From Hollywood to House: Black Voices in Leisure
Sean “Diddy” Combs, the music mogul accused of sexually assaulting, trafficking and in any other case exploiting girls in recurring incidents over a number of a long time, is standing trial in New York Metropolis this month. Jury choice begins Monday, and opening statements are scheduled to observe on Might 12.
Combs, 55, faces a number of prices, together with intercourse trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. He has been jailed since September, when he was ordered held with out bail. He has pleaded not responsible and at his closing pre-trial listening to, rejected a plea deal.
Because the trial will get underway in Manhattan federal courtroom, here is what to know.
Combs will probably be tried on 5 prices
One of the vital highly effective figures in hip-hop, Combs is accused of operating a prison enterprise, with assist from associates and staff, since at the least 2004 that engaged in or tried to interact in intercourse trafficking, pressured labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, obstruction of justice and different offenses, in line with an indictment.
Combs was initially charged in September 2024 with one depend of racketeering conspiracy, one depend of intercourse trafficking by power, fraud or coercion, and one depend of transportation for functions of prostitution. A superseding indictment introduced two further counts — considered one of intercourse trafficking by power, fraud or coercion, and considered one of transportation for functions of prostitution — towards him in early April.
The indictment alleges Combs “engaged in a persistent and pervasive sample of abuse towards girls and different people,” which was “verbal, emotional, bodily, and sexual.” It accuses him of manipulating girls into taking part in industrial intercourse acts with him and typically with male intercourse staff. He allegedly organized for girls and the intercourse staff to be flown to him.
The acts with intercourse staff, which prosecutors say Combs referred to as “Freak Offs,” are described within the indictment as elaborate performances that Combs directed and sometimes filmed with or with out members’ consent. Prosecutors have alleged the occasions concerned extreme drug use, “partially to maintain the victims obedient and compliant,” and typically lasted a number of days.
Combs can be accused of assaulting girls repeatedly over a few years by “putting, punching, dragging, throwing objects at, and kicking them,” the indictment mentioned. The violence prolonged to his staff and individuals who witnessed his alleged abuse, prosecutors say. In a single occasion, Combs is accused of dangling a sufferer over an house balcony, in line with the indictment.
Along with abuse, Combs allegedly maintained management over victims with cash, medication and threats to their careers, amongst different means. Prosecutors additionally allege Combs used bribes and blackmail to cover proof of his conduct.
In accordance with prosecutors, the racketeering conspiracy cost entails allegations that Combs sex-trafficked three victims and compelled a fourth, considered one of his staff, into sexual exercise with him. The indictment refers to a few feminine victims as Sufferer-1, Sufferer-2 and Sufferer-3.
4 accusers are anticipated to testify towards Combs, in line with prosecutors.
If Combs is discovered responsible on all counts, he may withstand life in jail. He has pleaded not responsible to every of the fees towards him.
His attorneys have mentioned the allegations towards him got here from “former long-term girlfriends, who have been concerned in consensual relationships.”
“This was their personal intercourse life, outlined by consent, not coercion,” the protection mentioned in a press release in April following the superseding indictment.
2016 lodge safety video
A safety tape exhibiting Combs attacking his then-girlfriend, R&B singer Casandra Ventura, who performs below the title Cassie, in 2016 is anticipated to function a key piece of proof for prosecutors throughout the trial.
The video exhibits Combs throwing Ventura to the ground within the hallway of a Los Angeles lodge, kicking her and dragging her. CNN obtained and printed the footage final yr following public allegations of bodily and sexual violence towards Combs.
Ventura accused Combs of rape and bodily abuse in a lawsuit in November 2023 that was settled the day after she filed it. The lawsuit additionally alleges Combs paid the lodge $50,000 for the 2016 safety footage.
Combs apologized for his conduct seen within the video however denied the allegations within the lawsuit.
Prosecutors contend the assault within the video occurred throughout a “Freak Off.” Combs attorneys, who tried to persuade the decide to exclude it from the trial, argue the footage was nothing greater than a “glimpse into a fancy however decade-long consensual relationship” between the 2.
U.S. District Decide Arun Subramanian mentioned Combs’ attorneys didn’t persuade him that the footage must be excluded. Its relevance to the case outweighs any potential prejudice to Combs, the decide mentioned.
Jury choice
Forward of jury choice, Combs’ authorized group and prosecutors disagreed on what to incorporate within the questionnaire used to judge potential jurors.
In courtroom filings, Combs’ attorneys argued that prosecutors’ proposed questionnaire didn’t “discover in any respect the prejudices and biases which are central to an efficient inquiry to seating a good jury” nor acknowledge “the unprecedented and unfavorable media consideration they could have been uncovered to, associated to Mr. Combs.”
They requested that jurors be questioned about their views relating to intercourse, medication, violence and other people with a number of sexual companions.
Prosecutors criticized the protection’s proposed questionnaire as too lengthy and pertaining to topics that may be higher requested in particular person by the decide, if in any respect. They mentioned among the questions have been “totally irrelevant to the power to serve on a jury.”
and
contributed to this report.
Learn the total article on the unique website
