Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs faces a legal battle that could end his decades-long career as prosecutors seek to introduce damning evidence of alleged “Freak-Offs” at his upcoming sex trafficking trial.
At a Glance
- Sean “Diddy” Combs faces federal charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and prostitution
- Prosecutors want to introduce evidence of past alleged sexual assaults to establish a pattern
- Over 100 civil lawsuits have been filed against Combs alleging sexual abuse and exploitation
- Combs has been denied bail multiple times amid concerns of witness tampering
- His trial is scheduled to begin May 5, with Combs currently held at Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn
Mounting Federal Charges
Sean “Diddy” Combs now faces five federal charges including sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and engaging in prostitution. The music mogul was arrested in September following raids on his Los Angeles and Miami properties in March 2024, where authorities reportedly seized drugs and supplies allegedly used for what prosecutors describe as “freak offs” – drug-fueled sexual marathons that sometimes lasted for days.
Federal prosecutors recently announced two additional criminal charges in Manhattan court, involving allegations against another victim dating from 2021 to 2024. The severity of accusations has intensified public scrutiny of the case, with allegations including kidnapping, drugging victims, and coercing women into sexual activities against their will as part of what authorities claim was a criminal enterprise run through his Bad Boy Records label.
Sean "Diddy" Combs appealed a judge's decision to keep him locked up in jail as he fights federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges — rebuffing the government's witness tampering allegations as "exaggerated rhetoric."https://t.co/BSHS24X2pU
— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) October 9, 2024
Legal Battle Over Past Allegations
At the center of the pre-trial maneuvering is prosecutors’ push to introduce testimony about Combs’ alleged past sexual assaults. Federal authorities argue these accounts establish a pattern that undermines Combs’ defense that all encounters were consensual. According to court documents, prosecutors believe the additional testimony “powerfully establishes that the defendant made no mistake when he coerced other victims into unwanted sex.”
The rap mogul’s defense team has vigorously opposed this strategy, arguing it would unfairly prejudice the jury. They’ve characterized the government’s approach as an attempt to “pollute the trial with decades of dirt” and secure a conviction based on portraying Combs as a bad person rather than proving the specific charges. The legal team maintains that all relationships were consensual and involved private sexual activities between adults.
Cassie’s Lawsuit and Mounting Civil Claims
The criminal charges follow a high-profile lawsuit filed by Combs’ former girlfriend Cassie Ventura under the New York Adult Survivors Act, alleging years of physical and sexual abuse. While Combs settled that lawsuit for an undisclosed amount without admitting wrongdoing, surveillance footage later emerged appearing to corroborate some of her claims, showing Combs physically assaulting her in a hotel hallway in 2016.
Beyond Ventura’s claims, more than 100 civil lawsuits have been filed against Combs alleging various forms of sexual abuse and exploitation. Among the most serious allegations are claims that he drugged and raped both men and women over decades, including a musician and a 16-year-old babysitter. In one particularly damaging development, Combs was hit with a $100 million default judgment for an alleged 1997 sexual assault.
Continued Legal Troubles While Detained
Combs has been held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn since his arrest, with multiple bail requests denied amid concerns about witness tampering. Prosecutors have alleged that even while incarcerated, Combs attempted to influence witnesses by using other inmates’ phones to make contact. These accusations have further complicated his legal situation and reinforced the court’s decision to keep him detained until trial.
With the trial scheduled to begin on May 5, both sides continue to battle over what evidence will be permitted. Combs’ ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura and three other alleged victims are expected to testify against him. The case has been assigned to federal judge Arun Subramanian, who will ultimately decide which past allegations can be presented to the jury as the music mogul faces charges that could result in decades behind bars if convicted.
