**NEW YORK** — On Tuesday, legal representatives for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs described the charges against him as “sexist and puritanical.” They contended that nine recordings of sexual acts that form key evidence in the case depict only consensual interactions between consenting adults.
The defense submitted a letter to a federal judge in Manhattan, requesting that the recordings, which authorities allege were orchestrated by Combs, be handed over for further review. According to the lawyers, they have only had limited access to these recordings twice over the past two months.
Combs, who is 55 years old, has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking allegations stemming from his arrest in September. He remains in custody while awaiting a trial set for May 5, after three judges declined to grant him bail during prior hearings.
A representative for the prosecution opted not to comment on the situation.
The defense’s arguments echo those made during the bail hearings, where they asserted that the prosecution has unfairly demonized consensual sexual activities to support their case against Combs.
The attorneys emphasized, “Any objective observer of the videos will swiftly recognize that the prosecution of Mr. Combs is deeply sexist and puritanical.” They argued that the government’s narrative reinforces harmful stereotypes regarding female victimhood and their autonomy.
The indictment against Combs alleges that he organized sexual encounters referred to as “Freak Offs” involving his alleged victims and male sex workers. These encounters are described in the indictment as “elaborate and produced sexual performances” that Combs orchestrated, participated in, and often recorded.
Prosecutors indicated that these encounters could extend over several days and frequently included multiple sex workers, with claims that Combs used drugs to ensure the participants remained compliant. Authorities also reported that raids on Combs’ residences in Los Angeles and Miami uncovered materials related to the “Freak Offs,” including illegal substances and over a thousand bottles of lubricants.
According to the defense, the nine videos in question, which depict “six indisputably consensual sexual encounters,” were supplied to prosecutors by lawyers representing a woman identified as “Victim-1,” who had a long-term relationship with Combs.
The defense asserted, “In each of these six encounters, Victim-1 is not only consenting but appears joyful, assertive, and entirely in control.” They insisted that the videos do not showcase sexual parties, and there were no hidden cameras, orgies, minors, or involvement of other celebrities.
They argued that there is no evidence of violence, coercion, threats, or manipulation present in the videos, and they pointed out that there was no indication that anyone was incapacitated or under the influence of drugs or excessive alcohol.
“There’s certainly no indication of sex trafficking,” they protested.
The lawyers mentioned that the quality of some video footage was compromised due to poor lighting, rendering the images “dark and grainy,” hence requiring expert analysis for audio and video enhancement as well as metadata examination to ascertain the times when the videos were recorded or altered.
They further contended that the prosecution’s stance relies heavily on characterizing the sexual performances as “dirty, disgusting, or inherently unsavory,” which they interpret as an effort by the government to control nontraditional sexual expressions, while assuming—despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary—that a woman’s willing involvement must be the result of coercion.
