Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking trial properly kicked off Monday morning as the jury was sworn in, and the defense and prosecution offered opening statements.
The government’s opening statement from prosecutor Emily A. Johnson painted Combs as a powerful businessman who used his fame and power to rape, assault and abuse various people for decades, and whose inner circle of bodyguards and other employees helped him commit and cover up crimes.
The prosecution focused on alleged victims Casandra “Cassie” Ventura and “Jane,” who are both expected to testify this week. Throughout their 11-year relationship, Combs allegedly “physically abused” and “sexually exploited” Ventura, forcing her to take drugs and have sex with male escorts as Combs masturbated and videotaped. These incidents, which Combs called “freak-offs,” took place in dimly-lit hotel rooms set up with supplies by Combs’ employees. Combs allegedly used the video footage to “blackmail” Ventura, an R&B artist in her own right who was signed to his record label. “He told her he could destroy her career by releasing videos of her performing sex acts on dozens and dozens of escorts,” said the prosecution. “He had the power to ruin her life.”
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As Combs has asserted that all sexual activity referenced in his indictment was consensual, the prosecution said, “This case is not about a celebrity’s private sexual preferences,” adding that the sex acts were “coercive and criminal.” In one alleged instance, Combs made a male escort urinate in Ventura’s mouth. In another, she overdosed on drugs given to her by Combs while she still had an open wound on her face from his physical abuse.
The prosecution said Combs’ alleged abuse of Ventura was “the tip of the iceberg” of his illegal behavior, which also allegedly includes arson and the kidnapping of his own employee. The prosecution referenced other victims, including Mia, a personal assistant whom Combs allegedly raped, and an escort who says he witnessed Combs assault Ventura.
In the defense’s opening statement, Combs’ lawyers argued that this case is about “voluntary adult choices” that the government is attempting to twist into sex trafficking. “This is about Sean Combs’ private, personal sex life,” said Combs’ attorney Teny Geragos. “The government has no place in this man’s bedroom.”
The defense did not attempt to portray Combs as a decent man. Geragos told the jury directly that Combs was a dishonest and sometimes violent person who cheated on and lied to his multiple partners. She asked the jurors not to relate to Combs but to consider whether he is guilty of the very serious federal charges. “He is not charged with being mean. He is not charged with being a jerk,” she said. At one point, Combs’ lawyer told the jury, “You may know of his love of baby oil. Is that a federal crime? No.”
Geragos admitted that Combs “has a bad temper” and “when he drank or did the wrong drugs, he got violent.” She said, “We take full responsibility that there was domestic violence in this case. Domestic violence is not sex trafficking.”
Addressing the surveillance video that allegedly depicts Combs beating Ventura in a hotel hallway, the defense called Combs’ behavior “indefensible, horrible, dehumanizing and violent.” “But it is not evidence of sex trafficking,” she said. “It is evidence of domestic violence.”
Addressing the alleged victims, the defense said Ventura and “Jane” were “willing participants in their sex [lives].” Geragos said Combs’ infidelity drove a “primal jealousy” in his partners, and that the physical and verbal fights that defined these “toxic relationships” were caused by “jealousy or drugs.”
Before opening statements began, the parties finalized the jury by exercising peremptory strikes — where they can axe jurors without cause. After the prosecution and defense took turns striking jurors, Combs’ lead counsel Marc Agnifilo noted that seven of the nine jurors struck by the government are Black, implying the prosecution had a racial bias. Lead prosecutor Maurene Comey addressed each juror, providing “neutral” reasoning for their strikes. For example, one struck juror had been arrested three times, including for harassing a police officer. Another recognized 17 names on the list of relevant people and had “favorable opinions” on all of them. Another is an alumnus of Combs’ high school. And one had said during questioning that some alleged victims can “catch a case” and don’t necessarily tell the truth when testifying.
Combs is facing five counts, including one for racketeering, two for sex trafficking and two for transportation to engage in prostitution. If he is convicted, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.
Ethan Shanfeld
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