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THE twelve jurors deciding Sean “Diddy” Combs’ fate in his federal sex trafficking trial have mountains of evidence to consider as deliberations begin in the landmark case.
The jury can access pages presented during the seven-week trial, including raid pictures, receipts, and years’ worth of text messages.
Prosecutors are trying to prove that Combs, 55, used violence, money, and threats to force women to participate in drug-fueled sex marathons with male escorts while he watched.
The disgraced music mogul’s attorneys have argued that the orgies — known as “freak-offs” — were consensual and simply a part of his swinger’s lifestyle.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to the five felony counts against him for sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation to commit prostitution.
To prove the racketeering charge, prosecutors had to show that Combs used a group of people to commit at least two crimes within 10 years of each other.
Prosecutors allege Combs used his empire to carry out crimes including bribery, witness tampering, forced labor, and narcotics distribution, after they dropped their claims of arson and kidnapping.
To prove sex trafficking, prosecutors had to show that Combs used threats, violence, or coercion to get women to participate in the “freak-offs,” also known as “hotel nights” or “king nights.”
Finally, prosecutors had to show that the male escorts hired for “freak-offs” traveled across state lines to prove the transportation to commit prostitution charge.
Knowing what the eight men and four women in the jury have to consider for each charge, here’s a look at the five most damning pieces of evidence.
DISTURBING HOTEL FOOTAGE
Jurors were repeatedly shown the horrific footage of Combs beating his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, in the hallway of the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles in 2016.
Ventura was a key witness in the case against Combs as she testified the rapper forced her to have sex with male escorts hundreds of times.
Horror full unedited vid shows Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs attack on ex Cassie Ventura during ‘freak off’ party in LA
During her four days on the stand, Ventura spoke about how Combs physically and emotionally abused her throughout their relationship from 2007 to 2018.
Security camera footage showed Combs beating, kicking, and dragging Ventura after she tried to leave a “freak-off.”
Like former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani told The U.S. Sun back in May, there is no denying the violence in the now-infamous footage, making it a strong piece of evidence for the government’s case.
Prosecutors showed the disturbing clip to demonstrate how Combs might have used violence to persuade Ventura to participate in the sex marathons, which points to the trafficking charge.
Diddy’s charges explained by a lawyer
Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani explained the set of charges Diddy is facing to The U.S. Sun:
“Diddy is facing three charges, or three sets of charges.
“The first is racketeering, which you typically see with organized crime enterprises – so the mob, cartels, street gangs -but we’re seeing it a lot more in sex trafficking cases.
“And you don’t need an organization like the mob, as long as it’s an enterprise, which is something that consists of two or more people, and they engage in two or more RICO predicate acts, that’s enough for racketeering.
“Racketeering is a powerful charge because it allows the government to bring in all sorts of evidence of criminal activity, as well as all sorts of people, into that racketeering conspiracy.
“And anyone who’s a co-conspirator, they’re on the hook for any criminal acts committed in furtherance of the conspiracy.
“The most serious charge, though, is sex trafficking.
“What separates sex trafficking from normal sex? Adults, of course, can consent to any type of sex, no matter how freaky it is. But sex trafficking has one of three elements: force, fraud, or coercion.
“And the government is saying that Diddy used force to force these men and women to participate in these freak-offs, and he coerced them by drugging them.
“The least serious charge is the prostitution, sometimes called the Man Act, and that’s engaging in prostitution using some sort of interstate commerce across state lines. That obviously is unlawful.
“Typically, you don’t see federal cases for prostitution only, which is why it’s the least serious of the crimes.”
A former hotel guard also testified that Combs paid $100,000 to bury the video, which stands up the underlying crime of bribery in the racketeering charges.
DEVASTATING PICTURES
Jurors saw heartbreaking pictures of Ventura’s bruises and cuts from Combs allegedly beating her.
In one picture, taken by Ventura’s mom, Ventura held up her shirt to show a bruise on her back from Combs allegedly kicking her.
She told the jury that the alleged attack was sparked after Combs found out she was dating Kid Cudi during a break in their relationship in 2011.
Combs threatened that if she and Cudi continued their relationship, he would release videos of their “freak-offs” to her family, Ventura said on the stand.
Ventura testified that after one violent attack, Combs had her stay in a hotel so that no one would see her injuries.
She told jurors that Combs’ employees helped her treat her wounds and bring her food, helping their boss hide his alleged abuse.
DAMNING TEXTS
After Ventura, the other sex trafficking charge is prosecutors alleging that Combs forced a second ex-girlfriend into his sick “freak-offs.”
The woman, who testified under the pseudonym of Jane, spoke about how Combs financially pressured her into having sex with male escorts when they dated from 2021 until his arrest last September.
