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By EMMA RICHTER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM and DAN BATES FOR DAILYMAIL.COM and KATRINA SCHOLLENBERGER
Updated:
Diddy courtroom sketch artist Christine Cornell admitted she 'may have crossed the line' and 'let her feelings creep in' when drawing the music mogul in his sex trafficking trial.
'He actually looks pretty sinister,' Cornell told NBC News of the sketch she drew of Diddy watching ex girlfriend Cassie Ventura testify the second week of the trial. 'I confess, I am having a little bit of a hard time with him,' she admitted.
Cassie, who was eight months pregnant at the time she took the stand, detailed their turbulent 10-year relationship while testifying. The singer claimed she was violently beaten and coerced into participating in horrific sex sessions during 'freak offs' that could last up to four days.
Closing arguments began today from the prosecution in Diddy's seventh week sex trafficking trial.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik laid out to the jury the type of person the embattled rapper is - someone who 'counted on silence and shame' to stop people from speaking out.
Both the prosecution and defense rested their cases on Tuesday. The defense rested after just 23 minutes.
All charges against him still remain. Diddy denies any wrongdoing.
Courtroom sketch artist speaks of Diddy's 'sinister' look
Christine Cornell, one of the sketch artist drawing scenes inside the courtroom during Diddy's trial made a shocking confession about the embattled rapper.
'He actually looks pretty sinister,' she told NBC News in reference to a sketch she drew of him while he watched Cassie Ventura testify.
'It was one where I thought, "Did you cross the line, Christine? Are you letting your feelings creep in?"
'Because I confess, I am having a little bit of a hard time with him,' Cornell admitted.
Cornell previously sketched President Donald Trump during his hush money trial.
All the explosive testimony from inside Diddy courtroom on Daily Mail's podcast The Trial
To hear all the explosive testimony from singer Cassie Ventura and the other witnesses in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' trial, tune in to Daily Mail's hit podcast The Trial.
From sworn testimony to video evidence and the rapper's every subtle move, our team of journalists take you inside the courtroom of the world's biggest celebrity case.
Daily Mail has been following Diddy's downfall from the very beginning. Join us as we hear from experts involved in the case, and members of the rapper's inside circle.
Jury to hear defense's closing arguments Friday
The defense will deliver their closing arguments tomorrow in court.
His lead lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, will begin their argument starting 9am.
Marc Agnifilo seen walking into the courthouse Thursday
Diddy acknowledges family and waves at gallery after court
Diddy was seen nodding his head at his family after court wrapped up this afternoon.
He was then spotted waving to the public gallery, smiling as he did so.
He chatted with his lawyer Marc Agnifilo and looked very relaxed.
The 55-year-old then moved on to the gallery to chat with his family.
His daughters blew him kisses and he did the same back.
Prosecutor's closing argument lasts nearly five hours
The prosecutor's closing argument went on for four hours and 49 minutes Thursday.
Both the defense and prosecution said their statements would take about four hours.
Final statement in prosecutor's closing argument
To end her closing argument, Slavik finished with this: 'A lot of evidence was hard to hear, hard to see.
'The defendant ran his criminal enterprise with total control and with the loyal assistance of his inner circle.
'Foot soldiers, personal assistants….who knew their one job was to say yes to the defendant.
'All of this [paints a] clear picture of how the defendant committed crime after crime for two decades, how he didn’t take no for an answer….
'Up until today the defendant was able to get away with these crimes because of his money, his power and influence. That stops now, it’s time to hold him accountable.' she ended.
Diddy knew he was in trouble following Cassie's 2023 lawsuit, government says
After Cassie filed her lawsuit against Diddy in 2023, he knew he was in hot water, prosecutor Christy Slavik said.
Because 'public reaction was swift,' he 'worked to neutralize two of the people who could damage him most: Jane and Mia,' she added.
At the time, he instructed assistant Kristina Khorram and security guard D-Roc to assist with the fallout.
'But this time paying people off with $100,000 in a brown paper bag was not an option. He needed to stay under the radar,' she stated.
