Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial updates: Prosecution rests
This story may contain accounts and descriptions of actual or alleged events that some readers may find disturbing.
This is week seven of testimony in the trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs.
Latest Developments
Jun 24, 1:38 PM
Prosecution rests
Federal prosecutors on Tuesday rested their case against Sean Combs.
Jun 24, 11:59 AM
‘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.
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, 11:03 AM
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.
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, 9:16 AM
Prosecution to present its final day of evidence
Federal prosecutors have said they expect to rest their case against Sean Combs today, hoping that more than six weeks of testimony from nearly three dozen witnesses -- including ex-girlfriends, former employees, male escorts and rapper Kid Cudi -- is enough to convince the jury to convict.
The last witness, Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Joseph Cerciello, summarized during his testimony Monday the sexual encounters Combs allegedly arranged for his then-girlfriend, who testified under the pseudonym “Jane.”
Jurors saw messages from Combs allegedly booking escorts and heard an audio message from Combs telling an assistant, “There’s no more baby oil.” Jurors also saw travel receipts, hotel invoices and money transfers.
Federal prosecutors argue it all supports their contention that Combs and his employees were running a criminal enterprise that "abused, threatened and coerced women" into prolonged, drug-fueled sexual orgies with male prostitutes, and then threatened them into silence. Combs has denied all of the charges and maintains that the sex was consensual.
The defense, on cross-examination of Cerciello, showed a message that “Jane” sent to one of the escorts. “You are such a sweetheart,” the text said. “Thank you for making me feel beautiful.”
Both sides played recordings of arranged sexual encounters with male escorts, known as “freak-offs.” The jury has now watched nearly 45 minutes of explicit video.
After the prosecution rests, the defense will present its own case, which is expected to consist of reading evidence into the record. Defense attorneys have said they plan to call no witnesses.
Combs has been accused of sex trafficking by force, transportation to engage in prostitution, and racketeering conspiracy as part of a blockbuster 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 23, 3:36 PM
Court ends for the day, prosecution to rest on Tuesday
During cross-examination of Special Agent Joseph Cerciello of Homeland Security Investigations, defense attorney Teny Geragos attempted to highlight how certain expenses for alleged “freak-off” sexual encounters appeared to have been paid from Sean Combs’ personal account. The defense has argued that “freak-offs” were how Combs spent his personal time and were separate from his business, which prosecutors have alleged Combs ran like a criminal enterprise.
Geragos also showed additional video excerpts to jurors. The public could not hear or see the clips.
Court has adjourned for the day. The defense will finish cross-examining Cerciello on Tuesday morning, after which the government will rest its case.
Judge Arun Subramanian will then hear a defense motion for a directed verdict of acquittal, a proceeding for which the jury won’t be present. If that motion is denied, the defense will present its case. The defense has said they will not call any witnesses but there are exhibits that the defense wants to enter into the record.
The charge conference will take place on Wednesday morning and the jury will hear closing arguments on Thursday. The prosecution and defense are each expected to take about four hours to present their arguments.
The jury will hear the judge’s charge on Friday before deliberations begin.
Jun 23, 12:51 PM
Jury reviews Combs' alleged texts about escorts, 'freak-offs'
Through a combination of text messages, travel records, hotel receipts and other records, the prosecution showed the jury what they argue were the logistics involved in the alleged arrangements made for male escorts for Sean Combs to participate in sexual encounters.
“Hey in NYC have entertainment for after midnight?” Combs wrote in a text message to a woman at a male escort service.
“Will be there in ten mins with the cash,” one of Combs’ bodyguards wrote in a message to “Jane,” a former Combs girlfriend who testified under a pseudonym. "Jane" messaged back: “OK great. Room 508. Do you have a key?”
The jury was shown invoices from hotels where prosecutors said the alleged sexual encounters occurred. The jury saw one bill for $2,490.17 from the Trump International Hotel from a stay there in September 2023.
In one audio message, Combs allegedly said, “There’s no more baby oil.”
The jury was shown records from “Jane’s” travel, including a car service and a Jet Blue flight arranged by a woman who handled travel for Combs.
The jury also was shown messages about IV fluids Combs and “Jane” received to help them recover from the sexual encounters. “Extra Benadryl,” Combs’ former assistant, Brendan Paul, said in a text message. The IV drip also included sodium chloride, B12, zinc, vitamin C and amino acids, according to the messages presented by prosecutors.
