Sean “Diddy” Combs strode into court Monday morning to a packed courtroom filled with his children and anxious family members, as the hip-hop mogul faces charges of sex trafficking and racketeering that could put him behind bars for life.
The 55-year-old, who is now fully grey, has pleaded not guilty to the five felony counts against him. During jury selection last week, the larger-than-life music executive who is known for commanding a spotlight and has previously faced a 15-year prison sentence and beat the case, admitted he was a “little nervous” ahead of the trial’s commencement.
Yet on Monday morning, his publicist, Holly Baird, described Combs as “upbeat” and “ready to have his side told in court.” Combs’ mother, Janice, and children Christian, Justin, Quincy, D’Lila, Jessie, and Chance appeared in court to support the mogul.
The line outside the Manhattan federal courthouse stretched down the block, as members of the press, enthusiastic supporters, curious spectators, podcasters and content creators — including Myron Gaines from Fresh and Fit and Jaguar Wright — waited upwards of 12 hours in hopes of securing a seat in the courtroom and catching a glimpse of the embattled Bad Boy Entertainment founder. Music producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, who sued Combs in February 2024 for sexual assault and lack of payment, and his attorney Tyrone Blackburn turned up to court, though declined to give statements.
Dressed in a sweater, collared shirt, and dress slacks, Combs greeted his attorneys and took his seat. Before opening arguments are set to begin later today, Southern District of New York prosecutors and Combs’ defense team will trim down the remaining 43 jurors into a final group of 12 men and women, with six alternates.
The government has claimed Combs — who founded Bad Boy Records which produced legendary rapper The Notorious B.I.G. and whose tremendous influence brought hip-hop and rap mainstream — used his billion-dollar empire as a criminal enterprise, fuelled by the mogul’s sexual desires. In the background of his business dealings, Combs is accused of sex trafficking two women between 2009 and 2024.
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He allegedly instructed a team of staffers — who were allegedly subjected to forced labor and physical threats themselves — to carry out acts of bribery, arson, and kidnapping. Other alleged victims were said to be coerced into sex with Combs, as well as with hired male sex workers in days-long, drug-fuelled sexual sessions Combs called “freak-offs.”
Meanwhile, Combs’ all-star legal team — which includes celebrity attorneys Brian Steel and Marc Agnifilo — have insisted upon their client’s innocence. They have claimed that although Combs participated in a “swinger” lifestyle and would frequently hire male escorts, that did not constitute as sex trafficking.
In regard to Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, referred to as “Victim-1” in the indictment, Combs’ attorney Agnifilo indicated to Judge Arun Subramanian that the defense planned to argue the pair’s decade-long relationship was deeply “toxic” and there was “mutual” violence on both sides.
When quizzed on the lines of questioning the defense would take during their cross-examination of Victim-1, attorneys Agnifilo and Alexandra Shapiro said they hoped to question Combs’ former girlfriend about “other instances where she has been violent.” They said the questioning was central to speak to Ventura’s alleged non-peaceful nature and her independence in effort to dismantle prosecutors’ claim that Combs coerced her into certain situations.
Judge Subramanian quickly shot down the notion. “Strong people can be coerced just like weak people,” Subramanian said.
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This week, prosecutors indicated that they planned to call two “short” witnesses to the stand, including a male escort, before a third witness would testify. Although the name of that witness has not been disclosed, all signs point to Ventura. While stressing it was necessary to keep to a strict time schedule for the trial, prosecutors said an early key witness was “time-sensitive” and would need to take frequent breaks throughout their days-long testimony. Ventura is several months along in her pregnancy for her third child and the indictment closely mirrors the claims she made in her bombshell sex trafficking lawsuit.
This is a developing story
