Defense Calls Diddy a ‘Complicated Man’ in Opening Statements

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Sean “Diddy” Combs’s Manhattan Federal Court sex-trafficking trial enters a new phase Monday, May 12 with opening statements. Diddy, 55, faces five counts on charges such as racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking (by force, fraud, or coercion), and transportation to engage in prostitution. Prosecutors allege that Combs used his vast entertainment empire to operate a “criminal enterprise.” They contend that the end goal of this enterprise was abusing women with violence. Authorities allege that they discovered evidence of “Freak Offs” — sex parties fueled by drugs that lasted for days — while raiding his homes in Miami and Los Angeles last year. They claim that much of the abuse took place at these Freak Offs.

How did this allegedly happen? Prosecutors claim that Combs lured women into his world and then forced them to participate in these “elaborate and produced sex performances that Combs arranged, directed, masturbated during, and often electronically recorded.” When the Freak Offs ended, Combs and his victims “typically received IV fluids to recover from the physical exertion and drug use,” authorities alleged. More details about Diddy’s alleged criminal misdeeds have come out since his arrest last year. In a revised indictment in March, Diddy was accused of controlling several employees by forcing them to toil grueling hours with minimal sleep — and then threatening them to keep them in line. Prosecutors also allege that “on one occasion, Combs dangled a victim over an apartment balcony.” Meanwhile, civil lawsuits have also accused him of sexual abuse against boys and men. Since we’re now at the part of Diddy’s legal drama where a jury will decide his fate, here is a rundown of what’s to be expected, including updates from both team’s opening statements.

Meanwhile, civil lawsuits have also accused him of sexual abuse against boys and men. Since we’re now at the part of Diddy’s legal drama where a jury will decide his fate, here is a rundown of what’s to be expected, including updates from both team’s opening statements.

What happened during opening statements for Diddy’s trial?

Diddy’s trial started on May 5 with jury selection, but opening statements kicked off the main part of these proceedings on May 12. For the prosecution, prosecutor Emily Johnson said they would hear from Cassie and that the jury will see videos of the alleged “freak off” parties. For the defense, Teny Geragos called Diddy a “complicated man,” mentioning a “temper” and a drinking and drug problem.

“To the public, he was Puff Daddy or Diddy — a cultural icon, a businessman, larger than life — but there was another side to him, a side that ran a criminal enterprise,” Johnson said, adding that over the course of two decades, Diddy engaged in offenses such as sex crimes and kidnapping. For years, Diddy “forced” Cassie to have sex with male escorts while he watched and recorded the encounters. “The defendant told Cassie that if she defied him again, he’d publicly release the videos of her having sex with male escorts, which he kept as blackmail,” Johnson said. 

“This case is not about a celebrity’s private sexual preferences,” she said. “The defendant made women have sex when they did not want to.” She said Diddy threatened them, drugged them, and beat them into compliance. Once, Diddy became so mad at Cassie that he “stomped repeatedly on her face” in an SUV. Another time, Cassie felt like she was choking when Diddy “made an escort urinate in her mouth.” Johnson also said that another accuser, referred to as “Jane” in court, fell into Diddy’s dark web in 2020. After a few months together, Diddy introduced her to freak-offs. Jane participated because she cared about Diddy and thought it would lead to more time together, not because she liked them. Jane wanted the escorts to wear condoms but “many times, the defendant didn’t let them,” Johnson said. Another accuser, “Mia,” worked for Diddy. Johnson said that Diddy forced himself on Mia multiple times. 

Why was he a “complicated man”?

