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Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial updates: Defense closes; deliberations set for Monday

PHOTO: Sean "Diddy" Combs listens as his lawyer Marc Agnifilo makes his closing arguments during Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, June 27, 2025 in this courtroom sketch.
2:17
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters
Lawyers make closing arguments in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial
By Aaron Katersky
Last Updated: June 27, 2025, 9:31 PM

This story may contain accounts and descriptions of actual or alleged events that some readers may find disturbing.

Ongoing updates in the trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs.

Key Headlines

  • Prosecution finishes rebuttal as court adjourns
  • Prosecution refutes defense's characterization of so-called "freak offs" and Combs' generosity
  • Prosecution swats defense's assertion that there was no evidence to support prostitution charge
  • Defense concludes closing statements with plea for acquittal: 'Return him to his family'
  • Defense says there is a 'gaping lack of evidence' that a criminal enterprise run by Combs existed
Here's how the news is developing.

Pinned
Jul 02, 2025 2:50 PM

Sean Combs trial reaches an end with mixed verdict

The highly anticipated trial of hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs has reached an end.

The jury found Sean Combs not guilty of racketeering conspiracy, the most serious charge.

The jury found Combs guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution (in connection with his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura) and guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution (in connection with his ex-girlfriend who testified under the pseudonym "Jane").

He was found not guilty of both charges of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion in connection with Ventura and "Jane."

Combs was accused of being the ringleader of an alleged enterprise that "abused, threatened and coerced women" into prolonged, drug-fueled sexual orgies with male prostitutes, which he called "freak-offs," and then threatened them into silence. Combs has said that all of the sex was consensual and that while his relationships sometimes involved domestic violence, he wasn't engaged in trafficking.

Combs' lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, said Combs was simply part of the swinger lifestyle and that he "vehemently denies the accusations made by the SDNY."


Pinned
Jun 24, 2025 3:10 PM

Texts from ‘Jane’ to escort shown during cross-examination

During the cross-examination of Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Joseph Cerciello, defense attorney Teny Geragos read messages that appeared to show "Jane," the Sean Combs ex-girlfriend who testified under a pseudonym, arranging sexual encounters with a male escort named Kabrale.

PHOTO: Defense lawyer Teny Geragos cross examines Joseph Cerciello as Sean "Diddy" Combs and his defense lawyers Nicole Westmoreland and Marc Agnifilo watch in New York City, June 23, 2025.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters
Defense lawyer Teny Geragos cross examines Joseph Cerciello as Sean "Diddy" Combs and his defense lawyers Nicole Westmoreland and Marc Agnifilo watch, before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian during Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, June 23, 2025 in this courtroom sketch.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters

In December 2021, Kabrale sent “Jane” a message about “a pretty intense night” they had together. “That was the roughest sex we’ve ever had. … I loved it,” Kabrale’s message said.

“Def one for the books,” “Jane” responded, in one text shown by the defense. “Damn baby you got me so hot. You want to come back tonight or tmw morning.”

Several days later, the defense argued, “Jane” sent Kabrale his travel arrangements. “Hey hon, here’s your flight info. I’ll have hotel info later tonight. Excited to see you,” her text to Kabrale said.

“Jane” previously testified that she was sometimes willing to have sex with male escorts to make Combs happy. At other times she was coerced, federal prosecutors have argued. The defense has maintained that all of the sexual encounters discussed during trial testimony were consensual.

The jury also saw text messages in which “Jane” appeared to express her love and appreciation for Combs. “I’ll never take you for granted,” one message said.


Jun 27, 2025 9:31 PM

Prosecution finishes rebuttal as court adjourns

The government rebuttal concluded with prosecutor Maurene Comey imploring jurors to find Sean Combs guilty and lauding his alleged victims for coming forward with “overwhelming evidence.”

“The defendant never thought the women he abused would have the courage to speak out loud what he had done with him,” Comey argued. “For 20 years, the defendant got away with his crimes. That ends in this courtroom.”

Comey told the jury the violence between Combs and "Jane" at her home in June 2024 represented the most “clear cut” example of sex trafficking in the entire case.

The defense suggested "Jane" instigated it to use it later against Combs, knowing he was under criminal investigation.

Comey said there was no evidence of that.

Court is adjourned, the jury was sent home with instructions not to discuss the case.

The jury returns 9 a.m. ET Monday for the judge’s charge and deliberations.


Jun 27, 2025 9:28 PM

Prosecution refutes defense's characterization of so-called "freak offs" and Combs' generosity

In the government's rebuttal, prosecutor Maurene Comey denounced the defense summation for insinuating the women "wanted it," telling the jury it defied logic to think Cassie Ventura wanted certain explicit elements of so-called "freak offs."