Diddy's HR department was his 'puppet', prosecutor claims
Slavik said the human resources department at Diddy's company acted as a 'puppet' for him because they did not advocate for the mogul's employees.
Former assistant Capricorn Clark, who worked for Diddy from 2004-2012, was repeatedly threatened personally and about her job, Slavik said.
When a paper with $80,000 in unpaid overtime was handed to Diddy he tore it up, she added.
Human resources did not do anything about it, the government said.
Diddy subjected 'Mia' to forced labor, sex acts and abuse, prosecutor says
Slavik said 'Mia', Diddy's former assistant, was a victim of forced labor as her closing argument wraps up.
'She performed labor for the defendant for eight years. Required to go without sleep all the time,' she said.
'Labor wasn’t just standard personal assistant stuff,' Slavik added, stating that when there was no one around to 'satisfy his sexual desires he turned to Mia, an employee he had complete control over.'
'Mia' on the stand during her testimony on June 2
Diddy's team slapped down by judge over bizarre Iran defense as monster trial nears verdict
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' legal team was slapped down by the judge presiding over his trial because of their alleged attempt to use the escalating conflict with Iran in their upcoming closing argument.
As the disgraced hip-hop mogul's bombshell sex trafficking trial nears a verdict, his team of attorneys reportedly planned on bringing up the escalating tensions between the US and Iran in court in a bid to relate it to his case, TMZ reported Monday.
Sources told the outlet the 55-year-old's defense 'may invoke the recent conflict' in their closing argument, and specifically go after the Homeland Security Investigators who raided his home in the Holmby Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles in March.
Government moves on to transportation to engage in prostitution charge against Diddy
Slavik dove into the evidence to support the transportation to engage in prostitution charge against Diddy.
She reviewed travel itineraries for sex workers who were often flown across the country for his freak offs, Slavik said.
She also went over the payments made for each trip, all of which were put on Diddy's American Express card.
The government also showed how both Cassie and Jane were often traveling with the escorts through Los Angeles, New York, Miami and out of the country to Ibiza and Turks and Caicos.
Prosecutor goes after 'ridiculous argument' defense made about escort
During her hours-long closing statement, Slavik briefly brought up Daniel Phillip, an escort and male stripper who testified during the trial.
From 2012-2015, Phillip was paid $700- $6,000, she said.
'He was not paid for his time. I'm not going to spend more than 10 minutes on this ridiculous argument.'
Daniel Phillip seen in court sketch during his tesimony on May 12
Government says freak off videos showed Diddy's 'fantasy, not Cassie's'
'You’ve seen clips. You don’t see weapons, don’t see defendant hitting Cassie. He probably wouldn’t,' Slavik said.
'You see Cassie chatting, masturbating, having sex. She’s following the defendant's directions just as Jane did.
'She’s performing just like Jane. Don't’ be fooled into thinking it’s any more than that, a performance.
'Everything Cassie told you about freak offs ’s is true - they were orchestrated, directed.The defendant is moving the camera around, at times focusing on the escorts.
'It’s clear this was his fantasy, not Cassie’s,' she added.
Cassie testified that the freak offs were gruelling and often lasted 36-72 hours. The longest was four days long.
Jane said the same things: 'Hotel Nights' lasted 24 - 32 hours. Hotel reservations corroborated these claims.
Defendant didn’t let Cassie or Jane sleep. Instead the defendant gave them drugs to make them stay away.
He told them to keep going and finish strong even when they were tired.
Bodies were sore from staying for hours in uncomfortable sex positions the defendant liked. Both testified they frequently got UTIs, Slavik said.
Cassie described how painful is was on the stand and said that she got so many of the infections that antibiotics stopped working for her.
Diddy held 'Cassie captive' on flight and 'made her watch freak off videos'
After the then-couple arrived in Cannes for the film festival, they soon got into an intense argument.
Diddy 'kicked her off the boat without anything,' including her shoes and passport.
