NEW YORK (AP) — Renowned hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs, who once hosted lavish White Parties in the Hamptons, is facing serious allegations as a trial commences. Prosecutors aim to portray the successful entertainer, known for his role in building a hip-hop empire, as a criminal sexual deviant who used his fame to exploit women at clandestine gatherings. Over a span of more than twenty years, Combs is accused of using his influence to harm young lives, with particular focus on incidents deemed horrific.
The indictment includes allegations of “Freak Offs,” drug-laden orgies where women were reportedly coerced to engage in sexual activities with male sex workers while Combs filmed the acts. Several witnesses have come forward, detailing instances where Combs allegedly terrorized individuals, employing violence methods such as choking, hitting, kicking, and dragging victims by their hair. One shocking claim in the indictment even states that he dangled a person from a balcony.
Combs' legal team argues that prosecutors are mischaracterizing consensual sexual behavior. The 55-year-old artist has publicly recognized one violent instance from his past involving his former girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie, while his lawyers insist that the majority of allegations against him are unfounded.
Jury selection is set to begin on Monday at a federal courthouse in Manhattan, with testimony likely commencing the following week. If found guilty on all counts, which include racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transporting individuals across state lines for prostitution, Combs could face a prison sentence spanning several decades.
The focus of this trial will be on claims made by four women, including Cassie, who filed a lawsuit against Combs in late 2023, asserting that he had subjected her to years of abuse, including physical and sexual violence, since they began their relationship in 2005. The Associated Press typically refrains from naming individuals claiming sexual abuse unless they have publicly identified themselves, as Cassie (whose legal name is Casandra Ventura) did.
Her lawsuit led to the first public account of the so-called "Freak Offs" and was settled remarkably quickly, within a day. However, federal investigators acted shortly after by raiding Combs' homes in Los Angeles and Miami, also confronting him at a private airport in Florida, where they seized 96 electronic devices and discovered three AR-15-style rifles with altered serial numbers.
Combs was indicted in September 2023, and has since been held in a federal jail in Brooklyn due to concerns that he might intimidate witnesses if released. The lengthy indictment outlines his alleged use of employees across various business ventures—including record labels, a recording studio, an apparel line, an alcohol company, a marketing agency, a television network, and a media company—to facilitate criminal activities involving kidnapping, arson, and bribery.
Prosecutors plan to present a range of evidence, including travel records, text messages, emails, hotel documentation, and security videos, including footage that allegedly shows Combs assaulting Cassie in a hallway at a Los Angeles hotel in 2016. Combs has previously expressed remorse for his actions in that incident, stating, “I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I was disgusted then when I did it. I’m disgusted now.”
Combs’ attorney, Marc Agnifilo, pointed out in a bail hearing that Combs had made a substantial payment to Cassie following her lawsuit, suggesting that this may have influenced others to come forward with false allegations. He acknowledged that while Combs is “not a perfect person” and there has been a history of drug use and complicated relationships, he was actively seeking therapy prior to his arrest. The defense argues that the instances termed as “Freak Offs” were consensual arrangements that formed part of a mutually enjoyable aspect of Combs’ long-term relationship with Cassie.
This trial is not Combs’ first encounter with the legal system. He was acquitted in 2001 of charges related to bringing an illegal handgun into a crowded Manhattan club, where a shooting occurred. At a pretrial conference, Combs confirmed to a judge that he had declined a plea offer that could have resulted in lesser consequences than those he currently faces.
As the proceedings unfold, the courtroom atmosphere is poised to be charged, reflecting both the high-profile nature of Combs and the serious nature of the allegations against him.
