At his sex trafficking trial next week, Sean "Diddy" Combs will argue that the women involved in his sex parties did so willingly. However, his lawyers will face a tough challenge in questioning the credibility of accusers who claim he forced them to take part.
Combs, a former billionaire who helped shape hip-hop's rise in American culture during the 1990s and early 2000s, has pleaded not guilty to five felony charges, including racketeering and sex trafficking.
Prosecutors from the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's office claim that over two decades, Combs used his business empire to lure women with promises of romantic relationships or financial support. They allege he then used violence and threats to force them into participating in drug-fueled, days-long sexual performances called "Freak Offs" with male sex workers.
Heather Cucolo, a professor at New York Law School, stated that the defense would face a tough challenge. She pointed out that there was a clear power dynamic, which she believed would be a key focus and major issue in the case.
Lawyers for Combs, 55, have argued that prosecutors are wrongly trying to criminalize a consensual "swingers" lifestyle, in which he and his longtime girlfriends occasionally brought a third person into their relationships.
Jury selection for his trial began on Monday, with opening statements set for May 12. To convince the jury, Combs' lawyers will need to challenge the testimonies of at least four women who are expected to claim he coerced them into unwanted sex acts. His legal team has indicated they plan to argue that the women had financial motives to make false accusations of abuse against him.
Other high-profile criminal defendants in sex abuse trials have used similar strategies, especially in the #MeToo era, which has encouraged victims to speak out. Despite these defenses, many of these defendants, including R&B singer R. Kelly and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, were convicted.
Combs' defense claims it has evidence showing the accusers are not being truthful. Defense lawyer Teny Geragos stated at an April 14 court hearing that one accuser, referred to as Victim-4 in court papers, had "cherry-picked" the material she handed over to prosecutors, leaving out important context.
At a court hearing on November 22, 2024, defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo claimed that another woman, referred to in the indictment as Victim-1, had her lawyer demand $30 million from one of Combs' lawyers in exchange for not publishing a memoir. When the money was not provided, she sued Combs in November 2023 and settled the case for an undisclosed amount, Agnifilo stated, without naming the accuser.
R&B vocalist Casandra Ventura, known professionally as Cassie and Combs' longtime former girlfriend, accused him of sex trafficking in a lawsuit filed on November 16, 2023. The case was quickly settled, with the terms remaining undisclosed. Combs denied the allegations.
At the hearing last November, Agnifilo stated, "It's our defense to these charges that this was a toxic, loving, 11-year relationship."
Combs faces a challenge with hotel surveillance footage showing him dragging a woman, which prosecutors claim was during a "Freak Off" in 2016. His defense argues it was a domestic dispute, not related to racketeering. They also plan to argue that the video was distorted. Legal experts suggest that even if the woman took his property, the violence in the video is unlikely to be excused by a jury.
Combs, a former billionaire who helped shape hip-hop's rise in American culture during the 1990s and early 2000s, has pleaded not guilty to five felony charges, including racketeering and sex trafficking.
Prosecutors from the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's office claim that over two decades, Combs used his business empire to lure women with promises of romantic relationships or financial support. They allege he then used violence and threats to force them into participating in drug-fueled, days-long sexual performances called "Freak Offs" with male sex workers.
Heather Cucolo, a professor at New York Law School, stated that the defense would face a tough challenge. She pointed out that there was a clear power dynamic, which she believed would be a key focus and major issue in the case.
Lawyers for Combs, 55, have argued that prosecutors are wrongly trying to criminalize a consensual "swingers" lifestyle, in which he and his longtime girlfriends occasionally brought a third person into their relationships.
Jury selection for his trial began on Monday, with opening statements set for May 12. To convince the jury, Combs' lawyers will need to challenge the testimonies of at least four women who are expected to claim he coerced them into unwanted sex acts. His legal team has indicated they plan to argue that the women had financial motives to make false accusations of abuse against him.
Other high-profile criminal defendants in sex abuse trials have used similar strategies, especially in the #MeToo era, which has encouraged victims to speak out. Despite these defenses, many of these defendants, including R&B singer R. Kelly and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, were convicted.
Combs' defense claims it has evidence showing the accusers are not being truthful. Defense lawyer Teny Geragos stated at an April 14 court hearing that one accuser, referred to as Victim-4 in court papers, had "cherry-picked" the material she handed over to prosecutors, leaving out important context.
At a court hearing on November 22, 2024, defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo claimed that another woman, referred to in the indictment as Victim-1, had her lawyer demand $30 million from one of Combs' lawyers in exchange for not publishing a memoir. When the money was not provided, she sued Combs in November 2023 and settled the case for an undisclosed amount, Agnifilo stated, without naming the accuser.
R&B vocalist Casandra Ventura, known professionally as Cassie and Combs' longtime former girlfriend, accused him of sex trafficking in a lawsuit filed on November 16, 2023. The case was quickly settled, with the terms remaining undisclosed. Combs denied the allegations.
At the hearing last November, Agnifilo stated, "It's our defense to these charges that this was a toxic, loving, 11-year relationship."
Combs faces a challenge with hotel surveillance footage showing him dragging a woman, which prosecutors claim was during a "Freak Off" in 2016. His defense argues it was a domestic dispute, not related to racketeering. They also plan to argue that the video was distorted. Legal experts suggest that even if the woman took his property, the violence in the video is unlikely to be excused by a jury.
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