Diddy trial updates: Closing arguments begin in Sean Combs' sex-crimes case
This story contains graphic descriptions that some readers may find disturbing.
Before a verdict is reached, Sean "Diddy" Combs' legal team has one last chance to plead his case in the music mogul's criminal trial.
Prosecutors and attorneys for the embattled hip-hop mogul returned to Manhattan court on June 26 to begin closing arguments in the sweeping federal sex-crimes case. The prosecution is scheduled to kick off arguments, which have previously been estimated to last four hours for each side.
This comes after Judge Arun Subramanian met with U.S. attorneys and the defense during a June 25 charge conference, which was held to determine instructions for jurors before they begin deliberating either at the end of the week or beginning June 30.
Prosecutors called forward more than 30 witnesses over the course of nearly seven weeks of testimony. Several individuals in Combs' personal and professional orbit — from ex-girlfriends Casandra "Cassie" Ventura Fine and "Jane" to Danity Kane alum Dawn Richard and rap peer Kid Cudi — took the stand.
As testimony came to an end earlier this week, U.S. attorneys painted a picture of Combs and his employees being personally involved with organizing his alleged "freak-off" sex parties, working with escorts, Combs' partners and others to produce the elaborate sexual performances.
Combs, 55, was arrested in September and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty.
Diddy on trial newsletter: Step inside the courtroom as music mogul faces sex-crimes charges
Is Diddy in jail?
The disgraced music mogul is in custody, and despite repeated attempts at bail, has remained confined to the Special Housing Unit in Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center. He has been in jail since his arrest on Sept. 16, 2024.
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What is Diddy charged with?
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.
What is a RICO? Racketeering meaning
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.
How to stream the Diddy trial
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.
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New York Times
24 minutes ago
- New York Times
What Are RICO Charges, and How Can They Be Proven?
Among the five charges Sean Combs is facing at trial is one count of racketeering conspiracy, based on a federal law that was originally written to combat organized crime but is now used by prosecutors much more widely. To convict Mr. Combs on that charge, prosecutors must prove that he did not merely lead a typical celebrity entourage, but instead ran a criminal enterprise responsible for years of sex-trafficking, drug distribution and other crimes. The federal law — the 1970 Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO — was once seldom used, but has been central to recent cases against R. Kelly, Young Thug, Wall Street executives, street gang members and President Trump. The charge allows prosecutors to present a sweeping narrative that includes accusations about a defendant's misdeeds that could stretch back decades, sometimes long past the statute of limitations. In the wake of the #MeToo movement, the racketeering statute increasingly has been used by federal attorneys to prosecute a series of high-profile men accused of sexual abuse. To convict a defendant of a racketeering charge, jurors need to find that they knowingly joined an unlawful conspiracy and agreed that they or a co-conspirator would commit at least two criminal acts to further the enterprise. In Mr. Combs's case, those crimes include allegations that in 2011 he kidnapped an employee to help confront a rival and then his alleged co-conspirators set the rival's car on fire weeks later with a Molotov cocktail, as well as accusations that he dangled a woman off a balcony after she witnessed his abuse. The racketeering charge is sometimes used against a pool of defendants — as in the case against Mr. Trump that accused him and his allies of conspiring to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia — but can also be used against individuals who prosecutors deem leaders of an operation, as in the R. Kelly prosecution. Mr. Combs was the only person known to have been charged with racketeering in his case, but the prosecution listed several others it said were part of a conspiracy, including his former chief of staff Kristina Khorram, his bodyguards and other lower-level staff described as 'foot soldiers.' Mr. Combs has pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him. The defense has denied the existence of any criminal conspiracy and argues Mr. Combs is not responsible for what the government has outlined as crimes.
New York Times
28 minutes ago
- New York Times
Sean Combs Trial Live Updates: Arson, Kidnapping and Drug Allegations Are Presented to Jurors
Prosecutors are seeking to prove that Sean Combs ran a criminal enterprise responsible for enabling years of sexual exploitation and other crimes. Among the five charges Sean 'Diddy' Combs is facing at trial is one count of racketeering conspiracy, based on a federal law that was originally written to combat organized crime but is now used by prosecutors much more widely. To convict Mr. Combs on that charge, prosecutors must prove that Mr. Combs did not merely lead a typical celebrity entourage, but instead ran a criminal enterprise responsible for years of sex-trafficking, drug distribution and other crimes. The federal law — the 1970 Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO — was once seldom used, but has been central to recent cases against R. Kelly, Young Thug, Wall Street executives, street gang members and President Trump. The charge allows prosecutors to present a sweeping narrative that includes accusations about a defendant's misdeeds that could stretch back decades, sometimes long past the statute of limitations. In the wake of the #MeToo movement, the racketeering statute increasingly has been used by federal attorneys to prosecute a series of high-profile men accused of sexual abuse. To convict a defendant of a racketeering charge, jurors need to find that they knowingly joined an unlawful conspiracy and agreed that they or a co-conspirator would commit at least two criminal acts to further the enterprise. In Mr. Combs's case, those crimes include allegations that in 2011 he kidnapped an employee to help confront a rival and then his alleged co-conspirators set the rival's car on fire weeks later with a Molotov cocktail, as well as accusations that he dangled a woman off a balcony after she witnessed his abuse. The racketeering charge is sometimes used against a pool of defendants — as in the case against Trump that accused him and his allies of conspiring to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia — but can also be used against individuals who prosecutors deem leaders of an operation, as in the R. Kelly prosecution. Mr. Combs was the only person known to have been charged with racketeering in his case, but the prosecution listed several others it said were part of a conspiracy, including his former chief of staff Kristina Khorram, his bodyguards and other lower-level staff described as 'foot soldiers.' Mr. Combs has pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him. The defense has denied the existence of any criminal conspiracy and argues Mr. Combs is not responsible for the alleged crimes outlined by the government.
