Seven weeks, 34 witnesses, a media circus: inside Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’s trial | Sean ‘Diddy‘ Combs

After seven weeks in a Manhattan federal courtroom, the high-profile sex-trafficking and racketeering conspiracy trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs, considered one of hip-hop’s most influential figures, has come to a detailed.On Wednesday, a jury of 12 New Yorkers discovered Combs responsible of the Mann Act transportation of former girlfriends Cassie Ventura and “Jane”, and never responsible of working a legal enterprise and two counts of intercourse trafficking.The decision, which noticed the protection successful three acquittals, marked the top of a trial that has captured international consideration and turned the federal courthouse in decrease Manhattan right into a every day media circus.Combs, 55, was arrested final September and pleaded not responsible to fees of sex-trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to have interaction in prostitution.The trial started on 12 Could, and ended on 2 July.All through the trial, crowds of reporters, influencers, followers and curious New Yorkers packed the sidewalks exterior the federal courthouse constructing – both to catch a glimpse of among the star witnesses or vying for one of many restricted seats inside.As no cameras have been allowed within the courtroom, journalists, podcasters and on-line personalities supplied every day updates from inside and broke down testimony for the general public.Over the seven weeks, federal prosecutors sought to show that Combs used his enterprise empire as a “legal enterprise” for greater than twenty years, enlisting staff and shut associates to assist perform and conceal crimes together with sex-trafficking, drug distribution, bribery and kidnapping.They accused Combs of utilizing energy, wealth, affect, violence and threats to coerce girls into taking part in drug-fueled, days-long intercourse marathons with male escorts – occasions he known as “freak-offs”.To help their case, prosecutors introduced troves of proof together with textual content messages, movies and monetary information. They referred to as 34 witnesses – from former girlfriends and staff to resort workers and federal brokers – to the stand.Central to the case have been two of Combs’s former girlfriends and alleged sex-trafficking victims, singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, who dated Combs from 2007 to 2018, and “Jane”, a former girlfriend from 2021 to 2024.Each of the ladies described being pressured, coerced and at occasions threatened into taking part within the “freak-offs” which they mentioned Combs orchestrated, watched, masturbated to and typically filmed.Two male escorts would later corroborate that and testify that Combs directed the “freak-offs”.Ventura, who testified whereas eight months pregnant, described a relationship marked by bodily and emotional abuse and management. She alleged that Combs was ceaselessly violent along with her, that he raped her after their break up in 2018, and that he used threats to exert management over her.Ventura alleged that Combs threatened to launch specific movies of her and lower off monetary help or stifle her music profession (as she was signed to his label) if she didn’t meet his calls for. She mentioned she usually used medicine supplied by Combs to “dissociate” in the course of the sexual encounters.Jane testified that she initially agreed to the “freak-offs” to please Combs, however that she later felt trapped and “obligated” to carry out – notably after he started paying her hire. Combs used the hire funds as leverage and in addition threatened to leak specific movies of her, dismissing her when she not needed to take part within the “freak-offs,” she mentioned.She additionally described a 2024 altercation between her and Combs that left her with a black eye.Combs has denied all the allegations towards him. His legal professionals have insisted that each one sexual exercise was consensual and acknowledged his previous incidents of home violence.His attorneys declare each girls have been keen individuals and cited affectionate, typically specific, textual content messages between them and Combs. Some texts confirmed the ladies expressing enthusiasm for the encounters and others confirmed that the ladies helped to arrange the occasions.Jane testified that she often organized the encounters herself in an effort to keep up some management over who was concerned.For Ventura’s half, there have been a number of witnesses who took the stand and supported her claims.A number of of her buddies, together with singer Daybreak Richard and a few of Combs’s former staff, testified to seeing Combs bodily assault Ventura. A celeb stylist recalled