Sean “Diddy” Combs, the hip-hop mogul once celebrated for his lavish parties in the Hamptons, is set to face a federal trial on serious charges including sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy, starting on May 5, 2025. Prosecutors allege that for over two decades, Combs exploited his fame and power to abuse women during secretive gatherings referred to as “Freak Offs.”
The indictment against Combs paints a disturbing portrait of a man who allegedly used his celebrity status as a weapon against vulnerable individuals. According to the 17-page document, these parties were not just ordinary gatherings; they involved drug-fueled orgies where women were reportedly coerced into performing sexual acts, sometimes with male sex workers, while Combs filmed the encounters. The allegations detail a range of abusive behaviors, including choking, hitting, and dragging women, with one shocking claim stating that Combs dangled a victim from a balcony.
As the trial approaches, jury selection is scheduled to begin on Monday, with opening statements expected to follow on May 12. If convicted on all charges, Combs could face decades in prison, a stark contrast to the glamorous life he has led as the founder of Bad Boy Records.
Among the key figures in this case is Cassie Ventura, Combs’ former girlfriend, who filed a lawsuit in late 2023 alleging years of physical and sexual abuse. Ventura’s lawsuit introduced the term “Freak Offs” to the public and was settled within a day. However, it triggered a broader investigation that led to federal agents raiding Combs’ homes in Los Angeles and Miami, where they seized 96 electronic devices and three AR-15-style rifles with defaced serial numbers.
Combs, 55, has been in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn since his arrest in September 2024. He has pleaded not guilty to charges including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. Prosecutors allege that he coerced at least three women into sex acts during the aforementioned “Freak Offs,” where they were allegedly drugged and forced to engage in sexual activities for extended periods.
The upcoming trial will focus on the testimonies of four women, including Cassie. Prosecutors plan to present a wealth of evidence, including travel records, text messages, and video footage. A particularly damaging piece of evidence is a 2016 surveillance video showing Combs assaulting Cassie in a hotel hallway, footage that he later admitted to, calling it “disgusting.”
Combs’ defense team, led by attorney Marc Agnifilo, argues that the relationships and sexual activities were consensual. They claim that the settlement of Cassie’s lawsuit opened the door for false allegations from others. Agnifilo acknowledged Combs’ past struggles with drug use and toxic relationships but emphasized that he was undergoing therapy before his arrest. “That was their thing,” Agnifilo said, referring to the so-called Freak Offs. “It was a sought-after, special part of their relationship.”
This trial is not Combs’ first encounter with the legal system. In 2001, he was acquitted of charges related to an illegal handgun found in a Manhattan nightclub where gunfire erupted, injuring three people. The rapper’s entourage member, Jamal Barrow, known as Shyne, was convicted in that incident and served nearly nine years in prison.
As the trial unfolds, the courtroom will not be televised, adhering to federal court regulations. Visuals from inside the courtroom will likely come from a sketch artist, while CNN will provide extensive coverage through its reporters both inside and outside the court.
Judge Arun Subramanian, who presides over the case, has ruled that most evidence regarding prior sexual assault allegations not included in the indictment will not be permitted at trial. This ruling has been a point of contention, as many alleged victims have come forward with claims against Combs, including minors at the time of their allegations. However, these civil suits will not be part of the federal criminal trial.
As the trial begins, the stakes are high for Combs, who faces a potential life sentence if convicted on all counts. The prosecution aims to demonstrate a pattern of abuse and exploitation, while the defense will work to portray the relationships as consensual and the allegations as opportunistic.
With jury selection about to commence, the world will be watching closely as the trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs unfolds, potentially reshaping the narrative surrounding one of hip-hop’s most influential figures.
