LAS VEGAS, NV – Could 15: 2022 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS — Pictured: Sean “Diddy” Combs arrives to the 2022 Billboard Music Awards held on the MGM Grand Backyard Enviornment on Could 15, 2022.
Christopher Polk/NBC/NBCU Photograph Financial institution through Getty Photos
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Christopher Polk/NBC/NBCU Photograph Financial institution through Getty Photos
Sean Combs’ protection staff rested its case in underneath half-hour right this moment (June 24). Combs — who has been reprimanded by Choose Arun Subramanian for nodding at jurors whereas his protection attorneys cross-examine authorities witnesses — didn’t take the stand.
The 55-year-old hip-hop mogul has remained largely silent over the almost seven weeks of trial proceedings. On Tuesday afternoon, he stood to reply a number of questions from Choose Subramanian concerning his proper to testify in his personal trial. “I am doing nice, your honor,” Combs instructed the decide. “I have been desirous to inform you thanks, you are doing a superb job.”
Subramanian requested Combs whether or not he had mentioned taking the witness stand together with his attorneys and whether or not he had make a decision on his personal. Combs confirmed he opted to not testify. “That’s my choice, your honor,” he stuttered. “That’s solely my choice. I imply, it is my choice with my attorneys.”
The dialogue got here after Combs’ protection lawyer Alexandra Shapiro moved for acquittal on all 5 prices Combs faces: two counts of intercourse trafficking, two counts of transportation for prostitution and one rely of racketeering conspiracy. Shapiro argued that the federal government, which rested its case towards Combs earlier within the afternoon, failed to satisfy the burden of proof. Prosecutors have accused Combs of operating a felony enterprise that facilitated and hid abuse for many years. He has pleaded not responsible to all the costs.
For a month and a half, Combs sat amongst his 9 attorneys in a decrease Manhattan federal courtroom as greater than two dozen witnesses who embody ex-girlfriends, former staff and legislation enforcement brokers testified towards him. His protection attorneys, alternatively, took about 25 minutes to current their case.
“Sean Combs is an advanced man, however this isn’t an advanced case,” protection lawyer Teny Geragos mentioned throughout opening arguments of the trial.
The transient protection of the Combs staff largely underscored a recurring theme that started with opening statements and continued all through its cross-examinations throughout the federal government’s case: “unconventional” but consensual relationships between empowered adults that had been marked by jealousy, not coercion.
Whereas a lot of key occasions within the prosecution’s case will not be disputed — together with an assault on then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in a Los Angeles resort in 2016 caught on video and different such situations of violence — Combs’ staff has painted a unique image of their that means. Protection attorneys have admitted that Combs could be responsible of home violence and bodily assault, however say he didn’t sexually coerce or visitors anybody.
With out calling any witnesses, the protection opted to confess proof with the intention to make their case. They learn a number of textual content messages of Ventura telling Combs she beloved and appreciated him, together with one message from 2017 wherein she mentioned she was joyful to see how a lot their relationship had grown over time. Protection attorneys then offered a doc mentioning minor inconsistencies within the testimony of a number of authorities witnesses, together with Capricorn Clark, a former worker of Combs who testified underneath the pseudonym “Mia” and Bryana Bongolan — all three girls had been near Cassie Ventura throughout her relationship with Combs and corroborated her claims of violence and management. With that, the protection rested its case.
All through cross-examination, the protection confirmed and requested Ventura about numerous textual content messages wherein she seems to be serving to plan and coordinate the so-called “freak-offs.” Ventura responded that Combs anticipated her to arrange and take part in these encounters, and he or she feared for her security if she did not comply together with his calls for. The 2016 resort safety video, she mentioned, was taken whereas she was making an attempt to flee a sexual efficiency that had turned violent. Combs may be seen within the video arising behind her as she approaches an elevator foyer, hitting and kicking her and making an attempt to tug her again within the route of their resort room.
Throughout opening arguments, Combs’ protection attorneys mentioned the mogul was typically concerned in a number of romantic relationships directly, which stoked intense jealousy and competitors between his girlfriends. The protection has argued this within the case of each of Combs’ former companions who’ve accused him of intercourse trafficking: Cassie Ventura, who dated the mogul till 2018, and “Jane,” a girl who was concerned with Combs till his arrest and indictment in September of 2024. (She testified utilizing a pseudonym to guard her id.) Jane, who instructed the courtroom that Combs launched “resort nights” early into their relationship, mentioned Combs pressured her to take part in these nights even after she instructed him she didn’t wish to have intercourse with different males.
In accordance with Combs’ protection, each Ventura and Jane agreed to Combs’ “unconventional” sexual fantasies as a result of they wished to develop nearer to him and deepen their respective relationships. Throughout cross-examination of witnesses, they’ve asserted that the inclusion of different males in these actions was a part of a “swingers’ life-style” that unfurled within the privateness of Combs’ bed room. Whereas prosecutors have gone by nice lengths to explain the main points of what Combs requested on these nights — quite a few bottles of child oil, candles, purple lighting and particular sorts of lingerie outfits for his girlfriends — Combs’ protection attorneys emphasize that none of these items quantity to unlawful actions.
“You aren’t right here to evaluate him for his sexual preferences,” Geragos instructed the jury firstly of the trial.
Towards the top of the federal government’s case, prosecutors confirmed movies that gave the impression to be of Combs and Ventura on these nights. In addition they confirmed specific movies of Jane. Jurors had been instructed to put on headphones, and privateness guards had been carried out on their laptop screens. The press and public weren’t allowed to watch the displays, which had been admitted as sealed proof.
Whereas prosecutors confirmed brief clips lasting between 30 and 60 seconds, protection lawyer Teny Geragos requested to play longer picks of the movies, a few of which lasted as much as 5 minutes. The protection has argued that the movies are stable proof of keen sexual actions between consenting adults, and that these had been loving but poisonous relationships that don’t add as much as the costs Combs faces.
Closing arguments are anticipated to start on Thursday.