The jury also saw a text to Combs from his then-chief of staff, Kristina Khorram, from September 2023. “Next time you leave when you’re randomly partying you have to tell us. Can’t just uber lit with a guest. That’s when bad s--- happens. You know this,” the message said. “Puff, seriously that is reckless.”
Combs responded in part, “I love you to death, but you have to stop.”
Federal prosecutors said they were able to identify more than 40 arranged sexual encounters with male escorts -- referred to at various times during testimony as “freak-offs,” “hotel nights” or “wild king nights,” depending on the witness -- that allegedly took place between 2021 and 2024, including one prosecutors say happened just weeks before Combs’ arrest in September 2024. Combs has maintained that all encounters were consensual.
Jun 23, 10:15 AM
Sean Combs likely won’t testify in his own defense
Given that the defense said this morning that it will rest its case without calling witnesses, that likely implies that Sean Combs will not testify in his own defense.
It is likely that Judge Arun Subramanian will ask Combs at some point to formally confirm the choice.
The jury at Combs’ trial is now seeing sexually explicit videos depicting him, his former girlfriend who testified under the pseudonym “Jane,” and a male escort.
Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Joseph Cerciello, a summary witness for the government, testified that he reviewed “multiple hours” of explicit videos
Federal prosecutors said they were able to identify more than 40 arranged sexual encounters with male escorts -- referred to at various times during testimony as “freak-offs,” “hotel nights” or “wild king nights,” depending on the witness -- that allegedly took place between 2021 and 2024, including one prosecutors say happened just weeks before Combs’ arrest in September 2024. Combs has maintained that all encounters were consensual.
The jury was shown video excerpts along with travel records, hotel invoices and money transfers collected during the investigation. Federal prosecutors are hoping to convince jurors that the sexual acts depicted in the videos were the result of alleged coordinated criminal activity by Combs, his chief of staff, his assistants, his travel manager, his finance people and his bodyguards, all of which Combs has denied.
Jun 23, 9:16 AM
Prosecution expects to rest Tuesday; defense not calling witnesses
Federal prosecutors said Monday that they now expect to rest their case on Tuesday once special agent Joseph Cerciello of Homeland Security Investigations concludes his testimony.
The defense said it plans to rest without calling any witnesses, only submitting some evidence.
Given the revised schedule, the judge will hold a charging conference Wednesday followed by summations on Thursday.
Jun 23, 8:39 AM
Prosecution expected to rest their case today
Federal prosecutors in New York expect to rest their case against Sean "Diddy" Combs today, relying on the testimony of nearly three dozen witnesses and hundreds of exhibits to try to prove their contention that the hip-hop impresario ran a criminal conspiracy that trafficked women and transported prostitutes.
The final witness for the prosecution, Joseph Cerciello of Homeland Security Investigations, walked the jury through reams of travel records, hotel invoices and money transfers that prosecutors hope will convince the jury that Combs and his associates trafficked his ex-girlfriend, who testified earlier under the pseudonym “Jane.”
Combs’ former assistant, Brendan Paul, who was granted immunity from prosecution in exchange for his testimony, previously told the jury that he bought and carried drugs for Combs. Paul was arrested in March 2024 for cocaine possession while aboard a private plane with Combs.
“Was the cocaine yours, Mr. Paul?” prosecutor Christy Slavik asked.
“No,” Paul testified in response.
“Whose cocaine was it?” Slavik followed up.
“Mr. Combs,” Paul testified.
The drug charges against Paul were dropped last year after he completed a pre-trial intervention program.
The criminal enterprise Combs is accused of operating committed drug offenses, according to federal prosecutors. Combs has conceded that he used illicit drugs but has denied running a criminal enterprise. He has pleaded not guilty to all of the government's charges.
Paul also told the jury that Combs wanted his assistants to “move like SEAL Team Six” and anticipate his every need. He testified that it was part of his job to buy a pound of marijuana every two months and to procure a powdery mix of ketamine and molly, known as tusi, that was “dyed pink for the aesthetic.”
Paul further testified that he set up hotel rooms for so-called "freak-off" sexual encounters, which he knew as “wild king nights,” stocking items like lubricant and baby oil. The jury saw photos of the items arranged in Combs’ Los Angeles homes.
On cross-examination, Paul testified that he never noticed “Jane” being hesitant or apprehensive about participating in what she called “hotel night” sexual encounters.
Once prosecutors rest their case, defense attorneys have said their case will likely take a day or two to present.
Jun 23, 5:05 AM
Read updates from week 6
Click here to catch up on everything from the sixth week of the Sean Combs trial.
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