Federal prosecutors delivered their powerful closing arguments in the trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs on Thursday, asserting that the music mogul operated a “criminal enterprise” built on “power, violence and fear” for two decades, believing his status placed him “above the law.”
Assistant US Attorney Christy Slavik addressed the jury for nearly five hours, painting a picture of Combs as the undisputed “leader” of this alleged operation—a person who “doesn’t take no for an answer” and relied on a loyal network of employees to facilitate and conceal “brutal crimes,” primarily sex trafficking.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to charges including sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted on the most serious counts.
Allegations of a Coercive “Kingdom”
Slavik characterized Combs’ environment as a “kingdom” where his “small army” of employees served him, their primary function being to “say yes” and enable his actions. She argued that committing crimes as part of this group made Combs even more powerful and dangerous. While the racketeering charge requires proof of just two crimes committed through the enterprise, the prosecution alleged Combs committed “hundreds” with the help of his inner circle.
Among the various predicate acts prosecutors linked to the alleged racketeering conspiracy were:
Sex Trafficking & Forced Sex Acts: Described as “freak-offs,” these were allegedly drug-fueled sexual encounters, often with escorts, while Combs watched and filmed. Prosecutors highlighted testimony from ex-girlfriends Casandra Ventura (Cassie) and “Jane,” who stated these acts were unwanted and they were coerced into participating.
Forced Labor: This went beyond standard employment, allegedly including victims being forced to endure grueling sexual encounters for hours, kept awake with drugs, suffering physical pain and frequent UTIs, and being told to “keep going” or “finish strong”—one witness testified to a “48 hours straight” stretch of physical and mental “work.” Allegations also involved the abuse of employees like former assistant “Mia,” who testified to sexual assault and forced oral sex by Combs, and Capricorn Clark, who described threats and dependency issues linked to an $80,000 overtime request.
Transportation for Prostitution: Prosecutors presented evidence of Combs allegedly flying in escorts for “freak-offs” using business funds. A specific example from August 2009 detailed text messages coordinating travel for a male escort named Jules, with Combs’ American Express statement allegedly showing payments for the flight, car service, and a $2,000 hotel bill, arguing the sole purpose was participation in a “freak-off.”
Narcotics Offenses: Employees allegedly procured copious amounts of drugs for Combs and others, including cocaine, meth, ketamine, Oxycodone, and MDMA.
Witness Tampering: Alleged attempts to improperly influence “Jane” and “Mia” after Cassie Ventura’s civil lawsuit was filed, including phone calls to “Jane” encouraging her to record herself saying she was a willing participant, and contacting “Mia” in an effort to “neutralize the ‘Mia’ threat” and “stay silent.”
Bribery: An alleged attempt to bribe a hotel security director after the widely publicized 2016 incident involving Cassie Ventura.
Other Allegations: Prosecutors also mentioned alleged attempted arson (hiring someone to blow up musician Kid Cudi’s car) and the alleged kidnapping of an employee, though they noted that these specific theories would not be presented to the jury for deliberation according to recent filings.
Violence as Coercion
A central theme of the prosecution’s closing was the use of violence to ensure compliance with unwanted sexual acts. Slavik highlighted two specific instances:
- The viral 2016 video showing Combs beating Casandra Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel hallway and attempting to drag her back to a room. Prosecutors alleged this occurred after she tried to leave a “freak-off.” The footage was played repeatedly during the trial, with Slavik stating, “This is what happened when Cassie said no.”
- An alleged incident with “Jane” in 2024 at her house, where the prosecution claimed Combs “kicked, choked and slapped ‘Jane,'” dragging her back into the house by her hair before forcing her to perform oral sex on a male escort.
Slavik argued that repeated beatings and abuse, like the “cloud of abuse hanging over Cassie’s head,” were tactics used to coerce women into unwanted sex acts, directly rebutting the defense argument that domestic violence did not amount to sex trafficking.
Beyond physical violence, the prosecution described other forms of coercion, including “plying” women with drugs and, in “Jane”‘s case, threatening to withhold rent payment if she did not comply with his demands. Jane’s texts expressing her unwillingness and “fear of losing the roof over my head” were cited.
Countering the defense’s portrayal of Combs’ activities as merely a “swingers” lifestyle or consensual “unconventional sex,” Slavik was emphatic. “The prosecution was not there to ‘criminalize dysfunctional relationships’ or criticize ‘unconventional sex lives,'” she stated, directly adding, “Cassie and Jane did not want to have sex with escorts while the defendant watched.”
Defense Strategy and What’s Next
Combs, wearing a cream sweater, watched the proceedings, often leaning back at the defense table while his family sat behind him. He did not testify during the trial. His legal team rested their case earlier this week after about 20 minutes, introducing some text messages from “Jane” but calling no witnesses.
The defense has argued that while Combs engaged in domestic violence, his actions do not meet the threshold of federal sex trafficking or racketeering crimes. They contend that some relationships involved a consensual, albeit “kinky,” swinger lifestyle and challenged the prosecution’s theory that employees conspired to commit crimes for Combs.
Legal experts noted the prosecution’s effectiveness. Mitchell Epner, a New York-based lawyer and former prosecutor, said the government did a “very good job saying that these particular incidents on these particular days constituted sex trafficking.” Anna Cominsky, an associate professor at New York Law School, commented positively on the prosecution’s summation, stating they “have marshaled the evidence – walked the jury through their case and told them the significance of each piece of evidence.”
Combs’ lawyers are scheduled to present their closing arguments next, after which the prosecution will have a rebuttal. The judge will then instruct the 12 jurors on the legal standards before they begin deliberations, potentially as early as Friday. The prosecution concluded their argument by stating that Combs had evaded accountability for two decades and that the evidence proved his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, urging the jury to deliver justice.
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