The government has delivered its closing arguments in Sean “Diddy” Combs’s New York sex trafficking trial.
Prosecutor Christy Slavik presented the government’s closing argument over nearly five hours on Thursday. The defense is expected to present its closing arguments on Friday, and prosecutors will have one last chance to offer a rebuttal afterward.
Slavik has used her time to argue that Combs used “power, violence and fear to get what he wanted” while acting as the “leader of a criminal enterprise” who “doesn’t take no for an answer.”
Over the course of seven weeks, the jury has heard shocking testimony from more than 30 witnesses about the rapper’s sex life and alleged history of abusive behavior. Former partners and employees are among those who have taken the stand.
Throughout the trial, prosecutors have argued that Combs sex-trafficked women by coercing them into fulfilling his sexual desires, transported male escorts for prostitution purposes, and conspired with a “criminal enterprise” to commit crimes. Combs has denied all wrongdoing.
Despite the nature of the bombshell testimony, Combs has not taken the stand, and no defense witnesses were called. Legal experts told The Independent that he had “everything to lose and nothing to gain” by testifying.
Key points
- Recap: Prosecutor says Diddy used 'power, violence and fear' to get his way
- Prosecutor says Diddy was 'behind' bombing of Kid Cudi's car
- Prosecutor says Diddy led a 'criminal enterprise'
Recap: Prosecutor says Diddy used 'power, violence and fear' to get his way
22:12 , Katie HawkinsonProsecutor Christy Slavik delivered her closing arguments over nearly five hours on Thursday.
Slavik has used her time to argue that Combs used “power, violence and fear to get what he wanted” while acting as the “leader of a criminal enterprise” who “doesn’t take no for an answer.”
Slavik argued Combs trafficked his ex-girlfriends Cassie Ventura and Jane by forcing them to have sex with male escorts using threats, manipulation and violence.
She also pointed to Combs’s alleged drug use, noting they played an “essential” role in “freak offs.”
Slavik also emphasized evidence suggesting Combs paid male escorts to travel to engage in “freak offs,” further bolstering the charges of transportation to engage in prostitution.
Slavik ended with a final plea to the jury: “It is time to hold him accountable, it is time for justice. And it’s time to find him guilty."
Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo is expected to present his closing arguments on Friday.
Closing arguments set to begin
14:10 , Katie HawkinsonClosing arguments are set to begin today in Sean “Diddy” Combs’s sex trafficking trial.
Prosecutors will present their arguments first, followed by the defense. The government will then have a chance to present a rebuttal.
Afterward, the judge will give the jury instructions and deliberations will begin.
ICYMI: Diddy prosecutors drop kidnapping and arson claims, narrowing racketeering charge in final days of trial
14:25 , Katie HawkinsonFederal prosecutors narrowed the racketeering conspiracy charges against Sean “Diddy” Combs, removing the claims of arson and kidnapping Wednesday just one day before closing arguments begin in the blockbuster sex trafficking trial.
The music mogul faces five federal counts of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. He’s pleaded not guilty.
Read more:
Diddy prosecutors drop kidnapping and arson claims, narrowing racketeering charge
Recap: Shocking photos from raid on Diddy’s mansion show weapons, drugs and bondage gear discovered by feds
14:42 , Ariana BaioWhen federal agents raided music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs’ homes last year, they discovered troves of baby oil, various drugs, firearms, and pieces of lingerie – items that prosecutors claim were part of Combs’ “freak offs.”
Over seven weeks, jurors in Manhattan have heard from witnesses, reviewed documents, and seen footage and photos of what the government believes is evidence to support their case. Those jurors will soon determine Combs’ fate in the sex-trafficking case.
Prosecutors have charged Combs with sex trafficking, transportation for prostitution, and racketeering conspiracy. Combs has denied all wrongdoing.
Now, prosecutors have released batches of those photos, giving the public insight into what jurors will use to make their decision.
Photos from Diddy’s mansion raids show weapons, drugs and bondage gear
Court begins
14:42 , Katie HawkinsonJudge Arun Subramanian is on the bench and closing arguments are set to begin shortly.
Jury enters
15:10 , Katie HawkinsonThe jury has entered the courtroom.
