The trial of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs began today in a New York City federal court. Opening statements outlining the prosecution’s claims that Combs engaged in a twenty-year pattern of sex crimes enabled by his close associates. The government argues that Combs ran a criminal operation designed to fulfill his sexual desires while hiding his actions.
Warning: A lot of sexual and physical abuse is detailed below.
The trial, which is expected to last eight weeks, will address charges including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and arranging transportation for prostitution. Combs has entered a plea of not guilty. The NY Times reported that the prosecution’s opening statement described a history of alleged sex crimes, including sex trafficking and bribery, spanning two decades.
The prosecution said, “You will hear about 20 years of the defendant’s crimes,” even including examples of sex crimes, arson, and bribery, per the Washington Post. At one point, Diddy apparently was “going to kill the man Cassie was with,” when he found out she was with another man.
Comb’s first day on trial is shocking
These alleged crimes reportedly involved Combs and a group of bodyguards and employees. The prosecution provided specific examples of claimed abuse and coercion, focusing on three women: Cassie Ventura, and two others referred to as “Jane” and “Mia.” Ventura, Combs’ former girlfriend, is a central figure in the prosecution’s case.
They allege that Combs regularly physically abused Ventura, sometimes beating her for small mistakes like taking too long in the bathroom. When Ventura tried to leave him, Combs allegedly tracked her down, often with help from his associates. Additionally, Combs is accused of threatening Ventura by saying he would release videos of her taking part in “freak-offs,” which are described as drug-fueled sex parties with male escorts, as a form of blackmail.
One specific incident described involved Combs allegedly brutally beating Ventura after finding out she was seeing another man. This alleged attack happened after Combs, his bodyguard, and another employee broke into the other man’s home, and the events were reportedly caught on hotel security footage. The prosecution claims Combs later paid USD 100,000 to obtain and hide this footage.
“Jane,” another alleged victim who started a relationship with Combs in 2020, was also reportedly pressured into participating in “freak-offs.” The prosecution says Combs controlled Jane financially, discouraging her from working to ensure she was always available and paying her rent. Similar to Ventura, Jane was allegedly threatened with the release of videos recorded during these events.
The prosecution also described an alleged incident where Combs choked and kicked Jane after an argument, then forced her to take part in a “freak-off” despite her injuries. “Mia,” a former employee of Combs, is expected to testify that Combs sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions.
The prosecution described “freak-offs” as a key part of Combs’s alleged pattern of exploitation, claiming he told the women involved what to wear, which drugs to take, and controlled the details of the sexual activity. Combs’s businesses reportedly paid for the costs related to these events.
During jury selection, Judge Arun Subramanian questioned potential jurors at length to check for any bias, according to TMZ. The defense raised a Batson challenge, accusing the prosecution of intentionally removing seven out of nine Black potential jurors.
The prosecution gave reasons for each dismissal, including familiarity with Combs’s life, a potential juror’s marital status, and past issues with law enforcement, among others. Judge Subramanian rejected the challenge, finding no clear proof of intentional discrimination.
Published: May 12, 2025 12:16 pm