The high-profile federal trial of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs is approaching its final phase, with both prosecution and defense expected to rest their cases as early as Tuesday. Closing arguments are tentatively scheduled for Thursday, after which the jury will begin deliberations that could determine whether Combs spends the rest of his life in prison.
The 55-year-old music producer faces a sweeping array of charges, including sex trafficking, bribery, arson, and kidnapping. Prosecutors allege Combs orchestrated a sprawling criminal enterprise involving high-ranking employees who carried out illicit acts to maintain his control and fulfill his personal desires.
Over seven weeks of testimony, government attorneys presented a complex case built on the testimony of 34 witnesses, alongside text messages, phone records, travel logs, and graphic video evidence. Central to the case are allegations that Combs trafficked women and men for drug-fueled sexual encounters, referred to as “freak-offs” or “hotel nights”, some of which were recorded and shown in court.
One of the most pivotal moments of the trial came with the testimony of singer Casandra Ventura, Combs’s former partner, who sued him in 2023 for abuse. Although the civil suit was swiftly settled, it led to a wave of additional accusations and ultimately helped lay the groundwork for the current criminal case. Jurors were shown surveillance footage of Combs physically assaulting Ventura in a hotel, footage that a security guard claimed he was paid $100,000 to suppress.
Defense attorneys, who do not plan to call any witnesses, are expected to submit some exhibits into evidence before formally resting their case. Legal experts note that it is not unusual for defense teams to forgo presenting witnesses, particularly if they believe the prosecution has not met the burden of proof. Throughout the trial, Combs’s lawyers have argued that all sexual activity was consensual and denied the trafficking accusations.
Jurors, who are not sequestered, have been instructed daily to avoid all media coverage of the case, a difficult task as the trial continues to dominate headlines and social media platforms.
If convicted, Combs faces a possible sentence of life in prison.
Written By Rodney Mbua
