Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial live updates: Prosecution delivers closing argument, saying Combs used 'power, violence and fear' as ‘leader of a criminal enterprise'
Federal prosecutors presented their closing arguments in the sex trafficking trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs on Thursday, describing the hip-hop mogul as the 'leader of a criminal enterprise' who abused, threatened and coerced women to participate in drug-fueled marathon sexual encounters called 'freak offs' and used his business empire, along with guns, kidnapping and arson, to conceal his crimes.
'The defendant was at the top of this enterprise," U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik told jurors. 'Remember, it's his kingdom. Everyone was there to serve him.'
For nearly five hours, Slavik outlined how Combs exhibited a pattern of coercion, and sought to control his alleged victims, including ex-girlfriends Cassie Ventura and a woman who testified under the pseudonym "Jane," with money, drugs and violence.
'Up until today, the defendant was able to get away with these crimes because of his money, his power, his influence. That stops now,' Slavik said. 'It's time to hold him accountable. It's time for justice. And it's time to find him guilty."
The defense will present its closing argument on Friday, followed by a rebuttal from the prosecution, before the jury is handed the case. Deliberations could begin as soon as Friday afternoon.
Combs is facing five criminal counts, including sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty. If convicted, he could face life in prison.Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik wrapped up the prosecution's closing argument around 4:30 p.m. ET after nearly five hours. Court was adjourned for the day.
Slavik thanked jurors for paying attention over the last seven weeks.
'You heard how the defendant ran his criminal enterprise with total control and with the loyal assistance of his inner circle," Slavik said. 'Up until today, the defendant was able to get away with these crimes because of his money, his power, his influence. That stops now.
"It is time to hold him accountable; it is time for justice," she continued. "And it's time to find him guilty."
In addition to Ventura and "Jane," U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik told jurors that "Mia," Combs's former assistant who testified under a pseudonym, was a victim of forced labor.
Slavik recounted Mia's testimony about the abuse she says she endured from Combs. Mia told the court that Combs physically and sexually assaulted her multiple times during her employment.
'He sexually assaulted Mia when Cassie and his other girlfriends were not around,' Slavik said.
The prosecutor argued that Combs had 'all the power and control,' often threatening Mia's job. Mia also testified that she witnessed Combs become violent with Ventura.
'Mia saw and experienced extreme violence at her boss's hands,' Slavik said. 'It's no wonder she was always worried about her physical safety if she was to tell him no.'
Prosecutor Christy Slavik told the jury that Combs forced Cassie Ventura and "Jane" into days-long sexual activities without any sleep.
Both women testified that Combs forced them to have sex with multiple men, multiple times over the course of several days. They said they were given drugs like Ecstasy and MDMA to keep them awake.
"They got sores, they got sick, they got infections," Slavik said, noting that both women testified they were still told they had to have sex even when they hadn't recovered from infections. "These nights were labor and services. ... This was work."
Judge Arun Subramanian and the jury have returned to the courtroom.
The court has taken a 15-minute break. Prosecutors indicated that their closing arguments would take another hour when court resumes.
Out of the five charges Combs is pleading not guilty to, two are counts of interstate transportation for prostitution in connection with "freak offs" and "hotel nights" with Cassie Ventura and "Jane."
Prosecutor Christy Slavik presented tables and charts to the jury with multiple examples that she says prove Combs arranged for escorts to travel and meet at hotel rooms for sex in exchange for money. Slavik reminded the jury that Combs paid for escorts to travel to places like New York City, Miami and Los Angeles for "freak offs" with Ventura.
In one specific example shown to the courtroom, Slavik showed messages where Combs told an escort named Jules which flight to get on and which hotel room to go to, as well as Combs's credit card records showing hotel charges for that time frame.
Slavik emphasized that "even if all participants enthusiastically consented, it doesn't matter — it's still a crime" to pay for people to travel across state lines for sex.
The prosecution returned again to the brutal March 2016 assault Cassie Ventura underwent from Combs in the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles. Ventura testified that the beating occurred when she tried to leave a "freak off."
"This incident should leave no doubt in your mind that the defendant committed trafficking," Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik told jurors. "He was using force to cause Cassie to continue engaging in a 'freak off.'"
At "every step," Combs "was in complete control of himself — angry, but in control," Slavik said. "That is sex trafficking."
Ventura ultimately left the hotel after staff intervened and did not continue the "freak off." But Slavik noted that "the law does not require that a commercial sex act actually take place," only that Combs was knowingly using force in an attempt to get her to participate in one.
Prosecutor Christy Slavik argued that a "trauma bond" between Combs and Cassie Ventura was what prevented Ventura from ever confidently leaving the on-and-off relationship the two shared for over a decade.
'The defense has asked during this trial why, if the violence was so bad, why if Cassie was unhappy — why she didn't leave?" Slavik said. "But you know why."
The U.S. attorney reminded the jury of Ventura's testimony when she said she would try to end the relationship but then be confronted by Combs or someone from his inner circle, like his security guards.
