Diddy Files: Prosecution Takes 5 Hours for Closing Argument

Closing arguments began in the high-profile federal trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs in New York, marking the final stage of a seven-week case centered on charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution.

The prosecution, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik, delivered a nearly five-hour closing argument, portraying Combs as the leader of a criminal enterprise that used "power, violence, and fear" to coerce and control victims, specifically focusing on two former girlfriends, Casandra "Cassie" Ventura and a woman identified as "Jane."

Slavik argued that Combs orchestrated a decades-long pattern of criminal activity, leveraging his wealth, fame, and influence to operate above the law. She detailed how Combs allegedly coerced Ventura and Jane into participating in drug-fueled sexual encounters, termed "freak-offs" or "hotel nights," involving male escorts, which were often recorded for Combs’ voyeuristic pleasure. 

These encounters, she claimed, were not consensual but driven by coercion, including threats of violence, financial control, and manipulation. 

The prosecution highlighted specific racketeering predicate acts, including: 

• Sex Trafficking: Slavik argued that Combs used drugs like Ecstasy, MDMA, and ketamine to keep Ventura and Jane compliant during grueling, sometimes days-long sexual encounters, leaving them exhausted and physically harmed (e.g., urinary tract infections). She emphasized that even one coerced "freak-off" was sufficient for conviction on the sex trafficking charges.
• Forced Labor: Beyond Ventura and Jane, former assistants "Mia" and Capricorn Clark were presented as victims of forced labor. Mia testified to sleep deprivation and sexual assaults, including an incident where Combs allegedly raped her, while Clark faced threats and unpaid overtime, with Combs allegedly destroying a document showing $80,000 owed to her.
• Witness Tampering and Obstruction: Slavik pointed to recorded 2023 phone calls where Combs and his chief of staff, Kristina Khorram, allegedly tried to manipulate Jane into adopting a narrative that she willingly participated in the encounters. Similar efforts were made with Mia, involving Combs’ bodyguard "D-Roc" to neutralize her as a threat after Ventura’s 2023 civil lawsuit.
• Bribery and Other Crimes: The prosecution cited a $100,000 payment to a hotel security guard for surveillance footage of the 2016 Ventura assault, alleged arson involving a Molotov cocktail thrown at Kid Cudi’s car, and drug distribution to facilitate "freak-offs."

The defense did not present its closing argument on June 26, as it was scheduled for the following day, Friday, June 27, 2025, with attorney Marc Agnifilo expected to speak for approximately three hours.