As the trial of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs enters its final phase, jurors are preparing to deliberate on explosive charges that include sex trafficking and racketeering — allegations centered on a culture of manipulation, violence, and fear.
Prosecutors allege that Combs, once a titan of the hip-hop industry, operated what amounted to a criminal organization built around his personal gratification.
At the core of the case are gut-wrenching testimonies from two women: singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura and another witness known only as Jane.
Both described harrowing patterns of abuse — coercion, threats, and emotional manipulation — that prosecutors say left them feeling trapped in sexually exploitative situations.
They argue that the superstar created and maintained a “climate of fear,” enforced by a circle of enablers.
“He didn’t ask. He demanded. And they complied because they were afraid,” said lead prosecutor Lisa Comey in closing arguments on Friday. “This was not about choice. It was about control.”
The defense, led by attorney Marc Agnifilo, pushed back forcefully.
While acknowledging Combs’s history of domestic violence — a rare concession in such high-profile trials — the defense insisted that the relationships were consensual and did not amount to criminal behavior.
“Sean Combs is a self-made, successful Black entrepreneur,” Agnifilo said. “He had complicated relationships — but being difficult is not a crime.”
The defense zeroed in on text messages, social media exchanges, and other communications that they claimed reflected consent and ongoing emotional attachment, not coercion.
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But prosecutors countered that the messages were only part of the story — a story, they say, best understood through the lens of trauma and psychological manipulation.
They brought in a forensic psychologist to explain how survivors often remain in contact with abusers due to fear, dependence, or coercive control.
Jurors also heard claims that Combs’s inner circle — a group of senior staff and associates — existed to serve and protect his interests, allegedly participating in acts such as bribery, arson, witness tampering, and even forced labor.
Yet the defense noted that none of these individuals were charged as co-conspirators or testified against Combs.
Now, the outcome lies in the hands of twelve jurors — eight men and four women — who must decide if prosecutors proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Combs conspired to commit at least two of the crimes listed in the racketeering indictment.
Judge Arun Subramanian is expected to issue final instructions on Monday before deliberations begin. The jury’s verdict must be unanimous.