Diddy Trial: Sex, Drugs, And ‘freak-offs’ – Defense

Agnifilo told the jury that Combs and Ventura’s romance was a “complex” 10-year affair that was, sometimes, brutally violent, but included that it was likewise “a wonderful modern love story.” From the witness stand weeks ago, Ventura did tell of the ups and downs of her relationship with the epic pop culture figure, remembering the two conference and beginning an enchanting connection when she was 19 and a vocalist authorized to his tag and he was 37 and on top of his game. From her account throughout her testimony, Ventura had her profession kept back and dangled before her by Combs, that was her employer and her boyfriend for a decade and was pushed right into the performative sex marathons with odd men through threats and unfulfilled assurances; at times, she stated she intended to make Combs various other and satisfied times wished to avoid the violent repercussions of claiming “no” to him. The defense lawyer identified their sex life, which essentially only consisted of freak-offs with various other men, as the consensual enjoyable of a broad-minded couple.

Agnifilo’s Defense: A Tale of Two Trials

Agnifilo framed the events on the 23rd floor of the government courthouse on Pearl Road in reduced Manhattan over the previous six weeks of testimony as a “tale of 2 trials.” One variation, he claimed, entailed the federal prosecutors turning the nature of Combs’ consensual but nontraditional sex life into the endgame of multiple criminal acts, while the other is based on the tough proof offered and saw witnesses that he claimed mentioned the “successful Black entrepreneur” who is a recognized participant of his neighborhood.

On the tropic of the video clips Combs constructed from the “freak-off” celebrations, his attorney told the jury that they were not the kompromat that Ventura said was made use of to threaten and control her yet innocent “homemade pornography” that is far more regular than prosecutors would say.

Videos: Kompromat or Homemade Pornography?

“It takes a great deal of courage to acquit,” attorney Marc Agnifilo said on Friday afternoon. “You must feel vibrant, you need to feel the courage that you will need to call this as you see it, and I am asking you to mobilize that nerve and to do what requires to be done and to do the ideal point.”

Maurene Comey, the feds’ lead district attorney on the situation, whined halfway through the closing debate, before the lunch break, to Court Subramanian about what she called improper disagreements made by the defense that were ironical toward the prosecution.

“This isn’t concerning a criminal offense. It has to do with cash,” he stated, after that referring to the claim filed by the rap titan’s ex-girlfriend in October 2023, the legal relocation that began the unraveling of Combs’ public personality and caught the eye of the feds: “Cassie Ventura took legal action against Sean Combs for $30 million because he has $30 million.”

Ventura’s Lawsuit: Motivated by Money?

The attorney additionally said that the prosecution has actually not presented proof that money was exchanged for sex with the males employed for the “freak-off” occasions. He pointed to 2 guys phoned call to the witness box who did not recognize themselves as sex workers and stressed that they were spent for their time (and if sex takes place, it takes place, being the winking logic right here). He additionally indicated one escort that affirmed, Daniel Phillip, who informed the court of the $6,000 he was handed after a session with the couple: “I didn’t care if I was paid one way or another. … I didn’t ask to get paid, they considered that to me.”.

Enhancing his display screen of outrage, Agnifilo mocked district attorneys over their framing of his client’s sex life as criminal. With both Ventura and “Jane,” a victim who utilized a pseudonym in court, Combs was implicated of setting up and filming “freak-off” or resort evening marathon sessions, where a male sex employee or employees would engage companion( s) in extensive sessions of drug-fueled sexual intercourse, which included Astroglide lube and baby oil and would frequently be recorded by Combs as he viewed on. At a point throughout “Jane’s” statement, she drifted the concept she ‘d had that Combs was bisexual however also unpleasant with the idea to ever before engage with a same-sex companion himself; she additionally referred to Combs as a “cuckold,” which she defined on the stand as a male who appreciates enjoying his women companion have sex with another man. (The term is specified as the other half of a cheating better half.).

Combs’ Sex Life: Criminal or Consensual?

He suggested that Combs paying the lease bill was always a “gesture of kindness and modesty.” He reminded the jury of a resort night in September 2023 when “Jane” turned down a companion who still was paid $1,000.