They then caught a flight back to New York City where Diddy 'spent the entire flight holding Cassie captive and making her watch videos he recorded of freak offs and threatening to release them,' Slavik detailed.
Then when they landed, Diddy allegedly demanded a freak off from Cassie.
'She didn't believe she had a choice,' she added.
Prosecutor says dramatic hotel incident should prove Diddy committed sex trafficking
'The incident should leave no doubt the defendant committed sex trafficking; he chased her and beat her and tried to drag her back to the room,' Slavik told the jury.
She said this proves he was 'using force and coercion to get Cassie back to that room' so 'they could finish the freak off.'
Slavik added that the video was proof of what happens when Cassie 'said no' to Diddy.
Cassie is seen being dragged by Diddy in the video
Jury shown video of Diddy beating Cassie in hotel as his daughters watch on
The juryy rewatched the video of Diddy beating Cassie at the InterContinental Hotel on March 5, 2016.
As the video played, his 18-year-old daughters were seen watching a monitor intently.
Prosecutor reminds jury of his alleged sick sex act as he bows his head
During freak offs, Diddy would allegedly have escorts urinate on Cassie, Slavik reminded jurors.
As she said this, the rapper bowed his head and looked at his hands in his lap.
'She obviously didn't want (to do freak offs,' Slavik added.
'She obviously didn't want an escort urinating in her mouth while she was laying on the floor. The freak offs became a way to coerce into doing freak offs.'
'Sometimes he himself (Combs) or he would have the escort urinate on me… there was no conversation. It was a turn on for him, so it happened,' Cassie said during her testimony.
When asked if she had wanted this, she said a firm 'no', describing it as 'humiliating if anyone was there to see it.'
'There was no safe space for Cassie' as jury is reminded of her injuries
Slavik showed images of bruises and wounds Cassie suffered after Diddy allegedly became abusive after finding out about her relationship with Kid Cudi.
Another image showed her with a busted eyebrow after he slammed her into a bed frame.
'Any one of these attacks could have been terrifying [and] life changing but for Cassie it became normal because the defendant's violence was so unpredictable it was destabilizing.
'There was no safe space for Cassie. All the violence, threats of violence, the other ways the def controlled Cassie, they were part of the same pattern of coercion,' she added.
Diddy wanted 'total compliance' from Cassie and his 'control' on her 'defined their relationship'
The government said Diddy's goal was to have 'total compliance' over Cassie when they dated.
'With Cassie he thought he found someone (who would do that),' Slavik told jurors.
His 'efforts to control Cassie defined their relationship,' she added.
She went on to say that the defense would just like the jurors to call what he allegedly did to Cassie 'domestic violence,' but 'that misses the point.'
'The defendant was having freak offs with Cassie…the freak offs happened before, after and sometimes during the defendant's violent episodes.They were intertwined.
'The cloud of defendant’s abuse was hanging over Cassie’s head. Always hovering,' Slavik continued.
Prosecutor said taking drugs and having sex with escorts became Cassie's 'job'
Cassie and Diddy had an 'intense bond' throughout their relationship, which Slavik described as 'not normal.'
She said Diddy 'regularly threatened and beat cassie,' and also 'piled her high with drugs' to the point that she 'became reliant on them.'
He also 'forced and coerced her to have sex with escorts in front of him,' Slavik added.
'Like with Jane it became her job, it became her shame.'
'This is not an adult woman making a free choice,' government says of Jane
After describing the instances where Diddy allegedly forced Jane to have drug-fueled sex, Slavik said 'this is not an adult woman making a free choice.'
'It’s a woman whose told the def she doesn't want to do hotel night but relented to avoid any number of bad things happening to her.'
Diddy gave Jane a 'new drug' in 'hotel night'
Following the lunch break, Slavik continued with her closing statement, revealing that Diddy gave Jane a 'new drug' called 'liquid molly' during a 'hotel night' in July 2024.
'[The] defence showed you clips of movies from that hotel night,' she told jurors.