Prosecutor Christy Slavik is set to deliver closing arguments today.
Diddy prepares for closing arguments
15:16 , Katie HawkinsonSean “Diddy” Combs wore a blue sweater with a collared shirt underneath for the first day of closing arguments.
He appeared nervous as he shifted his weight and rubbed his hands together while the jury entered, The Washington Post reports.
Prosecutor calls Diddy head of 'criminal enterprise'
15:20 , Katie HawkinsonProsecutor Christy Slavik has begun her closing arguments.
She called Sean “Diddy” Combs the “leader of a criminal enterprise” who “doesn’t take no for an answer.”
“The defendant used power, violence and fear to get what he wanted,” she said.
Prosecutors describe Diddy's 'kingdom': 'Everyone was there to serve him'
15:29 , Katie HawkinsonProsecutor Christy Slavik described Sean “Diddy” Combs’s alleged criminal enterprise as his “kingdom.”
"It is his kingdom,” she said. “Everyone was there to serve him."
“The defendant was a very powerful man, but he became more powerful and more dangerous because of the support of his inner circle and his businesses, the enterprise,” she added.
Prosecutors compares Diddy's enterprise to an army
15:37Prosecutor Christy Slavik compared Sean “Diddy” Combs’s alleged criminal enterprise to an army, calling his security guards “lieutenants” and his assistants the “foot soldiers.”
“Those lieutenants were particularly loyal and they were armed and ready,” Slavik said. “They were at the defendant’s side for some of the most violent and threatening acts.”
“The defendant used the money and the gravitas from his businesses to facilitate the crimes that he and his inner circle committed,” she added.
Slavik noted that Combs’s chief of staff, Kristina Khorram, made $600,000 a year.
She described his assistants as “young and eager,” noting they “didn’t blink an eye” at Combs’s many requests.
Prosecutor describes racketeering charge
15:53 , Katie HawkinsonProsecutor Christy Slavik is focusing her the first part of her closing arguments on the racketeering charge against Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Slavik reminded the jury that they will be asked to unanimously decide whether Combs knowingly and willfully agreed that he or another member of his alleged enterprise would commit two racketeering acts, according to CNN.
These acts could include crimes like bribing witnesses, distributing drugs or facilitating sex trafficking, Slavik said.
Prosecutor highlights Diddy's drug use
16:00 , Katie HawkinsonProsecutor Christy Slavik is highlighting Sean “Diddy” Combs’s alleged drug use and the role drugs played in “freak offs.”
Combs’s ex-girlfriends Cassie Ventura and Jane testified that they engaged in “freak offs,” which involved them having sex with other men while Combs watched. Ventura and Jane both said they often took drugs during these encounters.
Jane, who testified under a pseudonym, once told the jury she took drugs like ecstasy to make the “freak offs” feel less real.
Slavik argued drugs were “an essential ingredient of every ‘freak off’ the way the defendant kept Cassie and Jane awake and compliant in rooms for days.”
“He fed them drugs for years – and you know he didn’t get those drugs on his own,” she added. “He used his enterprise.”
Prosecutors recap Kid Cudi allegations
16:12Prosecutor Christy Slavik has reminded jurors about the allegations that Sean “Diddy” Combs set fire to Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi’s car.
Mescudi’s Porsche was set ablaze with a Molotov cocktail in early 2012. The alleged arson happened soon after Combs discovered Mescudi was dating Cassie Ventura.
Ventura and Combs had an on-and-off relationship from 2007 to 2018.
Slavik told the jury Combs was “100 percent” behind the bombing.
Prosecutor reminds jury of alleged bribe to cover up hotel assault
16:24 , Katie HawkinsonProsecutor Christy Slavik reminded the jury of witness testimony accusing Sean “Diddy” Combs of paying a security guard from the Los Angeles InterContinental Hotel to cover up footage of him beating his then-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura.
“The defendant knew what he had done and knew the potential consequence,” Slavik argued. “He knew that he could be arrested if the police knew what he did to Cassie at that hotel.”
The footage of the 2016 assault was leaked last year.
Prosecutor argues Diddy trafficked ex-girlfriends
16:44 , Katie HawkinsonProsecutor Christy Slavik argued that Sean “Diddy” Combs trafficked his ex-girlfriends, Cassie Ventura and “Jane.”
