Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is unlikely to testify as judge says jury could get case next week
The federal sex trafficking trial of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs took a surprising turn as his defense lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, indicated that the defense presentation could be as short as two days, casting doubt on the possibility of Combs testifying. The estimate of a two to five-day defense presentation would not apply if Combs took the stand.
The trial, which has spanned six weeks, included testimony from two of Combs’ former girlfriends. Both women alleged that Combs used threats and monetary incentives to coerce them into engaging in multi-day sex marathons where he watched, directed, and sometimes filmed them with male sex workers. Combs has maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges.
As the trial progressed, jurors were shown nearly 20 minutes of explicit video recordings from the alleged encounters. The recordings depicted Combs’ ex-girlfriends, Cassie Ventura and a woman referred to as “Jane,” engaging in sexual activities with male escorts. Ventura and Jane testified about their relationships with Combs, detailing the coercion they allegedly experienced.
During the trial, defense lawyer Teny Geragos argued that the videos showed consensual sexual conduct and were not evidence of coercion. However, Assistant US Attorney Emily Johnson contended that Combs used lies, drugs, threats, and violence to force Ventura and Jane to engage in sexual acts in a specific and orchestrated manner.
The trial hit a snag when Judge Arun Subramanian reprimanded prosecutors and defense lawyers for a leak of information regarding a closed court proceeding involving a juror. The judge warned that any further violations of his orders could result in criminal contempt penalties.
With prosecutors expecting to rest their case soon, the trial is nearing its conclusion. If Combs does not testify, the defense presentation could be shorter than initially anticipated. The outcome of the trial will ultimately rest in the hands of the jury, who could begin deliberations as early as next week.
