Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now to the prosecution's closing arguments and the sex trafficking
(00:03):
and racketeering case against Sean Diddy Combes. Juriors in the
Manhattan courtroom hearing a systematic rundown of the evidence and
allegations against the mogul who denies all charges and just
a warning. This story contains accounts, descriptions, and visual content
of actual alleged events that some may find disturbing. Today,
(00:24):
Thougheral prosecutors in New York wrapped up their case against
Sean Diddy Combes and the explosive trial that has captivated
much of the world.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
The case against Sean Combs has been heart wrenching, shocking, disturbing.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
It's been more than six weeks of sexually explicit, graphic
and emotional testimony, with thirty four witnesses taking the stand
in over one thousand exhibits.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
We saw a different side of Sean cons not the
mogul or the rapper or the industry leader, but someone
who had very disturbing tendencies towards women and the people
around him.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Combs is charged with sex trafficking, racketeering, conspiracy and transferred
to to engage in prostitution. He is pleaded not guilty.
Combs is family and friends by his side in the
courtroom today, including several of his children, his mother in
longtime confidence, standing by the disgrace medium Mogul. As the
case nears its.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
End, courtroom was packed for the closing argument by the prosecutor.
For the first time since the beginning of the trial.
All six of Shawncolmbs's children were there, his mother. At
one point he gestured to the family row, urging them
to squeeze together to make room, and when Shawnclmbs entered courty,
put a hand over his heart, a gesture of love
and affection towards his family.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Combs recently exercised his right not to testify in his
own defense, telling the judge that is my decision with
my lawyers.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
It seems very calm, relaxed in his powder blue sweater
and button down shirt underneath.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Today, the prosecution spent nearly five hours trying to convince
a jury of eight men and four women ranging in
ages from thirty to seventy four, that one of hip
hop's most acclaimed figures coerced women into drug fueled sexual
marathons with male escorts known as freakoffs.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
The prosecutor asked the jury to imagine being a woman
in this situation who was forced to have sex for
hours in uncomfortable positions while they might have a urinary
tract infection. This was painful, and prosecutors said it was unwanted.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
In their final push, prosecutors aimed to show Comb's orchestrated
travel across state lines, presenting flight records and invoices as
evidence that Comb's coordinated cross state travel for sex workers,
aiming to prove he was running a criminal enterprise. Diddy's
defense arguing the sexual encounters were consensual and not coerised,
(02:48):
saying the rapper lived a swinger lifestyle. Combs's defense attorney
Tenny Garrigo said under opening statement that may not be
what you like to do in your bedroom, but you're
not here to judge him for his sexual preferences. She
later added, being a willing participant in your own sex
life is not sex trafficking. As part of the prosecution's exhibits,
(03:09):
the jury heard a voice memo from Combs to an
ex girlfriend and one of the women accusing him of
sex trafficking, who testified under the pseudonym Jane prosecutors say
the message exhibits Combs allegedly pressuring her into sex by
threatening to with whole financial support.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
I ain't trying to go back and forth with no woman.
You know what I'm saying. I'm telling you, I ain't
got no time James Me and you could be mad.
I have a spat, we can have whatevident. I did
you better get on your job.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
The prosecution also calling Combs the leader of a criminal enterprise.
He doesn't take no for an answer. The defendant used power,
violence and fear to get what he wanted, adding it's
his kingdom. Everyone was there to serve him.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
In its closing argument, the prosecution was able to focus
the jury on what they say is the strong evidence
that Shawn Colme's sex trafficked women and it was a
devastating portrait.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
Over the weeks, the jury heard from former employees, insiders
from the music industry, and close associates in the middle
Kanye West. The high profile trial also drew major star power,
Kanye West making a brief courthouse appearance, and big names
like Usher and Michael B. Jordan mentioned throughout testimony. Kid
(04:26):
Cutty even took the stand to testify did. He was
once at the pinnacle of the music industry and pop culture,
but Cracks and Combe's glamorous mogul persona began when his
ex girlfriend Cassie Ventura filed a civil lawsuit against him
in twenty twenty three, which was settled the next day
for twenty million dollars without admitting wrongdoing. Then six months later,
(04:49):
this graphic, abusive video from a hotel surveillance camera, footage
that would later be used as evidence in court. Though
Comb's first denied all wrongdoing, after seeing it and release
the video, he put out a statement on social media.
Speaker 4 (05:02):
Now I hit rock bottom.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
I'll make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
But for Combs, that was just the beginning. The details
of that civil lawsuit and that abusive video leading to
the federal investigation is arrest now his ongoing trial. Over
four emotional days of testimony, Cassie described in detail the
alleged abuse, including physical assaults, threats, and instances of alleged
(05:31):
for sex. She testified Colmbs referred to as free calls.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Cassie is the heart and the essence of this trial.
Without her or the intercontinental video, there might not be
a case here. Her testimony was powerful. It truly showed
the elements of sex trafficking. It showed also some of
the repercussions of what happens when an individual is allegedly trafficked.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
Cassie testified how Combs initially proposed encounters that he called voyeurism,
where he would watch me have intercourse and sexual activity
with a third party, specifically another man, all within the
first year of their relationship. Cassie testifies she continued to
participate in free colls. I knew it wasn't something I
wanted to be doing, but I was in love in
(06:17):
wanting to make him happy. I didn't feel like I
had much of a choice. Didn't really know what no
could turn into. Cassie said the freakoffs became so frequent
they became weekly events. In their cross examination, defense attorneys
trying to portray Cassie as a willing participant in a
consensual relationship for sending text messages that seemingly show Cassie
(06:39):
at times initiating the freak offs, at one point texting
freak off with the girl, Combs responding, what makes you
want to do that? But it was another witness, an
ex girlfriend under the pseudonym Jane, who tearfully described her
tumultuous three year relationship with Combs, which began in twenty
twenty one and ended when he got a rest in
(07:00):
twenty twenty four. Jane testified she also experienced similar sexual
demands that Cassie Ventur testified to day's long hotel nights
with male sex workers fueled by drugs and baby oil
while Comb's watched.
