Opening statements are set to begin Monday in the explosive federal sex trafficking trial of hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, who stands accused of operating a criminal enterprise under the guise of his Bad Boy Records label and coercing women into drug-fueled, days-long sex acts.
A jury of 12 New Yorkers, along with six alternates, is expected to be finalised and sworn in Monday morning, after which prosecutors and defence attorneys will deliver their first pitches in a case that has rocked the entertainment industry.
At the centre of the trial is Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura, the R&B singer, model, and Combs’ ex-girlfriend, whose harrowing allegations helped spark the federal investigation. Ventura, 38, is expected to take the stand as the prosecution’s star witness, detailing a decade-long relationship allegedly marked by manipulation, forced sex with male escorts, and brutal violence.
Ventura’s testimony is expected to include video footage from a 2016 incident at a Los Angeles hotel, where Combs, wearing only a towel, was seen punching and kicking her. Prosecutors say she will remain on the stand for several days as jurors are shown graphic evidence of the alleged abuse.
Diddy accused of drug intake
In a 2023 lawsuit, which was swiftly settled, Ventura accused Combs of forcing her to take drugs before participating in sexual encounters he orchestrated and filmed. She also alleged that Combs destroyed a car belonging to rapper Kid Cudi out of jealousy over her alleged romantic involvement with him.
The trial, which has drawn intense public scrutiny, marks a stunning fall for the 55-year-old music tycoon. Combs faces a slew of federal charges, including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody at a Brooklyn detention facility following his September 2024 arrest.
According to federal prosecutors, Combs used his record label and inner circle to facilitate, conceal, and normalise criminal activity, a pattern they claim was part of a larger, ongoing enterprise.
Before Ventura takes the stand, jurors are expected to hear from an escort and another minor witness who will provide early testimony supporting the prosecution’s broader claims of exploitation and abuse within Combs’ circle.
Meanwhile, Combs’ legal team plans to argue that the encounters were part of a consensual, albeit unconventional, sex life. Defence attorney Marc Agnifilo acknowledged in court last week that Combs physically abused Ventura but claimed the violence was mutual.
“We are going to take the position that there was mutual violence in their relationship,” Agnifilo said. “There was hitting on both sides.”
If convicted on all charges, Combs could face life in prison.
The trial is expected to last several weeks, with public interest intensifying as the details of one of the entertainment industry’s most high-profile legal battles unfold in federal court.