'They’ll argue [in] those videos Jane was into it, but what those videos really show you is she was super super high just like she told you.'
'She was different in those videos than the videos you've seen, she was high on a different drug.'
Diddy's 'madam' Kristina Khorram made enormous salary
Kristina Khorram, Diddy's former assistant, made $600,000 a year, prosecutor Christy Slavik said in her closing arguments.
Meanwhile, Brandon Paul, another one of his former assistant's made just $100,000 a year.
'But besides keeping the people….the defendant used the money and gravitas from his business to facilitate the crimes he committed,' Slavik stated.
'Over and over, the defendant and his inner circle agreed to commit crimes together. That’s what a racketeering conspiracy is.'
Court breaks for lunch
The court is on a break for lunch and is set to return at 1.15pm.
Slavik presented the first part of her closing arguments for about two hours and 20 minutes.
The prosecution is allowed another hour and 40 minutes for its argument to the jury.
Diddy dragged Jane by her hair and forced her to have sex after raids on his home, prosecutors said
On June 18, 2024, less than three months after Homeland Security Agents searched Diddy's home, he arrived at Jane's home for what was supposed to be a fun date night.
They soon got into an argument about another woman, leading Jane to call him names and Diddy to kick open a locked door she ran behind.
'He wouldn't take no for an answer,' Slavik said.
Jane then hit Diddy, who responded by punching her twice in the face. Her injuries were still visible even under makeup days later.
Jane then ran into the yard as Diddy followed after her and soon grabbed her by her hair and dragged back inside the home.
'Up to this point it was a brutal assault of domestic violence,' Slavik said before going on to say that after 'brutally assaulting Jane, the defendant decided it was time for her to have sex with an escort.'
When Anton, the escort, arrived, diddy 'gave her a pill' and said 'take this f***ing pill, you're not going to ruin my night.'
She then said she didn't want to, to which Diddy replied: ‘Is this coercion?’
'He used that very specific word,' Slavik said.
'Was this coercion? The answer couldn't be clearer. She was afraid of the defendant because he’d just shown her in uncertain terms what he was capable of.'
Jane on the stand on June 10
Jane forced to have sex by Diddy after she vomited at 'sobriety party', government says
In October 2023, Jane sent a text that read she is 'not an animal' during a 'sobriety party.'
This was the last party before Diddy was supposedly going to get clean.
Jane soon found herself in a hotel room having sex with three different men.
Overwhelmed by the experience, Jane vomited, but Diddy would not let her stop, Slavik said.
'The defendant used coercion to make her keep going. Yet another reason the defendant is guilty of count four.'
Diddy pictured in 2002 at the 44th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles
Prosecutor details NYC trip where Diddy 'tricked' Jane
In September 2023, during a trip to New York City, Slavik said Diddy 'tricks Jane into thinking she will have a proper NYC weekend and then did a freak off.'
The jury was then shown text messages from Jane stating that she didn't want to go to the Big Apple to participate in sex marathons.
'He led her to believe there would not be a hotel night. But if he was going to get a hotel night he had to make sure she came. He lied,' Slavik said.
'As he’s telling Jane there won’t be a hotel night, he’s setting up a hotel night.'
She said this was a 'blatant example' of Diddy 'using fraud and coercion to get Jane to come to New York for a hotel night.'
During this time, he also gave Jane an ecstasy pill, Slavik added.
After Jane said she felt 'exploited' Diddy threatened to release sex tapes to father of her child
Slavik said Diddy 'went ballistic' after Jane said she felt like she was being 'exploited' during the freak offs and 'hotel nights.'
He then 'went on to attack in the heat of his anger the defendant called Jane and said he’d release hundreds of videos of her having sex with escorts to the father of her child,' the prosecutor detailed.
Prosecutor plays audio Diddy sent to Jane when she refused a 'hotel night'
The jury heard an audio recording from August 2023 when Jane told Diddy she didn't want to take part in a 'hotel night' he planned with three entertainers.
'Ain't nobody threatening you,' he told Jane.
