police and an investigation were on Sean Combs’ mind” when the payment was arranged. This is bribery,” she said.
As for the allegations about Jane not being sex trafficked, Comey argued that she was coerced and “afraid she’d lose her home if she didn’t” participate in the freakoffs. As for Cassie, Comey argued that the domestic violence Diddy initiated against her and the allegations of sexual trafficking against him are not mutually exclusive.
“Being a domestic abuser is not a defense to sex trafficking. If part of the abuse is making your partner participate in a commercial sex act, you’re guilty of sex trafficking,” she said.
She added that Cassie’s freakoffs with Diddy were not “beautiful evenings.”
“They are the same things over and over set up for one man’s pleasure, one man’s enjoyment… There’s no separating the violence from the sex. But make no mistake, the violence that happened away from hotels and away from ‘Freak Offs’ were about keeping Cassie obedient, controlling her,” she said.
Per Comey, any monetary gains Cassie and Jane earned from Diddy only furthered his control over their lives.
“Those supposed benefits — the homes, the money — kept them trapped. The defendant did that on purpose. The cost of doing that was just a drop in the bucket. He was more than willing to spend that to trap Cassie and Jane,” she said.
She explained that the defense has tried to spin the March 2016 and June 2024 assaults.
“When violence is paired with unwanted commercial sex, it turns into trafficking… Combs took Cassie’s phone because he knows she won’t leave if he has her phone,” she said, adding he kicked her and threw her to the ground to remind her of his power.
She added that Jane is not to blame for the June 2024 incident.
“Jane may have started that fight but he finished it — with a vengeance… Sean Combs won that fight and he made Jane pay by performing with Anton. She has no reason to lie about that,” she said.
Ultimately, Comey explained that Diddy allegedly got away with his crimes for 20 years.
“That ends in this courtroom. The defendant is not a god. He is a person. And in this courtroom, he stands equal before the law. Overwhelming evidence proves his guilt. It is time to hold him accountable. Find him guilty,” she concluded.
By: Jadriena Solomon
#26
Diddy Trial Week 7, Day 31: Prosecution Concludes Rebuttal
At that time, the prosecution concluded its rebuttal and the jury was dismissed for the weekend. The jury will begin deliberations on Diddy’s verdict on Monday, June 30.
By: Jadriena Solomon
#27