Ventura expressing reluctance in regards to the “freak-offs” to him and mentioned he heard Combs threaten to shelve her music and leak intercourse tapes.Ventura’s mom testified that she took out a house fairness mortgage after Combs allegedly blackmailed her daughter. She mentioned he later despatched the cash again.Jurors have been proven the 2016 resort footage of Combs kicking and dragging Ventura in a resort hallway. A safety guard testified that Combs paid him $100,000 for the video, with a purpose to suppress it.Prosecutors additionally launched broader allegations towards Combs.A former private assistant testifying underneath the pseudonym “Mia” accused Combs of bodily and sexually assaulting her a number of occasions throughout her employment, and mentioned that she felt “trapped”.Protection attorneys prompt she fabricated the allegations, citing social media posts and texts after the alleged assaults by which she is seen praising Combs.Rapper Scott Mescudi, often called Child Cudi, who briefly dated Ventura throughout a break in her and Combs’s relationship, claimed that after Combs realized of their relationship, Combs broke into his dwelling.Weeks later, Mescudi’s automotive was firebombed. Mescudi believes that Combs was chargeable for that act, however Combs has denied any involvement.Former worker Capricorn Clark testified that on the morning of the alleged break in, Combs “kidnapped” her at gunpoint and compelled her to accompany him to Mescudi’s dwelling.She accused Combs of threatening her, subjecting her to lie detector exams, and as soon as pushing her.The protection disputed Clark’s kidnapping declare, and famous that over time, Clark has returned to work for Combs a number of occasions.Six of Combs’s former private assistants testified, some underneath immunity. A number of described how they have been anticipated to inventory Combs’s resort rooms with condoms, child oil, lubricant, and illicit medicine, and clear up the rooms afterward.One mentioned that “defending” Combs’s picture was “crucial.” One other recalled Combs as soon as bringing three weapons to a possible confrontation with a rival rap govt.Federal brokers who testified recalled discovering unregistered weapons, medicine, and huge quantities of child oil throughout raids at Combs’s houses. Further witnesses included numerous resort workers, native regulation enforcement officers, buddies of Ventura, homeland safety brokers, a psychologist, a make-up artist and different former staff.Combs’s attorneys repeatedly sought to problem the credibility of lots of the witnesses, usually questioning their recollection and the extent of Combs’s management over their selections.Halfway by the trial, a juror was dismissed after claiming that he lived within the Bronx, however later advised a court docket workers member he lived in New Jersey – rendering him ineligible for the panel.Combs’s group objected to his removing, noting that he was considered one of solely two Black males on the panel. He was changed with a white man from Westchester.Each side rested on 24 June, with the protection opting to not name any witnesses of its personal. As an alternative, they submitted proof to the court docket, and relied on their intensive cross-examinations all through the trial.Combs didn’t testify, however was a relentless, energetic presence in court docket, usually seen whispering to his legal professionals and reacting visibly to testimony. At one level, the choose warned that he may very well be eliminated for “nodding vigorously” on the jury.Throughout closing arguments, the federal government outlined their case towards Combs, describing him because the “the chief of a legal enterprise” who refused to “take no for a solution” and as somebody who wielded “energy, violence and concern to get what he needed”.Combs’s attorneys urged the jury to acquit Combs, dismissing the federal government’s case towards Combs as “false” and “exaggerated”. They tried to border Ventura and Jane not as victims however as consenting adults.Because the trial has been a worldwide spectacle, some celebrities have entered the discourse surrounding it.Rapper 50 Cent blasted Combs on social media, whereas rapper Ye, previously often called Kanye West briefly visited the courthouse to help Combs in the course of the fifth week of trial.Throughout closing arguments, Ye launched a music with considered one of Combs’s sons titled Diddy Free.Even Donald Trump was requested in regards to the Combs case, and whether or not he would take into account pardoning Combs if convicted. Trump mentioned that he must “have a look at the info” as he had not been following the case intently.Past this trial, Combs faces over 30 civil lawsuits, accusing him of sexual assault. He denies all allegations.