At the start of his high-profile trial on Monday, prosecutors portrayed Sean “Diddy” Combs as a manipulative and violent figure who used his status and influence to abuse and control women over several years.
Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including racketeering, with prosecutors alleging he operated a criminal enterprise that involved coercive, drug-fueled sex parties and violence.
“Diddy may have been a cultural icon and successful businessman, but there was a darker side — one that led a criminal operation,” said lead prosecutor Emily Johnson.
Johnson accused Combs of “brutally” assaulting his former partner, singer Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura, and blackmailing her with explicit videos if she resisted his control. She also alleged he once set fire to a man's car and threatened a woman by holding her over a balcony. “This isn’t about private sexual preferences — it’s coercive and criminal,” Johnson told the jury.
A jury of 12 — eight men and four women — along with six alternates was finalized and instructed to avoid all media and social commentary about the trial, although they won’t be sequestered.
Defense Argues Relationship Was Toxic, Not Criminal
In response, Combs's attorney Teny Geragos framed the trial as a case of jealousy, love, and money. She described the relationship between Combs and Ventura as toxic but consensual, stating, “Being a willing participant in your own sex life is not sex trafficking.”
Geragos acknowledged that domestic violence occurred but emphasized that Combs is not facing domestic violence charges. She characterized Ventura and the other women involved as strong, independent adults.
Combs, now visibly older with graying hair, stood and addressed the jury as his lawyer introduced him. He appeared in a white shirt, beige sweatshirt, and khaki pants, flanked by his mother and teenage twin daughters.
Outside the courthouse, tight security surrounded crowds of reporters and onlookers hoping to glimpse the embattled music mogul, who once helped define mainstream hip-hop. If convicted, Combs could face life in prison.
Central to the prosecution's case is Combs’s past relationship with Ventura, who is expected to testify in the coming days. A key piece of evidence — a surveillance video from 2016 allegedly showing Combs assaulting Ventura in a hotel — has been partially cleared by the judge for use at trial, despite ongoing disputes over its clarity.
The trial is expected to run for eight to ten weeks.
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