CLOSING arguments in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal racketeering and sex trafficking trial have begun.
US attorneys will tie together evidence and six weeks of testimony from over 30 witnesses for the jury as they try to prove that Combs, 55, ran a decades-long criminal enterprise with the help of employees and bodyguards.
Combs, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges, is facing a life sentence if convicted.
Federal prosecutors are expecting their closing arguments to take four hours and will be divided into two parts, as the jury will be dismissed for a lunch break after two hours.
Assistant US Attorney Christy Slavik began the government’s the closing statements at 10:09 am.
On the other hand, the defense has asked Judge Arun Subramanian to begin its closing arguments on Friday morning.
Marc Agnifilo, the lead defense attorney for Combs, will conduct closing statements for the music mogul.
Combs’ attorneys were reportedly considering invoking the United States government’s recent involvement in the Iran and Israel war overseas in their closing statements, according to TMZ.
However, lead prosecutor Maurene Comey told the judge on Wednesday during preparations for summations that she objected if the defense “brought up politics” during its closing arguments.
Agnifilo reassured Judge Subramanian that the court has “nothing to worry about,” in regards to politics being mentioned during its closing statements.
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Prosecutors walking jurors through ‘racketeering acts’
Slavik, a US attorney, is walking the jury through the racketeering acts Combs allegedly committed.
“Distribution of drugs, kidnapping, arson, bribery, facilitating sex trafficking of Cassie and Jane. Forced labor, travel for commercial sex, cover up,” Slavik said during the government’s closing arguments.
“You only need to find that someone would commit two acts in any of these categories.
“It could be two acts of drug distribution, one kidnapping, just two.
“You have far more than two.”
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The ‘Enterprise’
US Attorney Slavik said Combs’ inner circle of bodyguards and his chief of staff made up the enterprise in the government’s case to prove that the music mogul ran a criminal organization.
“The names changed, but the roles remained the same,” Slavik said.
She described Kristina Khorram, Combs’ former chief of staff, as the music executive’s “right brain.”
“She communicated with the defendant’s girlfriends, his security, you heard their names: D-Roc, Bonds, Rube, Uncle Paulie, Faheem.
“They were armed and ready. Remember the incident at the diner with Suge Knight. David James told you Combs had guns.”
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‘It’s his kingdom’
Prosecutors described how Sean Combs used his staff to “promote his power,” and the belief that “nobody could stop him.”
“We’ll talk about RICO, including sex trafficking and transportation for prostitution, which are also separately charged as stand alone crimes,” US attorney Slavik said.
“You may have heard of racketeers. When someone commits crime as part of a group they are more dangerous.
“A group of people whose purpose was to serve and protect the defendant. It’s his kingdom, everyone was there to serve him, fulfilling all of his desires, including his sexual desires.
“We need to show at least two racketeering crimes. The defendant was the head of the Combs Enterprise.
“There was an inner circle, his chief of staff and his bodyguards.”
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Prosecutors underscore violent hotel surveillance footage
US attorney Slavik stressed two critical moments to the jury that were repeatedly mentioned throughout the trial, including the horrific March 2016 hotel footage of Sean Combs’ violent assault of Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura.
“The defendant got violent with Cassie,” she said.
“You saw what happened. He dragged her back to the freak off.”
Slavik then mentioned the 2024 domestic violence incident between Combs and his then-girlfriend, who was identified in court only as Jane.
“2024 at Jane’s house, the defendant choked and hit her. She ran, couldn’t get away,” the prosecutor argued.
“These are chapters in the same book. The defendant counted on silence and shame.
“He thought that his fame and wealth and power put him above the law.”
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‘Leader of a criminal organization’
Assistant US attorney Christy Slavik began her closing arguments by describing Sean Combs as “the leader of a criminal organization.”
“He doesn’t take no for an answer. He’s into kidnapping, arson, forced labor, bribery of a security officer, and the brutal crimes of sex trafficking,” Slavik said.
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The jury has entered the courtroom
The jurors have entered the courtroom and Judge Arun Subramanian is giving them the schedule rundown.
The judge confirmed the prosecution will deliver its closing arguments today, while the defense will begin on Friday.
Prosecutors will have time for rebuttal after the defense concludes its closing statements.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs attends a charge conference with his defense team on Wednesday
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Defense team will not conduct closing arguments until Friday
Sean Combs’ defense team will begin its closing statements on Friday.
Marc Agnifilo, the lead attorney for Combs, will conduct the defense’s closing arguments.
The jury can begin deliberating the case as early as Friday afternoon.
However, prosecutors have said it’s likely that the jurors will receive the case on Monday, June 30.
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Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is present in the courtroom
Sean Combs, the disgraced music executive who goes by P. Diddy, Puffy, Love, and Diddy, is present in the courtroom for closing arguments.
Combs is wearing a baby-blue sweater and walked inside the 26-floor courtroom at around 9 am, according to The New York Times.
He was seen holding a book, The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor, the outlet reported.
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Closing arguments will begin shortly
Judge Arun Subramanian is in the courtroom and the prosecution is expected to be first to deliver its closing arguments to the jury.
The government’s closing statements are expected to begin at 10 am EST.
Assistant US attorney Christy Slavik will deliver the closing statements for the prosecution.
