P Diddy trial replay: Prosecutors and Combs' lawyers focus on 'freak offs' as testimony ends

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This page reflects the news from Sean "Diddy" Combs' trial on Tuesday, June 24. For the latest updates from Diddy's trial, read USA TODAY's live coverage for Wednesday, June 25.
This story contains graphic descriptions that some readers may find disturbing.
Sean "Diddy" Combs' bombshell criminal trial entered its homestretch after prosecutors finalized their case against the embattled hip-hop mogul, and his defense lawyers quickly wrapped up their response.
Attorneys for the U.S. government and Combs' legal team on June 24 focused on graphic evidence from the rapper's alleged "freak off" sex parties. They went over video footage, text messages and other materials as they questioned Homeland Security agent Joseph Cerciello about everything from travel and hotel records to payments for male escorts.
Diddy on trial newsletter: Step inside the courtroom as music mogul faces sex-crimes charges.
Prosecutors continued to paint a picture of Combs and his employees being personally involved with organizing "freak offs," working with escorts, Combs' partners and others.
They rested their case midday, handing it over to the defense team to make their argument in the sweeping federal sex-crimes case. Combs' lawyers largely argued that the rapper's former partners were willingly in relationships with him, and he didn't conspire with his orbit of employees. They will not call any witnesses.
Combs, 55, was arrested in September and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty.
Combs' lawyers rested their case in less than a half hour on June 24. They did not call any witnesses to the stand.
Their arguments, which began at roughly 3:07 p.m. and ended at 3:31 p.m., mainly focused on romantic − and occasionally explicit − texts between Combs and his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura Fine.
In one text exchange from Feb. 14, 2017, Ventura Fine said, "Omg thank you so much," and Combs replied, "Teamwork makes the dream work. Happy Valentine's Day."
In another exchange from that year, Combs said he wanted to have sex "for 48 hours." Ventura Fine replied, "How you want to do it?" and Combs responded, "You think you can FO without being high?" FO referred to "freak offs." She responded that she could participate without using drugs.
A 2017 text exchange showed Ventura Fine asking for a picture of Combs' genitals. In another, Ventura Fine said, "I miss you," and Combs responded, "So what you gonna do?" She replied, "Be your little freak."
The embattled rapper verbally confirmed on June 24 he did not want to take the stand – one of the only times Combs spoke out loud during his weekslong trial.
Judge Arun Subramanian asked Combs' lead lawyer Marc Agnifilo if he spoke with his client about his right to testify, and Agnifilo said they discussed it at length.
Combs exchanged a few remarks with the judge, saying he was doing "great" and that he thought the judge was managing the trial well. The rapper said it was "solely my decision" not to to testify, and he "thoroughly" discussed it with his legal team.
After jurors were dismissed for a break, Combs' defense lawyers asked the judge for a swift acquittal. The move is known as a "Rule 29 motion," and it's typical in criminal trials.
Combs' lawyer Alexandra Shapiro argued that "no reasonable juror could find him guilty" based on the evidence prosecutors have provided. While addressing Combs' racketeering charge, the lawyer claimed that the government failed to show that employees conspired with the rapper to commit any potential crimes.
She admitted employees ran errands and helped set up and clean hotel rooms, but she said "they did not have anything to do with what went on with Combs and his girlfriends in the hotel room – other than that they used a lot of baby oil and Astroglide, drank alcohol, and maybe did drugs."
Shapiro also claimed Combs didn't involve his staff in booking escorts. She noted that it was almost always Ventura Fine and another ex-girlfriend identified under the pseudonym "Jane" who assisted.
In fact, Shapiro said, Combs went out of his way to hide escorts from his employees by not letting them come to his house at times.
Finally, she explained that several witnesses testified about Combs' security repeatedly trying to stop him from being violent with his partners. Shapiro appeared to be arguing that these were moments in which Combs' employees disobeyed him – instead of allegedly conspiring with him.
As Combs' defense sought acquittal, they also tried to cast doubt on allegations against Combs of witness tampering, forced labor, kidnaping, sex trafficking and transportation for the purposes of prostitution.
Regarding the alleged sex trafficking of Ventura Fine and "Jane," Shapiro reiterated the defense's oft-used phrase that "Domestic violence is not sex trafficking." His lawyers have acknowledged the rapper has previously been violent – but they deny he's guilty of sex trafficking.
Text messages between Ventura Fine and Combs showed she sometimes wanted to participate in "freak offs," per his attorney. As for transporting sex workers, Shapiro claimed there was no evidence the escorts were paid to engage in prostitution – as opposed to being compensated for their time. People were paid even when there was no sex, Shapiro said.