Combs is accused of trafficking for forcing Ventura and Jane into having sex with male escorts through threats, manipulation and violence, Slavik argued.
Ventura and Jane both testified that they participated in “freak offs,” but at times did not want to. They both described feeling afraid of Combs, and they both said they suffered frequent infections from the encounters.
Slavik also told the jury she is not attempting to “criminalize dysfunctional relationships or unconventional sexual preferences.”
Diddy 'groomed' Jane, prosecutor says
16:53 , Katie HawkinsonSean “Diddy” Combs “groomed” his ex-girlfriend “Jane,” prosecutor Christy Slavik argued today.
Jane, who testified under a pseudonym, dated from 2021 to 2024. She testified earlier in the trial that he’s still paying her rent and legal fees.
Slavik said Combs “lovebombed” Jane and “primed her to do exactly what he wants her to do” through gifts and affection.
Jane testified she had ‘freak offs’ with Combs, which involved her having sex with a male escort while the music mogul watched. These encounters could be lengthy, she testified, with one lasting several days.
“The defendant started grooming Jane, slowly introducing her to the different elements of ‘freak offs,’” Slavik said.
Combs appears uncomfortable, defeated: reports
17:12 , Katie HawkinsonSean “Diddy” Combs appears uncomfortable during prosecutor Christy Slavik’s closing arguments, The Washington Post reports.
NBC News described Combs as looking defeated and downtrodden during closing arguments.
Combs has also been passing Post-it notes to his attorney, Marc Agnifilo, the Post reports.
Diddy 'coerced' and 'enticed' Jane into freak offs, prosecutor argues
17:27 , Katie HawkinsonSean “Diddy” Combs coerced and lured Jane into freak offs with him, prosecutor Christy Slavik argued.
Slavik reminded the jury that Jane once reached out to Combs’s chief of staff, Kristina Khorram, after he allegedly threatened to release her sex tapes.
“He said that he would expose me and send them to my child’s father,” Jane wrote to Khorram. “He has been bothering me for two months, after all I’ve been asking for is my space.”
Slavik argued that Combs once lured Jane to New York in 2023 by promising they wouldn’t have a freak off. But while they were mid-air on their flight to New York, Slavik said Combs revealed he had set up a freak off.
“[Combs] enticed and transported Jane to get on that plane by telling her a material lie,” Slavik said.
Lunch break
17:33 , Katie HawkinsonJudge Arun Subramanian has dismissed the jury for a lunch break.
When they return, prosecutor Christy Slavik will continue her closing argument.
Court resumes
18:45 , Katie HawkinsonCourt has resumed after a brief lunch break.
Prosecutor Christy Slavik has just over 90 minutes to finish her closing arguments, which are expected to last four hours.
Prosecutor says Diddy used threats to coerce Jane into 'freak offs'
18:48 , Katie HawkinsonProsecutor Christy Slavik told the jury Sean “Diddy” Combs used drugs, money and threats to force his ex-girlfriend Jane into participating in “hotel nights.”
Jane testified that “hotel nights,” also called “freak offs,” would involve her having sex with a male escort at Combs’s direction. These could last up to three days, she told the jury.
Slavik said Jane was at risk of losing her house — which Combs paid for — or having her sex tapes released if she didn’t participate in “hotel nights.”
“Jane couldn’t say no to ‘hotel nights’ without risking the rent payments, without risking violent outbursts, without risking the release of her sex tapes,” she argued.
Prosecutor argues Diddy controlled Cassie Ventura
19:12 , Katie HawkinsonSean “Diddy” Combs controlled Cassie Ventura while they dated from 2007 to 2018, prosecutor Christy Slavik is arguing.
Combs gave her drugs she eventually became reliant on, Slavik said. He also controlled her career and appearance, Slavik argued.
“The age difference, the power inequality, Cassie’s naivete, those dynamics drove the defendant’s relationship with Cassie,” Slavik told the jury.
“He made her dependent on him,” Slavik added. “And when he wanted to, he took those things away, or had security do those things for him.”
Slavik also reminded the jury of Cassie’s mother’s earlier testimony.
