Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs cut off the judge presiding over his sex trafficking trial to tell him that he would not be testifying on Tuesday afternoon.
Combs, 55, stood up in front of Judge Arun Subramanian and confirmed his answer, and even spoke over him to make it clear he won’t be taking the stand.
The judge asked Diddy: ‘Have you discussed whether you should or should not?’
‘Yes, thoroughly. Yes, have discussed it,’ the rapper replied, in his first words to the Manhattan court since his federal sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy trial started over seven weeks ago.
Judge Subramanian began to speak before Diddy cut him off and added: ‘That is solely my decision. It’s my decision with my lawyers.’
The prosecution rested their case on Tuesday, and closing arguments are expected to begin Thursday.
Combs allegedly used his fame and power, as well as violence, to force his girlfriends into his ‘freak-off’ sex marathons. The defense argue prosecutors are trying to criminalize sexual activity between consenting adults.
The disgraced rapper has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The trial continues.
This live blog has now closed.
Breaking:Diddy confirms he will not be testifying in trial
On Tuesday afternoon, Diddy stood up as District Judge Arun Subramanian asked him if he wanted to testify in his sex trafficking trial.
The judge asked him: ‘Have you discussed whether you should or should not?’
‘Yes, thoroughly. Yes, have discussed it,’ Diddy replied.
‘Decision not to testify?,’ the judge asked.
‘That is my decision, your honor,’ Diddy answered.
Judge Subramanian then began to speak as Diddy cut him off and added: ‘That is solely my decision. It’s my decision with my lawyers.’
‘Your decision to make?,’ the judge clarified.
‘My decision,’ Diddy responded.
What is a charging conference?
In a trial, a charging conference is a meeting between the judge and the lawyers (usually held outside the presence of the jury) to discuss and finalize the jury instructions—the rules of law the jury must follow when deciding the case.
During this conference, both sides can propose instructions, object to others, and the judge makes final decisions on what will be given to the jury.
The charging conference in the Diddy trial will be held Wednesday.
Stipulation reveals certain witnesses did not initially report sexual contact or threats by Diddy to authorities
A stipulation in Diddy’s case noted that Daniel Phillip, the man the embattled rapper allegedly hired to have sex with his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura,’would feel jealous’ when he watched the couple have sex because he liked her romantically.
Phillip also told law enforcement about an interaction he had with a female client.
According to Phillip, in December 2023, the woman contacted him and said her husband asked what she wanted. She requested to be rubbed down in oil by another man.
Meanwhile, Dawn Richard, a former member of Danity Kane – a group signed by Diddy’s Bad Boy Records – did not say that he threatened her by saying ‘where he comes from, people go missing if they say things,’ the stipulation detailed.
Mia, one of Diddy’s former assistants who testified, did not say her then boss initiated sexual contact with her in the first three meetings with law enforcement, according to the stipulation.
Cassie’s longtime friend Bryana Bongolan, did not tell prosecutors prior to the trial that Diddy threatened to kill her at a photoshoot, the stipulation read.
Daniel Phillip, the man Diddy allegedly hired to have sex with his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, is seen on the stand
Dawn Richard, a former member of Danity Kane – a group signed by Diddy’s Bad Boy Records – is seen leaving Manhattan Federal Court
Diddy appeared confident and spoke to friend after court
Diddy seemed confident as court wrapped up this afternoon, and was seen giving his lawyers hugs and handshakes.
He also spoke with a friend, a black man, in the public gallery.
He was overheard saying ‘we’ll see what happens.’
Jury dismissed for the day
The judge dismissed the jury for the day and told them they will be off tomorrow.
Jurors are due back in court Thursday, when closing arguments are set to begin.
Prosecutor Maurene Comey said she doesn’t think jury deliberations will start until Monday.
Both defense attorneys and prosecutors have agreed to hold court Thursday and Friday from 9am-5pm.
Diddy’s defense team rests
Diddy’s defense team has rested his case after just 23 minutes.
Prosecutor Maurene Comey said the government does not intend to present a rebuttal case.
Diddy lawyers read nine sets of texts between Diddy and Ventura into the record and two stipulations and that was it.
The texts mostly aligned with freak offs and were designed to show that Ventura either enjoyed them or was a willing participant.
Defense shows Cassie discussed freak offs in text to Diddy
Defense Attorney Anna Esteavo read a snippet of a conversation between Diddy and Cassie Ventura from March 2017.