In addition there is 'no evidence' Combs was involved in the Kid Cudi arson incident, Shapiro said. The rapper, whose real name is Scott Mescudi, testified that his car was destroyed by a Molotov cocktail around the same time he was dating Ventura Fine, and there was major friction with Combs over the relationship.
Combs defense attorney Teny Geragos kept Cerciello on the stand for more than three hours and went through dozens of texts between Combs and Jane. Some of the messages were seemingly loving and warm, while others were explicit about alleged freak-offs.
Several messages revolved around keeping their private life behind closed doors. In one of the text exchanges, Jane asked Combs to have an employee print a non-disclosure agreement. After Combs asked Jane about an escort they hired, she replied that he "seems cool, babe," adding, "Hopefully he doesn't know anyone we know lol. I'm just gonna make sure he signs the paper."
Jurors also saw another text exchange between Combs and Paul Arthur, his personal trainer and an alleged participant in "freak offs."
"She's so horny, I need help!" Combs wrote, adding, "This is a 911 freak emergency!" Arthur simply replied "lol." Combs continued to send a picture of Shaquille O'Neill, one of the "trifecta" of basketball legends that they frequently used as nicknames during "freak offs."
Jurors were shown more videos of "freak-offs" as Geragos ended cross-examination.
Prosecutors have rested their case in Combs' trial, meaning it's Combs' lawyer's turn to present their argument. However, the attorneys are not expected to call any witnesses.
Combs' defense team told Subramanian they wanted to introduce more texts between Combs and Ventura Fine into evidence. In one message, Combs said "You think you can freak off without getting high?" and she replied yes.
The prosecution said it should have been discussed when Combs' ex-girlfriend was on the stand, but the judge disagreed.
In another text, Combs suggested he and Ventura Fine go to couples counseling, but she declined. Subramanian said it wasn't sufficiently relevant, and the messages are not going into evidence for the case.
But why these message? Combs' lawyers have repeatedly tried to show Ventura Fine wasn't coerced in her relationship with Combs. While on the stand, the singer alleged he physically, sexually and psychologically abused her for years.
As Cerciello continued his testimony on June 23, the jury was shown several videos of Jane.
Lead prosecutor Maurene Comey called the videos "explicit" several times. The jury watched the footage for about 20 minutes while wearing headphones. The monitors that had been shown to the courtroom gallery were turned off, and reporters couldn't see the videos.
Cerciello said all the videos featured Jane and sex worker Sly Williams. Combs was also seen in some of the footage. The agent mainly looked up and around the courtroom gallery rather than at his screen while the videos played.
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During the June 23 hearing, Combs' defense attorney Teny Geragos introduced text messages between Combs and Jane, in which the anonymous witness was enthusiastic about some sexual acts between the couple.
"I really had a great night," Jane said in one message. The move comes as Combs' lawyers have argued that many of the rapper's partners were willing participants in his alleged sexual performances.
Geragos also played sealed videos for Cerciello and the jury, but there was no audio or visuals for the courtroom.
During a September 2024 press conference, U.S. attorney Damian Williams detailed the paraphernalia discovered during the federal raids of Combs' homes. The items included multiple AR-15 guns, large-capacity magazines, "evidence" of Combs' alleged sex crimes and over 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant.
According to Combs' original indictment, the baby oil bottles were used during the hip-hop mogul's alleged "freak-off" parties, which were described as "elaborate and produced sex performances" that involved sex workers.
Combs and his employees conducted "freak offs" by booking hotel rooms and stocking them with supplies such as baby oil, lube, extra bedsheets and lighting, per the indictment. The rapper allegedly "arranged, directed" and "masturbated" during these sometimes dayslong "performances," and drugs were reportedly distributed to victims, in part, to keep them "obedient and compliant."
Combs is facing federal sex-crimes and trafficking charges in a sprawling case that has eroded his status as a power player and kingmaker in the entertainment industry.
He was arrested in September 2024 and later charged with racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. The rapper has pleaded not guilty to the five counts against him.
Racketeering is the participation in an illegal scheme under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Statute, or RICO, as a way for the U.S. government to prosecute organizations that contribute to criminal activity.
Using RICO law, which is typically aimed at targeting multi-person criminal organizations, prosecutors allege that Combs coerced victims, some of whom they say were sex workers, through intimidation and narcotics to participate in "freak offs" — sometimes dayslong sex performances that federal prosecutors allege they have on video.
The trial will not be televised, as cameras are typically not allowed in federal criminal trial proceedings.
USA TODAY will be reporting live from the courtroom. Sign up for our newsletter for more updates.
Contributing: USA TODAY staff
If you are a survivor of sexual assault, RAINN offers support through the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org and en Español RAINN.org/es.
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: P Diddy trial recap: Combs' lawyers, prosecutors focus on 'freak offs'