But then he was heard saying: 'You getter get on your job... You got me on my job,' adding that Jane was in for 'a rude awakening.'
'Defendant conduct had one purpose, to get Jane to agree to do hotel nights,' Slavik said.
'Because the defendant knew exactly what he was doing, this was sex trafficking.'
She added that Diddy would 'gaslight, interrupt and talk over Jane.'
Diddy appears to shake his head dismissively as prosecutor goes on about Jane
Diddy appeared to be rattled by the prosecutor's statement on how he allegedly treated Jane.
He was seen shaking his head dismissively, appearing to question her as she said he 'was about to stop paying her rent' when Jane tried to avoid a sex-fueled 'hotel night.'
Diddy's daughters appear uncomfortable during closing arguments
While the prosecutor started to speak about Diddy's relationship with his ex-girlfriend Jane, his daughters D'Lila, Chance and Jessie appeared uncomfortable.
They were caught looking at the floor and staring blankly ahead as Slavik continued on.
D'Lila, Chance and Jessie Combs arriving at the courthouse Thursday
Diddy 'started grooming Jane', the government says
Slavik said Diddy 'started grooming Jane' who was 'chasing the intense feeling of love.'
In this, she noted that he was 'slowly introducing her to the elements of freak offs.'
'Defendant kept giving her drugs, began introducing her to his other preference, very high high heels, baby oil, red lights...,' Slavik went on.
The jury was then shown texts from Jane compalining about freak offs that lasted 30-40 hours straight.
'He was never satisfied, he was always pushing Jane to do more,' the prosecutor added.
Jurors shown slide picturing all escorts Cassie and Jane interacted with during 'freak offs' and 'hotel nights'
The prosecution showed jurors a slide of all the escorts Cassie and Jane were sexually involved with during 'freak offs' and 'hotel nights'.'
There were six men under 'both,' 16 under 'Cassie' and some under Jane.
There were 27 escorts pictured in total.
Slavik said: 'We're not asking you to find that every single Freak off or every single hotel night was sex trafficking,' but also noted that on 'multiple occasions' Diddy 'made Cassie and Jane have sex by threatening them, drugging them, lying to them and being violent.'
Prosecution addresses acts of bribery related to Diddy beating Cassie in 2016 hotel incident
Slavik started off by mentioning the 2016 incident at the InterContinental Hotel, when Diddy was seen assaulting Cassie in an elevator lobby.
Diddy tried to bribe Israel Florez, the responding security guard, with a stack of cash.
During his testimony, Florez said he declined the money when he arrived at the scene and instead escorted Cassie out of the hotel room.
'He didn’t know the defendant had just beaten Cassie in a public area of the hotel, but the defendant knew what he did,' Slavik said of Diddy.
'Police involvement would be bad for the defendant…it would be bad for his career and bad for his image,' she added.
Slavik said his two 'most trusted' and 'loyal protectors,' Kristina Khorram and D Roc, then 'swing into action' to try and allegedly help Diddy cover it up.
'Kristina Khorram started trying to get that video surveillance at all costs.
'They're desperate for this video... if it's released it could ruin his career. They can't take no for an answer,' the prosecutor added.
Breaking:Diddy was '100 percent behind Kid Cudi's car blowing up', government says
The prosecution said Diddy was '100 percent behind' the arson involving rapper Kid Cudi's car.
On January 9, 2012 Cudi's Porsche was set on fire.
During closing arguments, the jury was shown images of the destroyed car and the definition of arson in law.
'This was arson. Someone cut a hole in the roof of Kid Cudi’s car and dropped a molotov cocktial into it,' U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik said.
'Only question is whether the defendant was responsible and of course the defendant was behind this.'
'He literally said he was going to blow up Kid Cudi’s car,' she added as the jury was shown Cassie's testimony.
The jury saw a 2011 email Cassie wrote saying Diddy would hurt her and Kid Cudi and would be out of the country when it happened.
'Such a coincidence the man Sean Combs hated and wanted to hurt had his car set on fire just two weeks after this email was sent,' she continued.
