NEW YORK — During his sex trafficking trial, Sean “Diddy” Combs shared with the presiding judge that he is doing “great” as he confirmed on Tuesday his decision not to testify. This decision was addressed in front of U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian following a lengthy prosecution presentation lasting more than six weeks. Shortly after, the defense chose to rest its case without bringing any witnesses to the stand.
As customary in criminal trials, Combs’ legal team moved to dismiss the charges due to insufficient evidence. The judge, however, reserved his ruling for a future date. The prosecution had presented testimony from 34 witnesses in an attempt to substantiate the sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges linked to Combs’ arrest in September, which included testimony from two former girlfriends. These witnesses described feeling pressured into engaging in prolonged sexual encounters with male sex workers, referred to as “freak-offs” or “hotel nights”.
Combs’ defense maintains that these encounters were consensual, aligning with a lifestyle of swinging. The 55-year-old Combs, having pled not guilty, remains detained without bail at a Brooklyn federal facility. Multiple judges have previously deemed him a threat to the community.
Judicial protocol requires that the defendant be directly questioned about their choice to testify or not. This ensures the defendant is aware it is ultimately their decision, independent of legal counsel advice. When Judge Subramanian inquired about Combs’ well-being, the music mogul responded positively. “I’m doing great, your honor,” said Combs, founder of Bad Boy Entertainment, further adding a compliment to the judge’s conduct.
“I want to tell you thank you, you’re doing an excellent job,” Combs remarked. He later confirmed he had discussed his decision not to testify extensively with his legal team. “That is my decision, your honor,” Combs stated, emphasizing it was his sole choice. He elaborated, “I mean, it’s my decision with my lawyers. … My decision to make. I’m making it.”
The trial, which commenced in early May, saw testimonies from former employees of Combs’ enterprises. Notably, much of the evidence arose from Combs’ former girlfriends: Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, and another identified only as “Jane” to the jurors. Ventura testified across four days, explaining her involvement in numerous “freak offs” as a requisite for intimacy with Combs, who would watch or film these encounters. Meanwhile, “Jane” spent six days detailing her experiences titled “hotel nights,” noting her perspective change after starting therapy recently. She confessed to engaging in these actions due to her feelings for Combs.
Ventura’s relationship with Combs spanned from 2007 to 2018, while “Jane” was intermittent in his life from 2021 up until his arrest disrupted plans for a hotel rendezvous in New York. The testimony stage allowed the defense to bolster Combs’ case by cross-examining witnesses, some of whom testified reluctantly or under immunity agreements.
Combs has been actively participating in his legal defense, often communicating with his attorneys and signaling when to halt questioning. On one occasion, his enthusiastic nods towards the jury were reprimanded by the judge following prosecutor concerns. The gestures were considered akin to testimony without being cross-examined, and a repetition could lead to exclusion from trial proceedings.
Recently, both sides presented the jury with over 40 minutes of footage captured by Combs during the “freak offs” or “hotel nights”. Although some jurors showed discomfort during the viewings, they largely maintained their composure. Defense attorney Geragos, in her opening remarks, described the recordings as “powerful evidence” indicating the consensual nature of the interactions. The trial is set to hear closing arguments this coming Thursday.