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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 26, 2025, 1:12 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 7:53 PM

Attorneys to return to court on Wednesday, closing arguments set for Thursday

Court has concluded for the day.

Attorneys will return to court at noon on Wednesday for a charge conference with Judge Arun Subramanian to discuss the language of the judge’s instructions to the jury.

The jury will return to court at 9 a.m. Thursday to hear closing arguments from each side, beginning with the government, then the defense, and then a government rebuttal. The closings will likely last into Friday.

The judge will read his charge to the jury once summations are finished, after which deliberations will begin. It's not yet known whether that will occur on Friday as well.

Prosecutor Maurene Comey asked the judge to instruct the defense to avoid politics, current events or the “propriety of this prosecution” during summations. Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo told the judge there was nothing to worry about in that regard.


Jun 26, 2025 1:12 PM

Prosecution to deliver closing statements summarizing six weeks of graphic testimony

After more than six weeks of emotional, often graphic testimony about sex, drugs and violence, federal prosecutors on Thursday are set to summarize their case against Sean "Diddy" Combs, trying to convince a jury of eight men and four women, ages 30 to 74, that one of hip-hop’s most acclaimed figures coerced women into drug-fueled sexual marathons with male escorts.

Prosecutors also allege that Combs used an inner circle of advisers, assistants, bodyguards and other employees to carry out a pattern of criminal activity.

While the prosecution has pruned some of the alleged crimes that underpin the racketeering conspiracy charge – no longer pursuing attempted kidnapping or attempted arson as acts in Combs’ alleged liability – the arson of rapper Kid Cudi’s car is still included as a predicate act, with prosecutors arguing it arose out of jealousy when Cudi started dating Combs' girlfriend, Cassie Ventura. The defense has countered that there’s no direct evidence linking Combs to the arson.

In their closing argument, currently scheduled to begin Friday morning, defense attorneys are expected to deny Combs led the sprawling criminal conspiracy that prosecutors allege. They’re also expected to argue that his sexual partners were not victims of sex trafficking who were coerced into taking part, but were willing participants and girlfriends who stayed with Combs for years.

Christy Slavik will deliver the government’s closing statement, which is expected to last about four hours.

Marc Agnifilo will deliver the defense summation. He is expected to speak to the jury for about three hours, after which the prosecution will have the opportunity to deliver a rebuttal.


Jun 26, 2025 1:23 AM

Judge agrees to push back defense closing arguments by 1 day

The charge conference concluded Wednesday night after numerous adjustments to the language of the instructions the judge will give to the jury before they begin deliberations.

Some of the changes involved legal concepts and necessitated adding or subtracting sentences. Other tweaks, like making sure the word “government” is not capitalized in the written version of the instructions, could be accomplished with a simple “find and replace” function, defense attorney Alexandra Shapiro said.

At the outset of the conference, Judge Arun Subramanian noted, "This is the most people I’ve seen at a charging conference."

Sean Combs sat through a portion of it with his shoes off, his stocking feet visible beneath the defense table.

Subramanian will read the jury instructions once each side completes closing arguments on Friday.

The prosecution's closing arguments are expected to last about four hours. Closing arguments for the defense are expected to last about three hours. The prosecution’s rebuttal is expected to take about an hour.

The judge adjusted the schedule of closings at the request of the defense.

“We would prefer to start early on Friday morning,” Shapiro said, adding that the defense was concerned the jury could be sleepy in the afternoon.

Prosecutor Maurene Comey objected, saying the request appeared to be "gamesmanship more than anything else." She also noted the upcoming July 4 holiday, which the defense had previously cited as a concern.

The judge agreed to the defense adjustment.

Prosecutor Christy Slavik will deliver her closing statement Thursday. Court will then adjourn for the day.

Defense attorney Mark Agnifilo will deliver his closing on Friday, followed by the government rebuttal and the judge’s charge.

It's unclear whether there would be time for the jury to begin deliberations late Friday or whether deliberations will start Monday.


Jun 25, 2025 11:34 PM

Prosecutors also move to simplify obstruction case jurors will consider

Federal prosecutors indicated during Wednesday’s charge conference they will also prune the predicate acts jurors will consider under the obstruction charge Sean "Diddy" Combs is facing -- though it was not immediately clear how.

The obstruction charge encompasses witness tampering.

Combs’ former assistant, known by the pseudonym “Mia,” testified Combs’ bodyguard Damian Butler, known as D-Roc, offered to “send my sister a gift” after Cassie Ventura’s lawsuit became public. Mia testified the outreach from D-Roc and Combs “terrified” her.

Federal prosecutors also elicited obstruction-related testimony from Eddy Garcia, a security guard at the InterContinental Hotel, who told the jury about repeated calls from Combs’ chief of staff Kristina Khorram about obtaining the video of Combs attacking Ventura.



Jun 25, 2025 8:05 PM

Prosecutors give jurors 10 possible predicate acts to find Combs guilty of racketeering conspiracy

Federal prosecutors, discussing with the defense and Judge Arun Subramanian what instructions will be given to the jury, have afforded jurors 10 possible predicate acts to find Sean Combs guilty of racketeering conspiracy. To convict, they must unanimously agree on two of these so-called predicate acts.

Two of the predicate acts involve kidnapping and two involve transportation for purposes of prostitution. There is also arson, bribery, witness tampering, forced labor, sex trafficking and distributing controlled substances.

Prosecutors on Wednesday pruned the kidnapping and arson predicates, but they remain viable options for the jury.

For example, the jury will still consider whether the pattern of racketeering activity involved kidnapping, aiding and abetting kidnapping or conspiracy to commit kidnapping. Prosecutors earlier Wednesday removed attempted kidnapping as a theory of liability. Similarly, the jury will consider whether the pattern of racketeering activity involved arson, aiding and abetting arson or conspiracy to commit arson but will no longer consider attempted arson.

Prosecutors will still include in closing arguments the testimony of rapper Kid Cudi, which related to arson, and testimony by Combs’ former employee Capricorn Clark, which related to kidnapping.

Combs has pleaded not guilty to all charges.


Jun 24, 2025 7:53 PM

Attorneys to return to court on Wednesday, closing arguments set for Thursday

Court has concluded for the day.

Attorneys will return to court at noon on Wednesday for a charge conference with Judge Arun Subramanian to discuss the language of the judge’s instructions to the jury.

The jury will return to court at 9 a.m. Thursday to hear closing arguments from each side, beginning with the government, then the defense, and then a government rebuttal. The closings will likely last into Friday.

The judge will read his charge to the jury once summations are finished, after which deliberations will begin. It's not yet known whether that will occur on Friday as well.

Prosecutor Maurene Comey asked the judge to instruct the defense to avoid politics, current events or the “propriety of this prosecution” during summations. Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo told the judge there was nothing to worry about in that regard.


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