Even when Ventura finally ended the relationship in 2018, Combs still "demanded control until the very end." Slavik noted Ventura's testimony where she said Combs raped her after they broke up and had dinner together.
'The defendant created a climate of fear that can't be isolated to one moment in time,' Slavik said. 'The cloud of abuse was hanging over Cassie's head, always hovering."
During her closing argument, U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik acknowledged that in some of the videos shown to the jury, Cassie Ventura and "Jane" appear to be enjoying the sexual encounters.
Slavik cited a video of a 2024 "hotel night" that the defense said showed Jane was a willing participant.
'What it really showed was that she was super super high," the prosecutor said.
Slavik then reminded the jury of Ventura's testimony about the painful "freak offs" with male escorts that could last hours and take days to recover from, a contrast from what the jury may have seen in the footage.
"She's performing, just like Jane," Slavik said. "Don't be fooled into thinking that it's anything more than that: a performance."
U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik moved to focus on Cassie Ventura, the singer who began dating Combs after she was signed to his label, Bad Boy Records, in 2006, when she was 19 years old. Ventura testified for four days during the first week of Combs's trial.
Slavik argued that Ventura's testimony proved "freak offs" "became her job, it became her shame," and it was all powered by Combs being in charge of her, both in terms of her music career and socially since he paid for her car, phone and apartment.
'The age difference, the power inequality, Cassie's naivete — those dynamics drove the defendant's relationship with Cassie," Slavik said. 'He made her dependent on him."
The prosecution detailed Combs's alleged physical abuse against Ventura throughout their relationship. Ventura testified that if she made "the wrong face," she would get "hit in the face."
'The defense doesn't deny the abuse; they just want to call it 'domestic violence,'' Slavik said. 'Just like the abuse lasted for the entire relationship, the defendant was having 'freak offs' with Cassie during the entire relationship."
Picking up where she left off before lunch, U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik said that Combs's alleged sex trafficking of "Jane" was part of a "pattern of the defendant's coercion" that years in the making.
With Jane, Slavik said, it involvi rent, drugs and threats to release video footage of the sexual encounters.
The rent Combs paid for Jane's apartment was financial coercion, Slavik said.
The drugs Combs provided Jane for "hotel nights" was also part of his plot, the prosecutor argued. "If she was high on a drug that made her feel sexually aroused, she wouldn't refuse," Slavik said.
His threat to send videos of Jane having sex with other men to her child's father was also part of the pattern.
"This is not an adult woman making a free choice, as the defense has suggested," Slavik said.
Judge Arun Subramanian has returned to the bench after the court went on a lunch break. The prosecution will now continue its closing arguments.
Before the break, U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik cited three instances of alleged sex trafficking of "Jane."
The first was in September 2023, when Jane told the court that she traveled from Miami to New York for what she was told would be a romantic trip filled with dinner and shopping. But while she was on the plane, Combs informed her of his plans for a "hotel night" instead. 'He knew that the only way to get Jane to have a hotel night was by tricking her,' Slavik told the jury.
The second instance was the following month, when Jane said Combs encouraged her to have sex with multiple men even after she expressed her disdain for the encounters. 'I'm not an animal. I'm not a porn star,' she texted him. In her testimony, Jane said that after having sex with two male escorts, she vomited, but Combs convinced her to have sex with a third.
The third occurred in June 2024, when Jane said Combs put her into a chokehold and beat her during a fight she instigated, leaving her with a black eye. Combs then ordered her to use makeup to cover up her injuries and participate in a "hotel night" with another male escort. Jane told the court that she repeatedly told Combs she didn't want to, but that Combs demanded she participate.
'The defendant's conduct had one purpose — to get Jane to agree to do 'hotel nights,' Slavik said. 'And because the defendant knew exactly what he was doing, this was sex trafficking.'
The courtroom is taking a break for lunch. The prosecution will return to continue its closing arguments at 1:15 p.m. ET.
Prosecutor Christy Slavik recounted the testimony of "Jane" about her relationship with Combs, which started in January 2021. Jane is one of Combs's accusers who testified in early June under a pseudonym. Jane's relationship with Combs began as a "classic example of lovebombing," according to Slavik.
'The defendant started grooming Jane, slowly introducing her to the different elements of 'freak offs,'' Slavik said.
On June 9, Jane testified for the first time about participating in 'freak offs' — which she called 'hotel nights' — and told the court she felt obligated to have sex with other men because Combs was paying her rent.
'The defendant dangled different carrots to make Jane continue doing 'hotel nights,'' Slavik said. 'She started to feel obligated to do 'hotel nights' because the defendant was paying her rent and threatening to stop."
Slavik told jurors that the prosecution is not arguing that every "hotel night" with male escorts qualifies as sex trafficking. Slavik reminded the jury that Jane did testify she wanted to be involved in some hotel nights early on in her relationship with Combs; however, there were times when she felt pressure to participate.
