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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 24, 2025, 6:27 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 24, 2025 6:27 PM

Defense moves for acquittal

As soon as the government rested its case after calling 34 witnesses over nearly seven weeks, the defense asked the judge to immediately find Sean Combs not guilty of all the charges.

PHOTO: District Judge Arun Subramanian presides as Joseph Cerciello, a special agent for Homeland Security Investigations, is questioned by defense lawyer Teny Geragos during Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, June 24, 2025.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters
U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian presides as Joseph Cerciello, a special agent for Homeland Security Investigations, is questioned by defense lawyer Teny Geragos during Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, June 24, 2025 in this courtroom sketch.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters

“The defense moves for a judgment of acquittal on all counts,” defense attorney Alexandra Shapiro said. “The government has failed to meet its burden.”

The jury was not in the room for the argument.

“The evidence does not establish that Mr. Combs conspired with any other person to violate the RICO statute,” Shapiro said. “They failed to show that any other individual actually conspired with him to conduct the affairs of this 20-year purported criminal enterprise.”

At most, the defense said, employees ran “personal errands” for Combs while he or his girlfriends booked the escorts for sexual encounters themselves.

PHOTO: Sean "Diddy" Combs and his defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo watch as Joseph Cerciello is questioned by defense lawyer Teny Geragos during Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, June 24, 2025
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters
Sean "Diddy" Combs and his defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo watch as Joseph Cerciello, a special agent for Homeland Security Investigations, is questioned by defense lawyer Teny Geragos during Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, June 24, 2025 in this courtroom sketch.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters

“The assistants set up and cleaned hotel rooms but they didn’t know much if anything about what went on in those hotel rooms other than they used a lot of baby oil and AstroGlide,” Shapiro said.

Combs has been accused of sex trafficking by force, transportation to engage in prostitution, and racketeering conspiracy as part of a federal indictment originally filed in September 2024. He later faced two additional superseding indictments. Combs has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges.


Jun 24, 2025 6:01 PM

Prosecution rests their case

Federal prosecutors on Tuesday rested their case against Sean Combs.

“At this time, subject to confirming all of the government records are accurate in the record, the government rests,” prosecutor Emily Johnson said.

Toward the end of the defense cross-examination of Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Joseph Cerciello, the jury watched additional excerpts of sex video recordings featuring Combs’ ex-girlfriend who testified under the pseudonym “Jane.”

PHOTO: Sean "Diddy" Combs waves to supporters as he arrives with his defense lawyers during Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, June 24, 2025 in this courtroom sketch.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters
Sean "Diddy" Combs waves to supporters as he arrives with his defense lawyers during Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, June 24, 2025 in this courtroom sketch.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters

The public monitors were turned off and the jury wore headphones so the public could not see or hear the footage. In total, the jury has seen about one hour of this footage during direct and cross-examinations of summary witnesses.

Defense attorney Teny Geragos also showed the jury various expenses paid by a corporate account but reimbursed by one of Combs’ personal accounts as the defense seeks to show a separation between the sexual performances and his businesses.

PHOTO: Defense lawyer Teny Geragos questions Joseph Cerciello, as Sean "Diddy" Combs and his defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo watch, during Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, June 24, 2025 in this courtroom sketch.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters
Defense lawyer Teny Geragos questions Joseph Cerciello, a special agent for Homeland Security Investigations, as Sean "Diddy" Combs and his defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo watch, before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian during Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, June 24, 2025 in this courtroom sketch.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters

On re-direct, however, Cerciello confirmed the records showed Combs paid for a male escort to cross state lines from Georgia to Florida.


Jun 24, 2025 4:00 PM

‘Jane’ texted escort, ‘This is a 911 freak emergency': Defense

During the cross-examination of Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Joseph Cerciello, the defense showed the jury several text exchanges that they contend appeared to show Sean Combs and his ex-girlfriend "Jane," who testified under a pseudonym, attempting to hide their sexual activity from Combs’ employees.

The defense showed an April 2023 text from Combs to “Jane" in which Combs wrote, "You find place. I can’t have KK know," referring to Combs’ then-chief of staff, Kristina Khorram.

In a May 2023 text shown by the defense, “Jane” wrote to Combs, “Just setting up the hotel.”

In a later text from May 2023 shown by the defense, “Jane” asked an escort, “Do you have Zell? Can send you payment through there.” The defense maintains that no finance person employed by Combs' businesses was involved in transferring money for sexual encounters, known as "freak-offs" and "hotel nights," depending upon witness testimony.

PHOTO: Sean "Diddy" Combs waves to supporters as he arrives with his defense lawyers during Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, June 24, 2025 in this courtroom sketch.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters
Sean "Diddy" Combs waves to supporters as he arrives with his defense lawyers during Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, June 24, 2025 in this courtroom sketch.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters

The defense also argued for the jury that “Jane” sometimes set up her own "hotel nights," separate from Combs' involvement.

“Sorry for this late text. It’s no rush, let me know if you’re up to coming to LA Saturday,” “Jane” messaged an escort, according to a text shown by the defense. In a message to another escort shown by the defense, “Jane” said, “This is a 911 freak emergency.”

Other messages showed Khorram sending Combs’ assistants a list of what "Jane" "wants for hotel.”

Federal prosecutors allege that Combs relied on the employees, resources and influence of his business to coerce “Jane” into unwanted sex with male escorts. The defense has denied that Combs ran a criminal enterprise that relied on assistants, bodyguards and other employees to fulfill his sexual desires.



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 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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