4 Takeaways From the Prosecution's Closing Argument at Sean Combs's Trial

New York Times

4 hours ago

A federal prosecutor summed up the government's case against the music mogul Sean Combs on Thursday, weaving strands of evidence from his seven-week trial on sex-trafficking and racketeering charges to portray him as the head of a criminal enterprise who 'used power, violence and fear to get what he wanted.'
The prosecutor, Christy Slavik, focused much of her closing argument on the methods Mr. Combs used to coerce two women he dated — Casandra Ventura (the singer Cassie) and a woman who testified under the pseudonym 'Jane' — to have sex with hired men while he watched in drug-fueled sessions known as 'freak-offs,' 'hotel nights' or 'wild king nights.'
Here are four takeaways from the prosecution's closing argument:
A key point of contention has been whether Mr. Combs coerced the two women at the heart of the case into having sex with hired men, or if they were willing participants. In cross-examinations during the trial, the defense highlighted text messages in which the women expressed enthusiasm or excitement for the sessions.
Ms. Slavik clarified for jurors that the government is not arguing that all of the sex nights with male escorts constitute sex trafficking. She said the women had initially been willing to engage to please Mr. Combs, but later became unwilling participants who complied either because they feared he would hurt them physically or cut them off financially.
'If there is one time — one single freak-off that jurors find were the product of force, threats of force, fraud or coercion, Mr. Combs should be found guilty of sex trafficking,' Ms. Slavik said.
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