Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’s trial’s just kicked off in New York, and both sides — prosecution and defence — already gave their opening statements. If Diddy’s found guilty, he could be facing life.
He is currently facing federal charges of racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution
He got arrested back in September after a federal investigation. Diddy said he didn’t do any of it and pled not guilty to every charge.
In court, the prosecution went first
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson said Combs was running a “criminal enterprise,” with help from his close team, she called it an “inner circle.”
Then it was time for the defence
Diddy’s lawyer, Teny Geragos, admitted that he’s “physical,” likes drugs, and baby oil is his thing… But none of that, she said, is a federal crime.
Geragos defended Diddy, saying that jurors are not here to judge Combs’ sex life
“His private personal sex life,” she said. “That’s not something the jurors are here to judge.” She also said that the prosecution is twisting stuff, trying to turn his love life into a story about racketeering and trafficking.
“You will hear why people stayed around him and why it matters. He gave people opportunity and chances,” she told the court. “They didn’t always like what he did or how he behaved, but they truly loved him, and by being with him, they were part of something special.”
Then she responds to the baby oil and drug use
We all know there were around 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant found at Diddy’s house. Geragos didn’t dodge it. She straight-up said, “We will not shy away from the things he did, but we will not own the things he did not do,” she told the jurors.
“He is physical, he is a drug user, you may know of his love of baby oil. Is that a federal crime? No!”
Geragos brought up his past with Cassie Ventura too
She said Cassie ended things when she realized she’d never be his wife.
“When Combs said Kim Porter was his soulmate, Cassie realised all the things she would not be, she wanted to be Combs’ wife,” Geragos told the court.
But then she drops another bomb
Combs was seen assaulting Ventura in a 2016 hotel video and Diddy’s attorney didn’t try to defend it.
“That day, unfortunately, jealousy was on full display,” she said, adding that he’d taken “bad drugs” before it happened. “What Combs did to Cassie on this video tape is indefensible. It’s horrible. It’s dehumanising. It’s violent. It’s virtually every bad word you can think of,” she added.
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She says it shows domestic violence, not trafficking
“I’m not justifying the assault — not by a long shot — but I’m putting it in the proper context,” she said.
To wrap up, Geragos told the court that the people accusing Combs weren’t forced
She said Cassie “was a willing participant in their sex life.” And as for another accuser, who’s going by “Jane”? Geragos said the relationship turned “mostly sexual” after a while. “She was a capable, strong adult woman,” she added.
She then claims the motive behind the accusations is money
Finally, she pointed to money as the real reason behind the accusations. “They will tell you they were victimized. Ask yourself, what is their motive,” she said. “The answer is simple: money.”