The U.S. details three acts of kidnapping Diddy allegedly committed
According to the prosecution, Diddy restricted the movements of others at least three different times - which are all examples of kidnapping.
The first was the kidnapping of Cassie in January 2009 after he stomped on her face and made her hide in a hotel while her injuries healed.
The second involved his former assistant Capricorn Clark in 2004 when he made her take a lie detector test and was forced to stay in New York with Uncle Paulie, Diddy's head of security at the time, because she had been holding expensive jewelry.
Clark was told if she failed the test, which she was forced to take in a locked room in a building, she would be thrown into the East River.
Slavik said it was a 'tactic defendant used to maintain control.'
'They were willing to kidnap their own employees to keep that control.'
The third example involved Capricorn again, when she said she was woken up to help him look for rapper Kid Cudi in 2011.
After finding out Cassie Ventura was seeing Kid Cudi, he 'barked an order at Capricorn' and told her to come with him to 'kill' Cudi, per the prosecutor.
'When Capricorn told the def she didn’t want to go with him, he told her I don’t give a f*** what you want to do, go get dressed. Didn’t take no for an answer.'
Cassie Ventura and Capricorn Clark in 2008
Government explains four elements of racketeering
Slavik said there are four elements of racketeering against Diddy.
1. There was a conspiracy to participate in the enterprise, which she said his employees did by agreeing to help him commit crimes.
2. It affected interstate or foreign commerce and that Diddy was knowingly a part of an enterprise.
3. The defendant knowingly and willfully became a member as he arranged for drugs and sex workers to travel across state lines.
4. Diddy agreed that he and another member would commit two racketeering acts. Slavik said Diddy's criminal enterprise agreed to commit crimes related to sex trafficking, drugs, bribery and arson to help cover up his alleged crimes.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik in court Friday
Diddy 'counted on silence and shame' to stop others from speaking out
The prosecution said Diddy 'counted on silence and shame (to stop people speaking out).'
'He thought his fame, wealth and power put him above the law,' Slavik added.
Prosecution says sex trafficking charges are 'the brutal crimes at the heart of the case'
The prosecution said the sex trafficking charges are 'brutal crimes at the heart of this case.'
'The defendant again and again forced and manipulated Cassie and Jane into having sex with escorts for his own entertainment,' Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik stated.
Diddy's sons and ex-partner walk into court
Diddy's son's Quincy and Justin seen walking into courthouse.
Sarah Chapman, the mother of Chance Combs, is seen walking into court.
'We're not talking about marijuana' the prosecution says of alleged drug use
When talking about the many drugs said to have been used during freak offs and throughout Diddy's relationships with his ex-girlfriends, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik specified which substances were preferred by the mogul.
'We’re not talking about marijuana, we’re talking about hard drugs, the kind of drugs the defendant fed to Cassie and Jane,' she said.
The jury was then shown a slide of the list of drugs found in Diddy's homes, including cocaine, methamphetamine, ketamine, ketamine, MDMA, GHB, psilocybin and Tusi - also known as pink cocaine.
'You know about the drugs the defendant took….and you know how he got them. He enlisted his assistant and his security staff to buy, pick up drugs and give the drugs to him,' she told the jury.
'Jane told you on two occasions the defendant instructed her to bring drugs to him.'
Prosecution calls racketeering charge against Diddy 'the Combs Enterprise'
In referencing the racketeering charge against the embattled rapper, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik said: 'I’m going to call it the Combs Enterprise. I’m not talking about the name of the company. Defendant was the head of the enterprise…what he said went.'
Slavik went on to refer to Kristina Khorram, Diddy's former assistant who has been referred to as 'KK' in the trial, as his 'right brain.'
She noted that his multiple assistants were 'foot soldiers' who 'were young and eager.'
'[They] didn’t blink an eye when instructed to do whatever it took to make the defendant happy, even when it meant facilitating crimes.'