‘You think you can FO (freak off) without getting high? Lol,’ Diddy asked his then-partner.
‘Yeah I’ll just have to be at my level and what is good for me,’ she replied.
Estavo then went on to read a portion of messages between the pair from April 2017, where Diddy asked Cassie what she was planning on doing.
‘Be your little freak,’ Cassie answered.
In another message from May 2017 Cassie told Diddy she had just bought baby oil because ‘I couldn’t help myself.’
Another text read into record from Cassie to Diddy read: ‘The last round was pretty hot to me. I’m down for whatever.’
Cassie Ventura seen leaving her home on May 16 on her way to the Diddy trial.
Diddy’s defense begins
Diddy’s defense began in the courtroom at 3.07pm.
His lawyer Anna Estevao went on to read evidence into record.
Diddy’s mother’s reaction after revealing if he will testify
Janice Combs, Diddy’s mother, seemed animated after her son confirmed he won’t be testifying in his blockbuster trial.
She was spotted pointing a finger at her son though it is unclear how she felt about his decision.
‘Clear mind?’ ‘Yes sir’: Diddy’s ‘confident and charming’ chat in the courtroom
Diddy enthusiastically told the judge and courtroom on Tuesday that he had a clear mind.
The rapper, standing at his bench, was asked questions by Judge Arun Subramanian.
Among the queries, Subramanian asked if Diddy had taken any drugs in the last 48 hours.
Diddy responded in a confident voice: ‘No.’
He was then asked: ‘Mind clear?’
‘Yes, sir!’ Diddy answered.
Breaking:Diddy’s first words to the court: Rapper’s compliment to judge
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs spoke for the first time in his trial on Tuesday afternoon.
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.’
He addressed the judge personally, saying: ‘I wanted to tell you thank you. You’re doing an excellent job.’
Defense says there is no evidence Diddy’s former assistant knew his partners were being coerced
Alexanda Shapiro said there is no evidence Kristina Khorram, Diddy’s former assistant and ex-chief of staff, knew his girlfreind were being forced into sexual acts against their will.
She also said there is no evidence Khorram participated in facilitating any crimes for her former boss, except obtaining drugs for personal use.
Shapiro also alleged the conspiracy began in 2004, but Khrorram didn’t become involved until 2016.
The defense attorney also noted that Diddy lied to his former employee, per messages shown to the court, even though she was alleged to be his co-conspirator.
‘That’s not the way co-conspirators act with each other,’ Shapiro added.
Shapiro seen outside of court on June 18
Defense says prosecutors failed to prove alleged crimes against Diddy
Alexandra Shapiro, one of Diddy’s defense attorneys, is currently going over each count against her client and depicting how the defense believes the government did not prove each alleged crime.
‘There’s, at best, thin proof that any of the other employees willingly participated in crimes with and for Mr. Combs,’ she said in reference to the racketeering conspiracy count against him.
Shapiro went on to note that the exception was them obtaining small quantities of drugs for his personal use.
Prosecution rests as jury goes on lunch break
The government rested its case around 1.30pm Tuesday, wrapping up several weeks of testimony.
The jury was also sent on a lunch break.
Defense concluded cross-examination of federal agent
The defense ended its cross-examination of Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Joseph Cerciello.
Now, he will be turned over for re-direct by prosecutors.
Cerciello submitted several messages and videos submitted into evidence.
Diddy’s son Christian Combs visits Kanye West at Chateau Marmont after rapper attended father’s trial
Kanye, 48, was not pictured, however Christian, 27, was seen at the hotel with several friends and appeared in good spirits despite his father’s ongoing sex trafficking trial in New York City.
The pair shared a hug outside the courthouse before entering together.
Diddy seen nearly standing up to watch final freak-off video in court
Diddy was spotted leaning over in his seat, nearly standing up, as the final freak-off video played for jurors in court on Tuesday.
He was then seen writing notes after looking over to the table in front of him where the clip played on the monitor.
The jury watched six clips over two freak off videos, totaling just over six minutes.
Freak off videos play for jury as Diddy watches on
After fixing the issue with the jurors’ headphones, more freak off videos were played for them in court.
Diddy was seen looking over to the table in front of him where the video is playing on the monitor.
While they watched, the judge asked the courtroom deputy to mute the microphone out of concern people were able to hear the freak offs playing in the headphones.