The prosecution pulled up a text Jane sent to Combs in 2023 about the hotel nights, which said: 'Ever since l opened Pandora's box I've never been able to close it. One night of fun turned into the entirety of our relationship. And now it's all I'm expected to do and get called for. ... I don't want to feel obligated to perform these nights w you in fear of losing the roof over my head.'
Slavik played an audio message Combs sent Jane in August 2023 when she did not want to participate in a hotel night with three men. In the recording, Combs said "ain't nobody threatening you," but Jane could face "a rude awakening."
'He may say it's not a threat, but the message couldn't have been clearer,' Slavik said. 'Threatening to take away her home could turn a no into a yes. That's coercion, and it worked.'
During closing arguments, prosecutors showed the jury a table containing 27 headshots of men who they say were hired by Combs to have sex, while he watched, with former girlfriends Cassie Ventura and a woman who testified under the pseudonym "Jane
'This is not an attempt to criminalize dysfunctional relationship or unconventional sexual preferences,' Slavik said.
But it did serve as a visual reminder of the frequency of the drug-fueled sexual encounters at the center of the government's case.
Prosecutor Christy Slavik told jurors that Combs's $100,000 cash payment to a hotel security guard in exchange for surveillance footage of his brutal 2016 assault on Cassie Ventura amounted to bribery.
The hip-hop mogul was in "damage control" mode, Slavik said, using his money, influence and loyal staff to pay off and manipulate witnesses.
She argued that two members of Combs's inner circle — Kristina Khorram, his former chief of staff, and D-Roc, his security guard — did "everything they could to cover the defendant's tracks." Khorram tracked down the video while D-Roc monitored Ventura, she said.
'This is a perfect illustration of the 'Combs enterprise' at work,' Slavik said.
U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik reminded the jury of the arson attack on rapper Kid Cudi's car in January 2012.
Kid Cudi, whose legal name is Scott Mescudi, briefly dated Cassie Ventura in late 2011 and testified in court that he had received a call from his dog walker that his car was on fire.
'It looks like the top of my Porsche was cut open, and that's where the Molotov cocktail was put in,' Kid Cudi testified on May 22.
'Of course, the defendant was behind this," Slavik told the jury. "Now it shouldn't come as a surprise to you that we're not suggesting the defendant personally cut the hole in Kid Cudi's Porsche. ... You heard the audio notes. The defendant didn't even buy his own soup.'
Slavik then referred to an email Ventura had sent in December 2011 that described alleged threats Combs had made, including one threatening to hurt her and Kid Cudi.
'What a coincidence that the man Sean Combs hated and wanted to hurt had his car lit on fire just two weeks after this email was sent,' the prosecutor said.
Kid Cudi testified that he met with Combs right after the incident, and that Combs denied setting the Porsche on fire. Kid Cudi stopped seeing Ventura and testified that years later, he saw Combs again and was surprised when Combs apologized to him.
'What are the odds that after that meeting, when Cudi agreed to stop seeing Cassie, nothing else happens. No more break-ins, no more Molotov cocktails,' Slavik said. 'And then years later, the defendant apologizes to Kid Cudi. That is quite a collection of coincidences. But, of course, you know that is not a coincidence. You know what happened here.'
While summarizing its kidnapping allegations, U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik cited two specific examples. First, she recalled Cassie Ventura's testimony about a violent incident in 2009 in which she said Combs punched her and stomped on her face in the back of an Escalade.
After the assault, Combs forced Ventura to stay in a hotel for a week while her injuries healed, Slavik told jurors.
Ventura "wanted to go home to her mom,' Slavik said, 'but she wasn't allowed to."
'She had no choice. The defendant told her she couldn't leave,' she said. 'He had his security team telling her she couldn't leave. And Cassie knew what happened when people said no to the defendant.'
Slavik also revisited testimony from Capricorn Clark, Combs's former assistant, who testified that he forced her at gunpoint to join him in an alleged plot to kill rapper Kid Cudi.
'He just said, 'Get dressed, we're going to go kill [him],'' Clark testified.
When she said she did not want to go, Combs said, 'I don't give a f*** what you want to do, go get dressed,' Clark told the court.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik referred to Combs's assistants as "young and eager" "foot soldiers" who "didn't blink an eye" when it came to following instructions.
The lower-level employees "may not have known about all the crimes the defendant was committing, but they played an important role in helping the criminal scheme," Slavik told the jury.
Some of them, like Brendan Paul, who worked as an assistant to Combs from 2022 to 2024, had testified during the trial. Paul testified last week that Combs wanted the assistants to "move like SEAL Team 6" and be "militant" in following his orders. Paul testified that part of his job included getting drugs for Combs and organizing several "freak offs."
Slavik pointed out that Paul had testified that Combs paid him $100,000 and that Kristina Khorram, Combs's former chief of staff, commonly known as "KK," who has not been charged in the indictment, made $600,000 a year. Prosecutors referred to Khorram as an "agent and co-conspirator" of Combs earlier in the trial.
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