The prosecutor went on to say that the weapons found during the raid on Diddy's home, including two AR-15 rifles, 'aren’t necessary for a professional security detail.'
Misa Hylton and Charlie Liucci arrive at court
Misa Hylton and Charlie Liucci were seen entering court Thursday morning.
Hylton is the mother of Combs' eldest child Justin.
Liucci has been seen throughout the trial wearing 'Free Puff' hoodies and escorting Diddy's children into court.
Prosecution's closing statement kicks off as they say Diddy 'doesn't take no for an answer'
The prosecution started their closing argument by stating that Diddy, 'the leader of a criminal enterprise,' does not 'take no for answer.'
'Across all, the defendant used power, violence and fear to get what he wanted. Dozens of witnesses agreed: he doesn't take no for an answer,' they continued.
They also said that Diddy used his 'small army of personal staff' throughout the years.
'No-one could stop him and he managed to do this for two decades because he used his money and influence to cover up his crimes.'
Diddy walked into courtroom holding book as he smiled with hand on heart
Diddy donned a blue sweater and gray pants in court.
He was spotted holding the book 'The Happiness Advantage' by Shawn Achor as he made his way into the courtroom, the New York Times reported.
He was also seen with his hand on his heart as he smiled at friends and family in the gallery.
The rapper poured himself a glass of water as he rocked side-to-side while standing, appearing to be a bit anxious.
Jury will 'decide their schedule' once closing arguments end
Judge Arun Subramanian said the jury will be allowed to determine their own schedule for deliberations once closing arguments conclude.
Courtroom is packed for day 31 of trial as Diddy's twin daughters make a statement
The courtroom is packed Thursday for day 31 of Diddy's trial.
His twin daughters, Jessie and D'Lila Combs, 18, are in the public gallery.
They are wearing striking matching outfits, including white jackets and pants along with black shirts. His other daughter Chance Combs is also there.
Diddy was spotted smiling at them.
His son's Quicy and Justin are also in attendence, along with Diddy's niece, nephew and his mother Janice.
Judge has entered the courtroom
Judge Arun Subramanian has entered the courtroom.
'There should be no disruptions in the courtroom,' he said.
'Please wait for a break to leave the courtroom and turn your cellphones off.
'When the jury comes in I plan to fill them in on the schedule,' he added.
The judge noted that today should be 'shorter' and tomorrow will last 'longer.'
Potential sentences Diddy could face for each charge against him
Diddy has been charged with two counts of sex trafficking, two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution and one count of racketeering conspiracy
If convicted for sex trafficking: Diddy could face a minimum of 15 years to a maximum of life in prison.
If convicted for engaging in prostitution: He could face up to 10 years in prison.
If convicted of racketeering conspiracy: The embattled rapper could face up to life in prison.
Closing arguments to begin at 10am as Diddy's family make their way to courtroom
Closing arguments in Diddy's trial are set to start at 10am.
His mother, Janice Combs, arrived early Thursday morning to support her son.
She has been at nearly every day of her son's trial, sitting in the gallery and listening to the government analyze her son's actions over the past 20 years.
It's been hard to read her expressions as she often wears large sunglasses in the courtroom.
Diddy's daughters also appeared to be in attendance, though it is unclear exactly which ones are there.
Janice Combs seen making her way into the courthouse
Judge laughed after Diddy complimented him
Diddy spoke for the first time in his trial Tuesday afternoon, making the judge chuckle.
The rapper took no time to pay his charming compliments to Judge Arun Subramanian in his first speech in front of the jury and witnesses.
When asked: 'Mr Combs, how are you feeling today?' Diddy replied in a confident, loud voice: 'I'm doing great.'
Diddy didn't stop there.
He addressed the judge personally, saying: 'I wanted to tell you thank you. You’re doing an excellent job.'
Judge Subramanian then laughed, People reported.
A review of the charges against Diddy
With Diddy's blockbuster trial in its seventh week and the verdict closing in, here is a review of the charges against him:
The disgraced rap mogul, 55, has been charged with two counts of sex trafficking, two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution and one count of racketeering.