The jury watched six clips over two freak off videos, totaling just over six minutes.
Diddy is seen talking to his lawyer in court Tuesday
Jane and Diddy discuss having new ‘entertainer’ sign NDA
Text messages presented in court revealed Diddy and Jane talking about having an ‘entertainer’ sign a non-disclosure agreement in August 2023.
In the exchange, Diddy asked her ex-girlfriend what she thought about ‘the new guy.’
‘He seems cool babe, hopefully he doesn’t know anybody we know lol,’ she responded.
Jane also told Diddy she would make sure the person signed the paperwork.
It is unclear if she followed through with the NDA or if the ‘entertainer’ was hired for a ‘hotel night.’
Disturbing new images from Diddy’s home show cache of guns, bullets, and mountains of baby oil
More photos of damning evidence against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs came to light on Thursday, including a collection of high-powered rifles, drugs and hundreds of bottles of baby oil.
The trove of photos were released by federal prosecutors as the trial at Manhattan federal court was stalled due to the Juneteenth holiday.
The items were collected by Homeland Security officials during the March 2024 raid at the disgraced Bad Boy mogul’s mansion in the exclusive Holmby Hills area of Los Angeles.
Investigators also found bags containing ketamine, which were also photographed as evidence.
Cassie asks Diddy how he’d feel if his kids were forced to participate in freak-off
A message from Cassie to Diddy in December 2015 showed her asking him how he would feel if his children were forced into freak-offs.
‘Oh & you know what sick and disgusting sh** I was reminded of the other day, you forcing me to tell my mom about [redacted] or you were going to leak some FO sh**,’ Cassie wrote.
‘Disgusting, right? My mom remembers that. She also got sh** on you so reevaluate what you say & do and ask yourself, if this was being said/done to Chance, Jesse [sic] or D’Lila how would it make you feel?’
Diddy simply replied: ‘I’m sorry,’ followed by several more responses, including: ‘4real,’ and ‘Damn, I’m really sorry.’
‘I REALLY DIDNT KNOW YALL FELT THAT WAY ABOUT ME…BUT I FEEL YOU. SORRY,’ he went on.
Diddy has three adult daughters, Chance and twins D’Lila and Jessie Combs, all 18.
The Combs’ sisters seen walking out of court on May 12
What is Diddy charged with?
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 racketeering and sex trafficking charges carry a minimum sentence of 15 years each, while transportation to engage in prostitution carries a maximum of 10 years behind bars.
Diddy tells Cassie ‘one scar is cute’ and she needs ‘to run to plastic surgeon now’
Another revealing text message showed Diddy telling Cassie: ‘And you need to run to a plastic surgeon now in March 2016.
She then replied: ‘No I want some respect.’
Cassie then appeared to be upset about another woman before telling him: ‘I feel stupid and I’m not doing this anymore.’
‘You played with the other scars,’ he replied. ‘Pls take this urgently. This is your management speaking. 1 scar is cute. But 2 scars we can’t have.’
See newly released text messages between Cassie and Diddy following her testimony
Prosecutors uploaded a plethora of text exchanges from Cassie Ventura’s testimony during the trial.
Ventura dated Diddy from 2007-2018 before marrying Alex Fine, Diddy’s former personal trainer, in 2019.
In one conversation from March 2016 Cassie told her then-boyfriend, who was listed as ‘Pop Pop’ in her phone, ‘I have scars all over and lumps in my face from getting hit.
‘I need more than a surgeon I need God,’ she added.
Further texts between Diddy and Jane revealed
Further conversations between Diddy and his ex-girlfriend appeared to show that Jane enjoyed being filmed during freak-offs.
On May 15 to May 16, 2023, Jane told Diddy ‘We didn’t film it, you forgot it, you promised you wouldn’t forget,’ seemingly referring to a freak-off.
Jane previously claimed Diddy threatened to release video tapes of her engaging in sexual acts with other men after she proposed he pay her $150,000.
Court see’s X-rated texts between Diddy and girlfriend about freak-offs
A text exchange between Diddy and his ex-girlfriend, who goes by Jane in the trial, were shown to the court on Tuesday.
The explicit messages appeared to show she enjoyed freak-offs.
On April 7, 2022, the day after a freak-off, Diddy texted Jane: ‘How you baby.’
‘Hey baby I’m good how about you,’ she replied.