Fox News
38 minutes ago
- Fox News
Diddy prosecutors argue rapper used inner circle, money to cover up alleged sex crimes in closing arguments
Print Close By Lauryn Overhultz Published June 26, 2025 The prosecution in Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex-trafficking and racketeering trial began closing arguments Thursday morning. Prosecutors argued the disgraced music mogul used his inner circle, money and influence to cover up the alleged crimes he committed. Authorities charged Diddy with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. "Over the last several weeks, you've learned a lot about Sean Combs," Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Slavik said during closing statements. "He's a leader of a criminal enterprise. He doesn't take no for an answer." The alleged crimes Diddy committed include kidnapping, arson, forced labor and bribery, according to the prosecution. "The brutal crimes at the heart of this case – sex trafficking," Slavik noted. DIDDY PROSECUTORS ABANDON MULTIPLE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST RAPPER DAYS BEFORE TRIAL'S END The prosecution reminded the jury of testimony from Diddy's ex-girlfriends Cassie Ventura and Jane, who testified under a pseudonym. Both claimed they were repeatedly forced to have sex with other men at the direction of the "Last Night" rapper. According to prosecutors, Diddy used power and fear to get what he wanted. The government compared the 2016 attack on Cassie at the InterContinental Hotel and the alleged physical altercation Jane said she experienced in 2024. The two incidents occurred eight years apart, but the prosecution noted they have similarities. In March 2016, Diddy became violent with Cassie, threw her to the ground and dragged her back to the room. In June 2024, Diddy became violent with Jane. He allegedly dragged her back to the house by her hair. The prosecution argued that the alleged criminal enterprise serviced Diddy's desires. The rapper seemingly counted on silence and shame. He thought "fame, wealth, and power put him above the law," Slavik claimed. No one stopped him, according to the government. Diddy used his inner circle, money and influence to cover up alleged crimes. "He wouldn't take no for an answer," Slavik repeated. WATCH: GOVERNMENT 'TICKED OFF' ALL THE BOXES IN DIDDY CASE, EXPERT DIDDY PROSECUTION'S MOVE COULD DAMAGE CREDIBILITY WITH JURY, EXPERT WARNS Diddy's defense will begin their closing arguments on Friday. His team allegedly planned to invoke the Iran conflict during closing arguments, according to TMZ . The government seemingly objected to this strategy after court Tuesday. "Given that the attorneys who will be giving summations won't be here tomorrow, I wanted to put something on the record that I hope will not be necessary, but my hope is that we don't have to object during defense summation," Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey said. "I really don't want to do that. So I just wanted to put on the record that we think it would be objectionable and crossing a line for any summation to bring up politics or current events or the propriety of this prosecution and the use of government resources. I would hope that Mr. Agnifilo would not cross over those lines, but I just wanted to say that if he did, I would object in the middle of his summation and ask the Court to instruct the jury to disregard any comments like that. So I just wanted to state that in advance of summations and the hope that it's not necessary." The prosecution noted this issue had been brought up in one of the government's motions in limine. "I believe at that time there was an agreement by the defense not to engage in any of that type of argument," Judge Arun Subramanian said. "But, Mr. Agnifilo, anything to worry about here?" "Nothing to worry about, Judge," Diddy's defense lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, responded. LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS The government streamlined the charges against Diddy for the jury in a letter filed Tuesday in court. "The Government understands the Court's desire for streamlined instructions. With that in mind, the Government has suggested ways to streamline those instructions," the letter, obtained by Fox News Digital, read. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER "Specifically, the Government has removed instructions from the charge relating to (i) attempted kidnapping under both California and New York law, (ii) attempted arson under California law, and (iii) aiding and abetting sex trafficking. The Government is no longer planning to proceed on these theories of liability so instructions are no longer necessary." WATCH: DIDDY TRIAL JURORS HAVE 'EXTREMELY DIFFICULT' DECISION AHEAD, EXPERT SAYS Diddy's defense and the prosecution met Wednesday to hammer out jury instructions. The charge conference was intricate. The parties debated the language in the jury instructions for close to four hours. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Print Close URL