According to prosecutors, the rapper used his 'multi-faceted business empire' to carry out a 'criminal enterprise' for years, allegedly coercing victims into sexual 'freak off' marathons and threatening them into silence.
The jury has heard from his former employees and ex-girlfriends who testified that Diddy was allegedly abusive toward them.
His former staffers specifically said he forced them to work long and tireless hours, procure drugs for him and clean up after his long 'hotel nights.'
Meanwhile, his two ex-girlfriends, Cassie Ventura and a woman by the pseudonym 'Jane' said Diddy made them both participate in drug and sex-fueld freak offs with escorts.
His defense team argues that Diddy's actions pointed toward his personal life and that prosecutors have failed to prove the criminal charges against him.
How long will the jury deliberate?
The jury in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' trial is expected to deliberate for an hour on Friday following closing statements today.
The prosecution is set to present their closing arguments today, with the defense doing the same first thing tomorrow.
After that, the prosecution will follow with their rebuttal before it moves on to the jury.
Diddy seen in court Wednesday during the charge conference
Why didn't Diddy's lawyers call witnesses?
Diddy's defense team did not call on any witnesses for his trial.
It is not unusual for legal teams to opt against calling witnesses in a trial because the weight of it is completely based on the prosecution proving charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
Because his team did not call witnesses, the defense believed the trial has already established enough doubt during cross-examinations.
It could have also meant there were no witnesses available who could help the case.
The downfall of Diddy - A DEEP DIVE into his life
He was the self-made New York billionaire whose notorious parties earned him the reputation as the modern day Jay Gatsby, reportedly attracting the likes of Donald Trump, Leonardo DiCaprio and Paris Hilton to his mansion in the Hamptons for his infamous ‘Gatsby-esque’ White Parties - where, according to civil court documents, guests were allegedly ‘drugged and raped.'
Following his arrest on September 16, 2024, Sean John Combs is being held on remand as inmate number 37452-054 at the notorious Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. He faces a string of federal charges, including conspiracy to racketeer; sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and transportation to engage in prostitution, all of which he has pleaded not guilty to.
DEEP DIVE delves into Diddy’s 30-year reign of excess and debauchery in unprecedented detail, starting with his ‘crazy’ fits of rage as a student in the 1980s that earned him the disturbing ‘Puff’ nickname.
Contained within hundreds of pages of civil court documents are the horrifying details of his tempestuous relationship with Cassie Ventura – which ultimately led to the floodgates opening.
Listen to Diddy trial audio of Cassie threatening to kill man over freak-off video leak
Audio of a distraught Cassie Ventura threatening to kill a man over a 'freak-off' video was released last week as part of the evidence in Diddy's trial.
The newly-released audio was played by the disgraced mogul's lawyers during their cross-examination of Cassie last month, but has only now become public after being uploaded into the evidence files.
'It's my f***ing life and I'll kill you,' Cassie told the unidentified man, who had apparently claimed to have seen a video of a freak off in 2014.
'If you don't show me right now I will kill you, and I will hide you and I will cut you up and put you in the f***ing dirt.'
Closing arguments set to begin today
Diddy's six week federal trial is set to wind down today as both the prosecution and the defense shape up their closing arguments.
The prosecutors are set to speak for four hours starting 10am, where the defense will make their case on Friday.
Both sides hashed out a closing aguments schedule in court on Wednesday during charging conference where jurors were not present.
Diddy kept a singular AirPod in his ear for the majority of the proceedings and looked down at his lap.
Diddy scores huge courtroom victory as prosecutors DROP key parts of charges
Sean 'Diddy' Combs scored a huge courtroom victory after prosecutors decided to drop key parts of the charges against him.
In a letter to U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian prosecutors said they will no longer pursue theories presented during the blockbuster trial, including that the music mogul was involved in attempted arson and kidnapping.
The two alleged acts were initially included in the government's racketeering conspiracy charge against Combs. All charges against him still remain.
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