The trial for Sean “Diddy” Combs is set to begin soon as he prepares to testify in his own defense, according to a documentary from TMZ Studios. His lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, said in the preview for “The Downfall of Diddy: The Indictment,” that Combs will eagerly tell his side of the story.
Combs’ decision to testify is risky, as it could expose him to cross-examination by prosecutors on various issues, including footage of him beating his ex-girlfriend Cassie and allegations about his “freak off” parties. The Bad Boy Records founder was arrested on September 16 for racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution.
The indictment against Combs alleges that he “abused, threatened, and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct” for decades. The rapper is also accused of creating a criminal enterprise whose members and associates engaged in various activities, such as sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice.
Federal agents raiding Combs’ homes in Miami and Los Angeles discovered 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lube used during “freak off” sex sessions, according to the indictment. Staff members of Combs are said to have helped arrange these sessions where victims were forced to engage in sexual acts while Combs masturbated and recorded them.
Agnifilo defended his client’s behavior, saying that it was not 1,000 bottles but rather a lot, implying that Americans buy in bulk. He also mentioned that these are consensual adults participating in consensual activities, adding that sex cannot be considered a bad thing because, otherwise, there would be no more people.
Combs faced another legal issue in November 2023 when his former girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie, sued him for domestic and sexual abuse. The case was settled out of court after just one day, but it opened the floodgates for multiple other alleged victims to come forward with their own lawsuits against Combs. He denied any wrongdoing despite video footage showing him assaulting Cassie in a hotel hallway resurfacing in May.
Following his recent arrest, Combs was held without bail and placed on suicide watch at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where he shares a facility with FTX crypto fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried.