‘Great. Checking on you adderall is the greatest lol,’ he answered.
Jane then recounted how she enjoyed their last meeting together, adding a drool face and kissing emoji to the message.
What is Diddy’s net worth?
In 2024, the disgraced rapper’s net worth was estimated at $400 million, according to Forbes.
That is a stark difference from his 2018 figure of $740 million, per the outlet.
His team then went on to claim Diddy is a billionaire, but did not offer documentation to the outlet to back that up.
His most valuable possession is likely his 17,000-square-foot mansion in the Holmby Hills section of Los Angeles, California, per public records.
The home, which is appraised at more than $61 million, was raided by federal agents and listed for sale last September.
Diddy faces more lurid allegations… from a tiny town thousands of miles away from his ‘freak offs’
‘Thank you for calling the Sean P Diddy Combs abuse helpline. This call is being recorded.’
This is the first thing that up to 40 people a week are hearing when they ring the Montana-based call center fielding legal complaints from alleged victims of the embattled music mogul.
‘We understand the strength and courage it takes to come forward,’ the message continues. ‘Any information you provide will be kept completely confidential, but we expect full honesty in order to properly assist you with your potential case.’
Andrew Van Arsdale, CEO of Reciprocity Industries, which runs the hotline, told the Daily Mail that the volume of calls has surged since the start of Diddy’s sex trafficking, racketeering, and assault trial.
Jury did not see more freak off videos due to technical difficulties
The jury was supposed to see more freak off videos this morning but technical issues stalled the viewing.
Just as the videos were about to play, a female juror said her headphones ran out of battery.
The defense then noted they were also having an issue and needed a minute to charge headphones.
Read a text chain between Jane and sex worker
On December 31, 2021, Jane, Diddy’s ex-girlfriend, and Kabrale, a male escort who took part in the freak offs, texted each other.
‘Happy new year love I’m cooking for my family,’ Kabrale sent to Jane.
‘You want to come tomorrow morning,’ she replied.
‘I’m definitely down for that,’ he responded.
Later on, their conversation continued.
‘Are you free to travel today, would love to have you (four heart emojis),’ Jane continued.
‘Here’re your flight info! I’ll have hotel info after.’
Kabrale then said: ‘Excited to see you as well love (two heart kissing emojis).’
The summary chart does not include all the warm texts from Jane to the escort.
How many witnesses did the prosecution call on?
A total of 34 witnesses were called by the prosecution throughout the course of the trial.
They testified to the prosecution’s claim that Diddy used his fame and multiple businesses, including Bad Boy Records and Sean John fashion line, to allegedly sexually abuse and exploit women for years.
So far, the blockbuster trial has consisted of a number of bombshell testimonies from his ex-girlfriend and main accuser Cassie Ventura, rapper Kid Cudi, Dawn Richard, a former member of Combs’ pop group Danity Kane, and his former executive assistant George Kaplan, among others.
Lawyers argued over evidence before jurors came in
Before the jury entered the courtroom, Diddy’s attorney’s disputed with prosecutors over text messages the defense wanted to submit to evidence.
The messages, between Diddy and his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, would help support the defense’s argument that Ventura was not forced to participate in freak offs.
The government is attempting to exclude those from being presented as evidence, as they say the messages are irrelevant to the case.
Technical issues in courtroom
Just as the videos were about to play, a female juror said her headphones ran out of battery.
The defense then noted they were also having an issue and needed a minute to charge headphones.
District Judge Arun Subramanian then told everyone to ‘take a look at your device.’
‘If you press the button you should see a battery meter, if you have no battery, raise your hand and we’ll charge it,’ Arun added.
Nobody indicated their headphones had low battery.
Jury enters courtroom
The jury has entered the courtroom at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan U.S. Courthouse in New York City.
Why won’t Diddy testify?
Diddy will not be testifying in his trial, and according to a legal expert that’s the right call to make.
‘It would be a big gamble for Diddy to take the stand,’ Mark D. Chutkow, a former federal prosecutor, told People.
‘Even though the prosecution has introduced a mountain of evidence of bad acts by charging this case as a racketeering conspiracy, the prosecution would be able to pile on even more evidence of bad acts during cross-examination.
‘So, it makes sense for Diddy not to testify,’ he added.
The defense is also said to call no witnesses – something Chutkow said is also a good decision.