"What we're talking about is being in dark hotel room, awake for days, covered in oil, often with a UTI, in heels, with your pelvic area sore…having sex for hours, including with strangers," Comey said. "The defense wanted you to believe Cassie and 'Jane' wanted that. That's ridiculous on its face."

Comey also argued sex tapes that the defense said depicted "date nights" with "beautiful rooms" and "nice music" were not visual representations of beautiful evenings but repetitive sessions for one man's enjoyment. "It's the same performance," Comey said.

Comey told the jury that in order to convict Combs of sex trafficking, they only needed to find there was one so-called "freak off" when Combs knew he was using force, fraud or coercion to gain Ventura or "Jane's" compliance in the event.

After the defense argued the career opportunities Combs afforded Ventura and the rent he paid for "Jane" were evidence of generosity, not leverage, Comey insisted it was the opposite.

"The money, the career, the house, were all tools the defendant used to control Cassie and Jane," Comey said. "It trapped them."


Jun 27, 2025 9:11 PM

Prosecution swats defense's assertion that there was no evidence to support prostitution charge

Prosecutor Maurene Comey, in the government's rebuttal, took immediate aim at the defense's argument there was no evidence of Combs committing transportation for prostitution. She said Combs flew escorts across the country, masturbated in front of them and gave them money.

"When the defendant flew those men out and paid them it wasn't for their scintillating conversation," Comey said.

Comey also took aim at the defense's suggestion Cassie Ventura was not a trafficking victim but part of a "great modern love story" with Combs.

"The defense just spent a whole lot of energy trying to blame his victims and the government for his lies, his threats and his violence," Comey said. "Make no mistake, this trial was about how, in Sean Combs' world, 'no' was never an option."



Jun 27, 2025 8:25 PM

Defense concludes closing statements with plea for acquittal: 'Return him to his family'

In a closing argument that lasted just over four hours, defense attorney Marc Agnifilo asked jurors to acquit Sean Combs.

"He is not a racketeer; he is not a conspirator to commit racketeering. He sits there innocent," Agnifilo said. "Return him to his family."

Agnifilo asked jurors to consider whether they should trust the government's case against his client.

PHOTO: Sean Combs' family, including his children and his mother, sits in the courtroom during Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, June 27, 2025 in this courtroom sketch.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters
Sean Combs' family, including his children and his mother, sits in the courtroom during Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, June 27, 2025 in this courtroom sketch.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters

"I think that the evidence shows, and you can conclude, that the government targeted Sean Combs," Agnifilo said. "The Cassie lawsuit comes out and these guys wanted to make a case."

Judge Arun Subramanian issued a curative instruction two times after Agnifilo twice said in his summation that the government targeted Sean Combs.

"The decision of the government to investigate an individual or the decision of a grand jury to indict an individual are none of your concern," the judge said.


Jun 24, 2025 3:10 PM

Texts from ‘Jane’ to escort shown during cross-examination

During the cross-examination of Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Joseph Cerciello, defense attorney Teny Geragos read messages that appeared to show "Jane," the Sean Combs ex-girlfriend who testified under a pseudonym, arranging sexual encounters with a male escort named Kabrale.

PHOTO: Defense lawyer Teny Geragos cross examines Joseph Cerciello as Sean "Diddy" Combs and his defense lawyers Nicole Westmoreland and Marc Agnifilo watch in New York City, June 23, 2025.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters
Defense lawyer Teny Geragos cross examines Joseph Cerciello as Sean "Diddy" Combs and his defense lawyers Nicole Westmoreland and Marc Agnifilo watch, before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian during Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, June 23, 2025 in this courtroom sketch.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters

In December 2021, Kabrale sent “Jane” a message about “a pretty intense night” they had together. “That was the roughest sex we’ve ever had. … I loved it,” Kabrale’s message said.

“Def one for the books,” “Jane” responded, in one text shown by the defense. “Damn baby you got me so hot. You want to come back tonight or tmw morning.”

Several days later, the defense argued, “Jane” sent Kabrale his travel arrangements. “Hey hon, here’s your flight info. I’ll have hotel info later tonight. Excited to see you,” her text to Kabrale said.

“Jane” previously testified that she was sometimes willing to have sex with male escorts to make Combs happy. At other times she was coerced, federal prosecutors have argued. The defense has maintained that all of the sexual encounters discussed during trial testimony were consensual.

The jury also saw text messages in which “Jane” appeared to express her love and appreciation for Combs. “I’ll never take you for granted,” one message said.


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