Regina Ventura testified that Combs demanded $20,000 from her, or else he’d release Cassie’s sex tapes. Regina said she and her husband refinanced their home to make the payment, which was returned to them a few days later.
“The cloud of abuse was hanging over Cassie’s head, always hovering,” Slavik said.
Prosecutor argues Cassie was 'performing' during 'freak offs'
19:34 , Katie HawkinsonProsecutor Christy Slavik has argued that Cassie Ventura was “performing” for Sean “Diddy” Combs during their “freak offs.”
"They are orchestrated and directed, at times focusing on escort and not her at all,” Slavik said. “This was his fantasy, not Cassie's. Sean Combs caused her to have sex with an escort using coercion."
The jury viewed videos of these “freak offs.” Ventura previously testified that Combs threatened to release videos of her during these “freak offs.”
Prosecutor addresses Cassie's 2018 rape accusation
19:35 , Katie HawkinsonProsecutor Christy Slavik also addressed Cassie Ventura’s claim that Combs raped her in 2018.
Slavik read the jury texts that Combs sent to Ventura after the alleged rape.
“I know I look bad to you,” Combs’s text reads. “I can tell I didn’t turn you on yesterday.”
Slavik said the text was Combs’s way of admitting to the rape.
“He’s downplaying it, but he knows that what he did was wrong,” she said.
Slavik also told the jury that Ventura returned to Combs afterward because of their “trauma bond.”
Diddy controlled Cassie through fear, prosecutor says
19:53 , Katie HawkinsonSean “Diddy” Combs controlled Cassie Ventura through a “climate of fear,” prosecutor Christy Slavik argued.
Slavik said Ventura participated in “freak offs” because she was afraid.
“She didn't want to make him angry because when he was angry, he would be violent,” she argued. “He could be a scary person.”
Slavik described one incident on a plane, when Combs allegedly “spent the entire flight holding Cassie captive and making her watch videos” of freak offs.
“Cassie complied, she didn’t believe she had a choice,” Slavik argued. “He had just threatened her about blackmail tapes, some of the most humiliating moments of her life.”
Prosecutor moves to transportation for prostitution charges
20:13 , Katie HawkinsonProsecutor Christy Slavik is now addressing the transportation to engage in prostitution charges against Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Slavik told the jury that Combs often paid for male escorts to travel to engage in “freak offs” with Cassie Ventura or Jane.
Short break
20:24 , Katie HawkinsonJudge Arun Subramanian has called for a short break.
Closing arguments from prosecutor Christy Slavik will resume afterward.
Court resumes
20:42The jury has returned, and prosecutor Christy Slavik said she needs about one more hour for her closing arguments.
Prosecutor highlights physical toll of 'freak offs'
20:51 , Katie HawkinsonProsecutor Christy Slavik is highlighting the physical toll that “freak offs” took on Cassie Ventura and Jane.
She reminded the jury that the two women both testified they got frequent UTIs from the encounters. Ventura said she suffered sores inside her mouth, while Jane pointed to frequent yeast infections.
“They got sores, they got sick, they got infections,” Slavik said.
Prosecutor argues ex-assistant was forced into labor
21:08 , Katie HawkinsonProsecutor Christy Slavik said Sean “Diddy” Combs’s ex-assistant Mia, who testified earlier, was a victim of forced labor.
“Mia saw and experienced extreme violence at her boss’s hands,” Slavik argued. “It’s no wonder she was always worried about her physical safety if she was to tell him no.”
Slavik also cited Mia’s testimony that Combs sexually assaulted her multiple times.
The HR department at Combs’s company was also a “puppet” for him and didn’t protect his employees, Slavik argued.
Prosecutor ends closing arguments
21:28 , Katie HawkinsonProsecutor Christy Slavik has concluded her closing argument in Sean “Diddy” Combs’s sex trafficking trial.
"It is time to hold him accountable, it is time for justice," Slavic told the jury. "And it’s time to find him guilty."
Jury dismissed
21:34 , Katie HawkinsonJudge Arun Subramanian has dismissed the jury for the day.
Court will resume tomorrow with closing arguments from Sean “Diddy” Combs’s attorney, Marc Agnifilo.