The exact same day, Combs told Judge Subramanian that he would certainly not be taking the stand to indicate in his protection. From her account throughout her testimony, Ventura had her occupation held back and dangled before her by Combs, who was her employer and her guy for a years and was coerced right into the performative sex marathons with weird males using dangers and unsatisfied pledges; at times, she stated she wanted to make Combs happy and various other times wanted to avoid the fierce consequences of saying “no” to him. With both Ventura and “Jane,” a victim who used a pseudonym in court, Combs was charged of filming and preparing “freak-off” or hotel night marathon sessions, where a male sex worker or employees would certainly involve partner( s) in lengthy sessions of drug-fueled intercourse, which involved Astroglide lube and child oil and would frequently be recorded by Combs as he looked on. At a factor throughout “Jane’s” testimony, she floated the idea she had actually had that Combs was too uncomfortable yet bisexual with the concept to ever before involve with a same-sex partner himself; she additionally referred to Combs as a “cuckold,” which she defined on the stand as a man who appreciates seeing his female partner have sex with one more man. At the time, Combs’ attorney slammed the raids as overkill.

Jane’s Testimony: Rent and ‘Cuckoldry’

Agnifilo then buffooned “Jane,” that dated Combs from 2021 until his apprehension in 2024. She had informed the court that while she was involved with him, the near-billionaire would pay her $10,000 month-to-month rent; she additionally admitted from the stand that her rent is still being paid by the incarcerated magnate.

The astonishing raid last year of Combs’ residential or commercial properties was the next element of the federal government’s treatment of the dropped mogul. At the time, Combs’ attorney criticized the raids as excessive.

Ventura likewise told the court during her marathon week of testimony, which came with the beginning of the seven-week-and-counting trial (considering that court option began on Might 5), that the $30 million civil situation, which was settled the next day, netted her $20 million. She additionally disclosed a lawsuit against the Intercontinental hotel in L.A., where she was shot being beaten and dragged by Combs in video that dripped to CNN.

InterContinental Hotel Video: A New Spin

The story around the now well-known CCTV video from the InterContinental hotel in L.A., in which a robe-clad Combs assaults Ventura as she is attempting to take off a “freak-off” was spun in a brand-new direction, with Agnifilo informing the jury that Combs is clearly on a poor set of medicines, a consistent defense excuse for this traumatic beating (” He remains in a towel in a public hallway method too long,” Agnifilo informed the court), and that he was more interested in obtaining his phone back from Ventura than damaging her and dragging her back to their resort area. The defense team leader showed video of Combs acting calmer when he had taken the phone from Ventura; he did disappoint the later video footage in which Combs showed up to fly right into a terrible rage again.

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ lead attorney concluded his powerhouse defense team’s closing debates at Diddy’s thrilling sex trafficking and racketeering test on Friday afternoon, informing jurors they have the fearlessness to withstand the federal government and acquit the rap and fashion mogul of fees that he used his business as a racketeering business and declaring the prosecution is distorting consensual, nontraditional sex into criminal acts as component of a “phony trial.”

Complying with the court leaving the court for a 15-minute break, Judge Arun Subramanian had to advise Agnifilo for recommending that the court would certainly speculate as to why federal prosecutors made sure billing decisions against Combs during his closing salvo. Court Subramanian mentioned that this was “a bridge as well much” and later informed jurors to disregard his declarations and concentrate on the proof in case.

“I think that’s all worth it,” he said, “Boxes and boxes of Astroglide. They got it, the roads of America are safe from the Astroglide. Thank God for the unique reaction team. They got the infant oil, method to go fellas.”.

Agnifilo and the group of lawyers that consists of Teny Geragos, Brian Steel and Alexandra Shapiro launched right into their closing disagreements very early Friday early morning. The same day, Combs informed Court Subramanian that he would certainly not be taking the stand to indicate in his defense.

“You wan na call it swingers, you wan na call it trios, whatever it is,” he stated, adding that it is ridiculous for the prosecution to mount his sex life as “one of one of the most severe, complicated, thorough” criminal acts.