‘[Their] decision not to call any witnesses will also allow his defense team to argue to the jury during closing that there was no need to take up any more of the jury’s time, because the defense already showed enough reasonable doubt during their cross-examination of the government’s witnesses,’ he explained.
‘It also allows the defense to remind the jury that Diddy has a presumption of innocence and the government always has the burden of proving his guilt, which it hasn’t done.’
Chukow added that if he were to do so ‘he might put himself in a worse position.’
‘Oftentimes, “less is more” when you’re defending a client in a criminal trial. And it’s safer for the defense to read stipulated evidence into the record, such as prior electronic communications between Diddy and the alleged victims.
‘Such stipulated evidence can’t be cross-examined and it minimizes the chance that the prosecution will put on a rebuttal case.’
Diddy is seen in court Monday
Diddy told Jane he’s ‘serving orgasms and foodgasms’ in explicit text exchange shown in court Monday
In one text exchange from November 7, 2021 Diddy and Jane discussed their day, the court saw Monday.
Diddy asked her: ‘Hey baby how are you?’
‘Hey cutie i’m good how’s your Sunday,’ she replied.
‘Pretty good, just got back from cooking for brunch,’ he wrote back, before going on to seemingly send her some sort of explicit image.
‘Sheesh you need to come with a warning signs (closed monkey face emojis),’ Jane said. ‘How’s the brunch lol these pics.’
‘It was good, they loved the food for the most part. Lol,’ he replied.
‘I’m serving orgasms and foodgasms,’ Diddy added.
‘(Laugh emoji) That’s def the first time I’ve heard that,’ Jane responded.
Diddy arrives in court for day 29 of trial
Diddy arrived in court Tuesday morning donning an orange sweater.
He was seen sitting at the defense table, combing through papers inside a folder.
The 55-year-old then leaned his head back and appeared to sigh.
Before his blockbuster trial kicked off, the disgraced rapper was told he could wear his own clothes in court and ditch his prison outfit.
But the judge set certain conditions on Diddy, who has designed his own clothing range and once won a prestigious fashion industry award.
He can only have up to five pairs of pants, shirts and socks and only two pairs of shoes – with no laces.
Diddy seen in court Tuesday surrounded by his lawyers
Diddy said one of the escorts he griped about paying for ‘couldn’t even perform’ on Monday
In messages shown to the court on Monday with Bridget Collins, the boss of the escort service Cowboys4Angels, Diddy critiqued the escort he booked.
‘LOL he couldn’t even perform,’ he told Collins.
‘You’re paying for the gentleman’s,’ she responded.
‘He’s lucky he got that,’ Diddy said.
Collins then replied: ‘It doesn’t matter what happens on an appointment..(you could go skydiving).’
‘I’m not trying to be smart to you. Talk nice to me because I always talk nice to you. Being I’m a longtime customer,’ the music mogul said.
‘I’m sorry if I came across as anything other than disrespectful….sometimes,’ Collins stated.
Diddy then said: ‘It’s all good, it’s all love. Anyone else in NYC?’
Court in session
Court has begun this morning with the judge and lawyers in.
There is currently a dispute over evidence. The jury is yet to to be seated.
The prosecution will call Joseph Cerciello, Special Agent US Dept Homeland Security Investigations, HSI back to the witness stand this morning. Cerciello is their final witness before they rest their 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.
Oprah cracks joke on-stage while revealing if she ever attended any of Diddy’s notorious white parties
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ ongoing sex trafficking trial has left A-list stars fearful of having their names dragged into the scandal.
But Oprah Winfrey has revealed that her conscience is completely clear.
‘First off, I have never been near a Puff Party – never been near it,’ she told the audience during her panel at the Good Soil Forum in Dallas last week.
‘And anybody who knows me knows if there is a party, I am the first one out,’ she jokingly added, prompting laughter from the crowd.
Oprah was dragged into the Diddy chaos earlier this month after an AI-generated deepfake shared widely online claimed she – along with Jennifer Lawrence and Jim Carrey – was a witness in the 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.
Trove of intimate photos revealed by ex-girlfriend ‘Jane’
Among evidence photos to become public this week is a trove of intimate snaps from Diddy’s relationship with ‘Jane’.
Photographs show the rapper on a beach, in cars, at dinner and relaxed on balconies as they spent time together.
Others are more explicit – they depict his collection of lingerie and dozens of bottles of Johnson’s baby oil and Astroglide.
