ALL eyes are on the sex trafficking trial of disgraced hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs as the first day in court is underway.
The first witness in the trial, LAPD Officer Israel Florez, has taken the stand in the US Courthouse in Manhattan to testify against Combs.
Florez was a security guard at the Los Angeles hotel where Combs was captured on video beating his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, in a hallway in 2016.
Combs, 55, faces five criminal counts, including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Prosecutors allege Combs orchestrated drug-fueled sex parties he called freak-offs, where he is said to have forced women to participate in sexual activity with male escorts.
He has pleaded not guilty and appeared stone-faced as the trial began with prosecutors painting him as the ringleader of a criminal enterprise during opening statements.
Explosive opening statements began after the jury, consisting of eight men and four women, was selected on Monday.
Prosecutors warned jurors to brace themselves to hear disturbing details of the alleged freak-offs throughout the trial during opening statements.
In one horrific instance, Combs allegedly forced a male escort to pee into Cassie’s mouth, causing her to feel like she was “choking,” prosecutors said.
Videos of the freak-offs are set to be shown during the trial, along with the haunting 2016 video that was reportedly captured after an alleged freak-off. Four of Combs’ accusers are set to take the stand.
Combs has denied all allegations against him and argued through his lawyers that he has only participated in consensual sex between adults.
Read our Diddy trial updates blog for the latest updates from court…
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
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Five assault videos shown
Disturbing surveillance captured Combs attacking his then-girlfriend CassieCredit: AP Prosecutors showed the jury three hotel surveillance videos and two cellphone videos capturing the horrific attack.
Florez said that he recorded some of the surveillance on his phone because he didn’t know whether his wife would believe him when he told her about the situation.
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Video appears different in court
The surveillance showing Combs hitting his ex-girlfriend in the hotel hallway appeared to be slower than the original clip published by CNN, according to the New York Times.
This comes after Combs’ lawyers argued that the CNN video was sped up, which appeared to make the attack look more violent.
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Jurors shown assault video
Jurors are now watching the widespread 2016 hotel surveillance video of Sean “Diddy” Combs horrifically assaulting then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura.
In the disturbing video, a shirtless Combs with a white towel wrapped around his waist drags Ventura out of the hotel elevator.
Combs then tosses her on the hallway floor, begins to kick her and drags her back into the room.
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Cassie had a “purple eye” after the alleged Diddy assault
Then, the security guard, Israel Florez, stated that Cassie Ventura had “purple eye” and kept repeating “I just want to leave” after Combs allegedly beat and kicked her at the LA hotel in 2016.
The music producer allegedly spiraled into a rage when he suspected hotel staff of recording him.
Florez reported taking pictures of a “broken vase” for staff to clean up.
“I took photos of the broken vase, to tell them to come clean it up. I went to write the incident report,” he told jurors.
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Florez claims Diddy said not to tell anyone
Florez claimed that Sean “Diddy” Combs told him not to tell anyone about the 2016 incident as he offered him a stack of cash with a $100 bill on top.
The offer happened after Florez, a former security guard at the InterContinental Hotel in Century City, approached Combs about a fight between the music producer and his girlfriend, Cassie Venutra.
“Hey take care of this,” Florez recalled Combs saying, after Ventura had left. “Don’t tell nobody.”
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Florez rejects offer
Florez said he rejected the offer by Combs.
“I said, I don’t want your money, the damage is going to be charged to your room.”
The witness said Cassie left the hotel in a black SUV.
“We went up to Mr. Combs’ room to remind him of hotel rules,” the former security guard told jurors.
“He opens the door and grabs the phone and says, Are you recording me? I pinned him to the wall.”
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Florez recalls ‘devilish stare’
Witness Israel Florez testified that Sean “Diddy” Combs had a “devilish stare” after he violently attacked his then-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura in 2016.
“He was on the chair, slouched down and he was at a blank stare,” Florez, a security guard at the time, told jurors.
“As soon as I walked out, the best way I can describe it is a devilish stare.”
Florez added that he was looking at him with “no movement.”
He said Cassie had her hoodie on at the time and was hiding her face.
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‘You’re not leaving’
Florez testified that he heard Cassie say she wanted to leave the Los Angeles hotel as she tried to get her phone and bag from Combs.
He then heard Combs say, “You’re not leaving.”
After Cassie left, Florez said Combs called him over to speak with him.
Florez said Combs offered him a “stack of money” and told him not to tell anyone about the call.
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Florez recalls 2016 incident
Florez testified that he was called to the sixth floor for a report of a woman in distress.
He said he checked the security cameras and saw Diddy, wearing a towel, walking back and forth in the hotel hallway.
Florez said he saw Cassie on the floor as Diddy paced.
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Prosecutors plan to show different recordings
Before Combs’ federal trial, his lawyers tried to get the video of Combs beating Cassie at the hotel in March 2016 wiped from evidence.
The defense argued that the footage, which first aired on CNN in May 2024, was edited and incomplete.
However, Judge Arun Subramanian ruled the disturbing video was allowed to be shown in court.
Now, prosecutors said they do not plan to show the same video that CNN released.
Prosecutors instead plan to show recordings taken within the hotel to the jury.
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Hotel security guard takes the stand
The first witness called in court is Officer Israel Florez.
In March 2016, Florez was the assistant director of security at a Los Angeles hotel.
Florez was working when he encountered Combs after receiving a call about a woman on the sixth floor in distress.
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Cassie’s husband shows support
Cassie Ventura’s husband, Alex Fine, is in attendance at the Manhattan courthouse on Monday.
The couple got married in August 2019 and have two daughters together.
Cassie, set to take the stand today, is pregnant with their third child.
Alex Fine, Cassie Ventura’s husband, arriving at the US court in Manhattan on MondayCredit: Reuters -
Court sketches of Combs
Combs, 55, has been seen with gray hair in court, according to courtroom sketches.
His formerly black hair has aged while he’s been held at a federal jail in Brooklyn, where hair dye isn’t allowed, following his September arrest.
No pictures or videos of the trial are allowed to be taken inside the courtroom, but sketches are permitted.
Combs, wearing a beige sweater over a white-collared shirt and khaki pants, was seen making a heart gesture to his family as they sat in the courtroom audience on Monday.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs making a heart sign to his family in the courtroom on MondayCredit: AP 
Combs as Prosecutor Emily Johnson gave opening statements on MondayCredit: Reuters -
Combs’ family lining up after lunch
Sean “Diddy” Combs’ family lined up after an hour-long lunch break to return to the courtroom.
Combs’ mom Janice and some of his kids are in attendance on the first day of the trial.
Combs’ family waiting to re-enter the courthouse after lunchCredit: Israel Salas-Rodriguez for The U.S. Sun -
Court returns
It’s been a busy day at the US Courthouse in Manhattan.
The jury for Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal trial was seated this morning, consisting of eight men and four women.
Then opening statements from a prosecutor and defense lawyer began.
The court has just returned after an hour-long lunch break.
Now, the first witnesses are set to testify.