Jane said she felt obligated to participate in the sex marathons because Combs paid her rent and got her dental veneers.
In one chilling text conversation between the former couple, Jane suggested that she didn’t want to “freak off,” and Combs told her to “get over it.”
“Look at the roof over your head,” he wrote to Jane in August 2023.
“And that pretty smile. I don’t wanna do anything if that’s still an issue. Let it go. Love you.”
Both Jane and Ventura said Combs threatened that he would release videos of their “freak-offs” if they refused his demands.
RAID PICTURES
Prosecutors showed pictures of the 1,000 bottles of baby oil and personal lubricants they found when raiding Combs’ homes in New York, Los Angeles, and Miami last fall.
Federal agents testified about the “freak-off” supplies also including high heels and disguises.
Bombshell images from the raids show shelves stacked with baby oil at Combs’ mansion in Los Angeles.
Defense Attorney Marc Agnifilo argued that the disgraced star likes to “buy in bulk like any other American.”
Six of Combs’ former personal assistants took the stand and spoke about how Combs ordered them to stock his hotel rooms with baby oil, Viagra, condoms, and other supplies for the “freak-offs.”
Receipts revealing Combs’ massive credit card purchases for various hotel rooms and flights were also shown to the jury.
Prosecutors insisted the stockpiles and bills pointed to Combs organizing a criminal enterprise to satisfy his sick sexual desires.
Diddy locked eyes with us as he entered the courtroom – inside the trial of the decade
By Israel S-Rodriguez, Senior News Reporter at The U.S. Sun:
The federal sex trafficking trial of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs began with jury selection on May 5.
Combs is standing trial at the Southern District of New York Courthouse in Lower Manhattan – an intimidating federal courthouse where the cases of Ghislaine Maxwell, Donald Trump, and Bernard Madoff, among others, were tried.
Once a powerful founder of a music and business empire, Combs has been reduced to a defendant, inmate 37452-054, stripped of his mogul status, and now standing trial on five federal charges with the full wrath of the United States government against him.
When I attended Day 3 of jury selection at the federal courthouse on May 7, the buzz around the start of the trial was palpable.
Hours before the courthouse opened its doors, more than a dozen reporters and members of the public stood in line in hopes of securing a seat in the gallery for the high-profile trial.
As you walk through the glass door entrance of the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Courthouse, you are met by bulletproof vest-clad court officers.
All visitors must separate their electronic devices from their personal belongings, which are passed through a metal detector.
Visitors walk through a metal detector before a court officer hands them a poker chip.
The courthouse uses a poker chip system to sort the number of electronic devices visitors are in possession of.
Electronic devices, such as Bluetooth-powered headphones, voice recorders, laptops, cellphones, and smart watches, are confiscated before you’re allowed to enter the courthouse’s main hallway.
As about a half-dozen reporters and I waited in the gallery for jury selection, we witnessed how Combs entered the courtroom shackle-free.
Combs entered with his hands pressed together, greeted his defense team before he examined the gallery, and locked eyes with reporters and potential jurors.
The 55-year-old disgraced Bad Boy Records executive was attentive and engaged with his counsel as they grilled dozens of potential jurors.
As jury selection wrapped up for the day, Combs embraced each of his female defense attorneys before he mouthed “thank you” to a handful of supporters in the gallery.
I attended trial again as opening statements got underway on May 12 and the world media waited anxiously outside the federal courthouse before the sun rose in Lower Manhattan.
A line stretched down the block from the federal courthouse as some members of the media and from the public camped out overnight to try to obtain a coveted seat inside the gallery.
At least three overflow rooms were made available for reporters and the public, who are eager to witness the prosecutions case against the music mogul.
At least half a dozen members of Combs’ family arrived at the courthouse as spectators filed in single order to enter the federal building to turn over all their electronic devices.
Combs’ trial is being held on the 26th floor in Judge Arun Subramanian’s courtroom and is expected to last for eight weeks.
We’ll bring it all to you on The U.S. Sun.
MORE ‘FREAK-OFF’ SUPPLIES
Explosive pictures also showed pictures of drugs stashed in Combs’ homes that were discovered during federal raids.
Investigators found bags of pills and pink cocaine in the New York City hotel room where Combs was staying when he was arrested.
Combs’ former drug mule testified how he supplied the disgraced star with ecstasy, cocaine, ketamine, marijuana, and more substances.
Ventura testified how she used different drugs to stay awake during “freak-offs,” including ecstasy and marijuana.
Prosecutors argued Combs used drugs to coerce women into his “freak-offs” as he watched, filmed, and masturbated during them.
The jury entered its first full day of deliberations on Tuesday.
If convicted, Combs could spend the rest of his life in prison.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call RAINN (Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network) at 800-656-HOPE (4673).