Yes, Teny Geragos tried to portray Diddy as a guy who was, indeed, a bad boy — but not one who committed sex trafficking: “Sean Combs is a complicated man, but this is not a complicated case — this case is about love, jealousy, infidelity, and money.” People were fascinated by Diddy, Geragos told jurors. “People really loved him,” she said. Geragos gestured at Diddy and he stood, facing the jury, hands in pockets. “His name is Sean Combs.” Geragos said that Diddy admits to committing domestic violence but that this was not the same as sex trafficking. “When he drank or did the wrong drugs, he would get violent,” Geragos said. “He is not proud of that, and that’s something we’re going to own.” While there are things about Diddy’s sex life “that may make you uncomfortable and may not be what you like to do in your bedroom,” she said, these were private consensual acts in keeping with the “swinger’s lifestyle.” 

What was Diddy like in court during Monday’s openings?

When Diddy walked into Manhattan federal court for his sex-trafficking trial on Monday morning, the rapper’s entrance carried the air of a family reunion. 

Several of Diddy’s children were in attendance, including three young daughters, and he beamed at them upon walking in, tapping his heart, as their eyes met. Some of them responded by returning a heart hand. 

He appeared in good spirits generally, hugging his lawyers before sitting at the defense table. At some point before court started, he must have expressed thirst. A court deputy asked if he’d been given water. Diddy responded: “Could use a little more if you don’t mind.” 

What is going to happen after openings?

Once both sides have presented their opening statements, the prosecution will start to call their witnesses.  Prosecutor Maurene Comey said on May 7 that the government expects to have two short witnesses  on Monday, who need to testify right away for scheduling reasons. Comey revealed that “another witness will take up almost the entire rest of the week.”  Lead Diddy defense lawyer said that prosecutors told the rapper’s team who the first three witnesses are and that, in total, their testimony will likely take up the first week. 

Who is there supporting Diddy?

During Diddy’s many pretrial proceedings, a small coterie of family or friends could be seen in court. During jury selection, one man was present in clear support of Diddy. He carried a trucker hat with him that said “PUFF” on the front and “free” on at least one temple. He sat in the gallery behind powerhouse defense attorney Mark Geragos (who reps the rapper’s mom but technically is one of Diddy’s lawyers, too.) 

Who are the main lawyers on both sides?

There are so many for Diddy — he has a slew of lawyers co-led by Marc Agnifilo and Teny Gergaos, who delivered opening statements on May 12. Comey, James Comey’s daughter, who brought down Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, is the lead prosecutor.

Who is Judge Arun Subramanian?

The judge presiding over Diddy’s case, Arun Subramanian, was nominated by former president Joe Biden in January 2023. Subramanian was confirmed by the U.S. Senate that March. He graduated from Columbia University’s law school in 2004 and his alma mater described him as the first judge of South Asian descent in the Southern District of New York. Subramanian also served as a clerk for Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the university said. His parents came to the U.S. from India several months before he was born in 1979. Subramanian told a group of law students that he decided to pursue becoming a judge shortly after she died in 2020. “I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the justice,” he was quoted as saying. “For that and everything else, I am forever in her debt.” Subramanian has conducted proceedings with an approach that combines no-nonsense efficiency with a bit of humor. For example, Subramanian said, “I felt I was reading an appendix from like, The Lord of the Rings” when referencing the lengthy list of people and places jurors would be asked about knowing.

Who are the witnesses?

From court filings and statements in court, we know the government wanted to call five alleged Diddy victims (though as of the morning of May 9, prosecutors were having trouble finding one victim). One of the main victims is Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura, Diddy’s ex-partner. Cassie’s bombshell 2023 lawsuit against Diddy spurred numerous others to come forward with allegations against him. 

Video footage of Diddy allegedly assaulting Cassie in a hotel hallway is expected to be at trial. The witness list, however, is not public. One can assume that prosecutors will call witnesses who can corroborate the accusers’ accounts — a friend, or someone who saw misconduct — law-enforcement officers, and others who might provide granular info such as phone-location data.

Was Diddy offered a plea deal?

Diddy was offered, but rejected, a proposed plea deal. Not only did Diddy say “no” to the deal, he also passed on an agreement that would have exposed him to less prison time than if he were convicted at trial. In court on May 1, his defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo said that they “discussed it with him and together came to a decision.” Diddy has maintained his innocence.