In New York, the ongoing federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial of hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has raised concerns over the increasing confidentiality of proceedings, much to the chagrin of the defense. Combs and the general public were shut out from certain discussions, including whether another notable rapper’s identity could be made public during the trial.
Defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo expressed these concerns to Judge Arun Subramanian after Combs was excluded from a meeting with the judge and attorneys outside the courtroom. This session postponed the last day of testimony from a woman known only as “Jane,” who had been in a relationship with Combs from 2001 until his arrest in September. Jane’s testimony ended emotionally, with her sharing hugs with both a prosecutor, Maureen Comey, and defense lawyer Teny Geragos in front of the jury.
Jane’s testimony provided points for both the prosecution and defense. She acknowledged her lingering affection for Combs but confessed feeling coerced into engaging in sexual activities with strangers to fulfill his fantasies. Accused of leveraging his fame and wealth to coerce women into sex acts they later regretted, Combs, 55, has denied charges that could result in a 15-years-to-life sentence if convicted. The defense argues that these were consensual adult encounters.
During cross-examination, Geragos inquired about Jane attending a trip to Las Vegas with a famous rapper and his girlfriend in January 2023. Though the rapper’s name was not revealed, Geragos hinted he had collaborated with Combs, who is revered in the music industry. Jane confirmed the rapper was close to Combs. She recounted joining the rapper and others for dinner, a strip club visit, and a party, where she witnessed intimate acts and engaged in flirtatious conversations.
Following a closed session, where legal teams discussed disclosure of the hotel incident, Agnifilo stressed the significance of a transparent trial, emphasizing the constitutional right to a public hearing. Judge Subramanian offered to ensure privacy for Combs to voice concerns, but Agnifilo declined, advocating for openness that could encourage others with relevant information to come forward.
Throughout Jane’s testimony, a monitor broadcasting exhibits was disabled for spectators, though visible to key parties within the courtroom. Conversations among lawyers and the judge have been confidential, and public access to trial exhibits with sexual content has been restricted, despite the defense’s assertion that such materials prove the consensual nature of activities.
Much of the correspondence submitted to the judge by both parties remains sealed, leaving the public in the dark about key developments, such as the prosecution’s challenge to retain or remove a Black juror. Defense lawyer Alexandra Shapiro criticized these actions as a subtle attempt to remove a juror based on race, further complicating courtroom dynamics.
Witnesses Jane and Casandra “Cassie” Ventura have spoken about their long-term involvement in the so-called “hotel nights,” describing episodes of orchestrated sexual activities. While the defense agreed to Jane’s use of a pseudonym, they opposed restricting public access to related testimonies. Prosecutor Comey accused Agnifilo of using calls for transparency as a tactic to intimidate and expose Jane.