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Warning: This story contains distressing details
The trial of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has begun, with prosecutors alleging that the hip-hop mogul leveraged his fame and resorted to violence to sexually abuse women. The defense team countered these claims by depicting Combs as having a consensual “swinger” lifestyle and refuted accusations of sex trafficking. This trial is expected to garner significant attention due to the gravity of the charges and the celebrity status of the defendant.
Sean “Diddy” Combs Faces Sex Trafficking Allegations
The 55-year-old performer has entered a plea of not guilty to a series of charges, including racketeering, sex trafficking, and transporting individuals for the purpose of prostitution.
Opening Statements and Initial Witness Testimony
Following opening statements on Monday, the prosecution presented their first witnesses, including a security guard who worked at the hotel where Combs was filmed assaulting his former girlfriend in a widely circulated video from 2016.
Subsequent testimony came from a man who claimed Combs abused his former girlfriend during paid sexual encounters involving the couple.
Key Points from the Opening Day of the Trial
After selecting a jury of 12 individuals and six alternates on Monday morning, both the prosecution and defense presented their arguments.
Prosecution’s Case: Abuse and Criminal Enterprise
Prosecutor Emily Johnson accused Combs of exploiting his celebrity and a “loyal” inner circle to sexually abuse women and operate a criminal enterprise.
- Johnson emphasized the experiences of two key victims: Combs’s former girlfriend, Cassandra Ventura, and another unnamed former partner.
- Prosecutors asserted that Combs used violence and threats to coerce Ventura into performing nonconsensual, degrading sexual acts with male prostitutes during events referred to as “freak-offs,” which Combs allegedly filmed.
- Johnson stated that the defendant possessed the power to “ruin her life,” referring to Ventura.
Combs, dressed in a gray sweater and pants, remained impassive, his hands folded in his lap, as the prosecution detailed the allegations against him.
Defense’s Strategy: Challenging the Sex Trafficking Claims
The government’s case heavily relies on a surveillance video depicting Combs assaulting Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel hallway in 2016. Combs’s legal team acknowledged the video as evidence of his flawed character but argued that it didn’t constitute evidence of a larger criminal conspiracy.
“Domestic violence is not sex trafficking,” stated Teny Geragos, Combs’ attorney.
- Geragos described Combs as having a “bit of a different sex life” and highlighted the women accusing him as “capable, strong women” who chose to remain with the rapper.
- She asserted that they had “the freedom to make the choices that they made.”
Witness Testimonies Detail Alleged Abuse
The Hotel Incident: Security Guard’s Account
Israel Florez, a former security guard at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles, testified about the incident in the now-viral surveillance video of Combs assaulting Ventura. The video, initially released by CNN, was shown to the jurors.
Florez recounted receiving a call on March 5, 2016, regarding a “woman in distress” on the sixth floor. He said he discovered Combs in a towel, slumped in a chair with a “devilish” expression, and a broken vase on the floor. Ventura was allegedly cowering in the corner, covering her face.
- Florez stated that Ventura repeatedly expressed her desire to leave, but Combs prevented her.
- He also testified that Ventura had a purple eye but declined to involve the police. She eventually departed in a black SUV with a tall driver.
- Florez further alleged that Combs attempted to bribe him with a wad of cash to “make it go away,” which he refused.
Combs’ attorneys challenged Florez’s account by pointing out omissions of certain details, such as Ventura’s purple eye, in the initial incident report.
Daniel Phillip’s Testimony: Allegations of Filmed Sexual Encounters and Violence
Daniel Phillip, a former manager of male strippers, testified he met Combs and Ventura when his boss asked him to fill in as a stripper for a bachelorette party.
However, Phillip said he was greeted at a hotel by Ventura, who told him it was her birthday and her husband wanted to give her a gift.
- Phillip told the court he would go on to have sex with Ventura on several occasions—encounters that lasted as long as 10 hours, sometimes under the influence of drugs—as Combs watched and filmed.
- He alleged that he witnessed Combs attack Ventura at least twice, including once when he dragged her by her hair as she screamed “I’m sorry.” Combs then came back in the room with Ventura and asked the two to have sex again in front of him, Phillip said.
“I was shocked,” he said. “It came out of nowhere. I was terrified.”
Phillip claimed he did not contact the police due to his fear of Combs’ “unlimited power” that reporting it could result “lose his life”.
Trial to Continue with Expected Testimony from Cassandra Ventura
The trial is scheduled to proceed on Tuesday, with Cassandra Ventura expected to testify. At the busy courthouse on Monday, Combs’ children, including his daughters, were seen holding hands. His mother was also photographed leaving the court alongside his publicist.