American Entertainment News: Diddy Declines to Testify as Federal Trial Nears Verdict
In a pivotal moment in Diddy’s widely publicized federal courtroom saga, the renowned music tycoon has chosen not to take the stand in his own defense. His legal representative hinted that their defense case may last as little as two days
Lawyer Marc Agnifilo informed Judge Arun Subramanian that the defense’s presentation would likely span no more than five days—potentially even less.
That estimate would have shifted significantly had Sean “Diddy” Combs chosen to testify. Two of his ex-partners had already spent two of the trial’s six weeks providing testimony.
The 55-year-old entertainer has entered a plea of not guilty to accusations of sex trafficking and a racketeering-related conspiracy. He has been detained in a federal detention center in Brooklyn since being apprehended at a Manhattan hotel in September.
Prosecutor Maurene Comey indicated that the government expects to rest its case by Friday.
Earlier in the proceedings, former partners Casandra “Cassie” Ventura and another woman, testifying under the alias “Jane,” claimed Combs manipulated them with threats and financial enticements to participate in repeated, multi-day sexual encounters—events that Combs allegedly orchestrated, observed, and at times recorded. Both testified that their motivations were rooted in emotional attachment to Combs.
On Tuesday, jurors were shown nearly 20 minutes of graphic footage from these alleged “freak-off” encounters, dating back to 2012 and 2014. The clips were introduced during cross-examination of a law enforcement agent by a defense attorney. Ventura had a relationship with Combs from 2007 until 2018, while Jane reportedly dated him from 2021 until his arrest last year.
One juror visibly turned away from his monitor while the explicit footage played, although he continued listening through provided headphones. The court barred spectators from viewing or hearing the sensitive material, while other jurors leaned back as the scenes played out on personal screens.
Just a day earlier, the prosecution had only played short excerpts of the same recordings for the jury.
In her opening remarks on May 12, defense counsel Teny Geragos described the videos as “compelling proof” that the sexual interactions were consensual and not coerced.
“Some of these scenes may be uncomfortable to witness—not because they depict violence or non-consensual acts—but because they were never intended for public consumption. They are, in a word, intimate,” Geragos emphasized. “Yet, these recordings form the basis of the sex trafficking allegations, so they must be examined.”
Conversely, in her statement, Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson alleged that Combs employed manipulation, narcotics, intimidation, and physical aggression to pressure both Cassie and Jane into engaging in sexual acts involving male escorts. According to Johnson, the scenarios were meticulously planned and carried out in a specific, controlled manner.
On Tuesday morning, Judge Subramanian reprimanded both prosecution and defense after confidential details from a closed court session involving a juror surfaced in the media—suggesting a breach of the court’s confidentiality order.
The judge sternly warned that going forward, both Comey and Agnifilo would be held accountable for any further infractions, and said violations could result in severe legal consequences, including criminal contempt.
“This is your final warning,” he declared.
Stay tuned to American Entertainment News for ongoing coverage of this landmark trial.
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