HOT 91.7 FM DIDDY: Day One of Sex Trafficking Trial
Written by Ariel Newbold on May 13, 2025
Monday in New York City, attorneys in the Sean “Diddy” Combs‘ federal sex trafficking trial made their opening statements to the jury of eight men and four women ranging in age 30 to 74. This trial may go seven weeks. It could be after the Fourth of July when we know a verdict.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson told jurors that Diddy operated “an abusive empire for two decades.” He used “an inner circle of bodyguards and high-ranking employees” to facilitate and conceal crimes from kidnapping, sex trafficking, drug distribution to violent assaults. Prosecutors detailed events known as “freak offs.” Diddy pressured women into sexual acts with male escorts while he watched and recorded home video.
Defense attorney Teny Geragos countered that the case is about “love, jealousy, infidelity and money.” She argued that prosecutors have misrepresented kinky consensual adult relationships as criminal behavior (quote) “You are not here to judge him and his sexual preferences.”
His former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, will likely be on the witness stand today. She’s pregnant and due shortly. So the government’s witnesses yesterday helped to set the stage for her testimony.
The first witness worked security for the hotel where surveillance video revealed Diddy assaulting Cassie. He offered a “sack of money” to the hotel employee (quote) “Don’t tell anyone.” The second witness, a male escort, said he was paid up to $6000 to have sex up to 10-hours while Diddy watched and gave instructions.
Diddy’s mother and grown children attended the first day of trial. However, his daughters left the courtroom during detailed testimony of graphic sex acts that included urination. (ABC News)