Speaker 4 (07:15):
Her testimony has really struck a chord. Not just her
testimony stand alone. Her testimony buttresses corroborates everything Cassie Ventura said.
These women they were baiting, they were threatened.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Along with Cassie, Jane is another alleged victim here, and
her testimony doesn't just carry the allegation of sex trafficking,
it also carries the allegation of transportation to engage in prostitution.
I think the connection and also the similarities between the
two showed to the jury that potentially, this is not
a mistake. This is a scheme or course of conduct.
(07:50):
And I use those words because that's how you describe
a rico.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
In closing arguments, the prosecution showed a text message threat
between Jane and Combe's former chief of staff, Christina Kurra Jane,
claims Combs threatened her she did not participate in Hotel Knights,
Jane writing, he just threatened me about my sex tapes
that he has of me. He said that he would
expose Megan send them to my baby daddy tomorrow. The
(08:15):
defense makes their final case to the jury.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
The defense called no witnesses, relying only on cross examination,
and expect the defense to argue that the women federal
prosecutors said were trafficked were not victims, but long term
girlfriends who were in relationships with Sean Combs because they
loved him and because they were willing to participate in
(08:40):
his polyamorous lifestyle.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
The government's case was very compelling. During closing argument, Ausa
Slavic stood just feet away from the jury giving her
closing argument, and at times they seemed very entranced what
she was saying, taking notes, but other times the jury
seemed to look away, uninterested in what she was saying,
or somewhat skeptical in the way that she defined or
articulated how facts came into this case that may be
(09:06):
the opening for the defense to raise reasonable doubt and
how they present their facts tomorrow
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Will of course continue to follow this trial
Now to the prosecution's closing arguments and the sex trafficking
(00:03):
and racketeering case against Sean Diddy Combes. Juriors in the
Manhattan courtroom hearing a systematic rundown of the evidence and
allegations against the mogul who denies all charges and just
a warning. This story contains accounts, descriptions, and visual content
of actual alleged events that some may find disturbing. Today,
(00:24):
Thougheral prosecutors in New York wrapped up their case against
Sean Diddy Combes and the explosive trial that has captivated
much of the world.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
The case against Sean Combs has been heart wrenching, shocking, disturbing.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
It's been more than six weeks of sexually explicit, graphic
and emotional testimony, with thirty four witnesses taking the stand
in over one thousand exhibits.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
We saw a different side of Sean cons not the
mogul or the rapper or the industry leader, but someone
who had very disturbing tendencies towards women and the people
around him.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Combs is charged with sex trafficking, racketeering, conspiracy and transferred
to to engage in prostitution. He is pleaded not guilty.
Combs is family and friends by his side in the
courtroom today, including several of his children, his mother in
longtime confidence, standing by the disgrace medium Mogul. As the
case nears its.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
End, courtroom was packed for the closing argument by the prosecutor.
For the first time since the beginning of the trial.
All six of Shawncolmbs's children were there, his mother. At
one point he gestured to the family row, urging them
to squeeze together to make room, and when Shawnclmbs entered courty,
put a hand over his heart, a gesture of love
and affection towards his family.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Combs recently exercised his right not to testify in his
own defense, telling the judge that is my decision with
my lawyers.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
It seems very calm, relaxed in his powder blue sweater
and button down shirt underneath.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Today, the prosecution spent nearly five hours trying to convince
a jury of eight men and four women ranging in
ages from thirty to seventy four, that one of hip
hop's most acclaimed figures coerced women into drug fueled sexual
marathons with male escorts known as freakoffs.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
The prosecutor asked the jury to imagine being a woman
in this situation who was forced to have sex for
hours in uncomfortable positions while they might have a urinary
tract infection. This was painful, and prosecutors said it was unwanted.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
In their final push, prosecutors aimed to show Comb's orchestrated
travel across state lines, presenting flight records and invoices as
evidence that Comb's coordinated cross state travel for sex workers,
aiming to prove he was running a criminal enterprise. Diddy's
defense arguing the sexual encounters were consensual and not coerised,
(02:48):
saying the rapper lived a swinger lifestyle. Combs's defense attorney
Tenny Garrigo said under opening statement that may not be
what you like to do in your bedroom, but you're
not here to judge him for his sexual preferences. She
later added, being a willing participant in your own sex
life is not sex trafficking. As part of the prosecution's exhibits,
(03:09):
the jury heard a voice memo from Combs to an
ex girlfriend and one of the women accusing him of
sex trafficking, who testified under the pseudonym Jane prosecutors say
the message exhibits Combs allegedly pressuring her into sex by
threatening to with whole financial support.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
I ain't trying to go back and forth with no woman.
You know what I'm saying. I'm telling you, I ain't
got no time James Me and you could be mad.
I have a spat, we can have whatevident. I did
you better get on your job.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
The prosecution also calling Combs the leader of a criminal enterprise.
He doesn't take no for an answer. The defendant used power,
violence and fear to get what he wanted, adding it's
his kingdom. Everyone was there to serve him.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
In its closing argument, the prosecution was able to focus
the jury on what they say is the strong evidence
that Shawn Colme's sex trafficked women and it was a
devastating portrait.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
Over the weeks, the jury heard from former employees, insiders
from the music industry, and close associates in the middle
Kanye West. The high profile trial also drew major star power,
Kanye West making a brief courthouse appearance, and big names
like Usher and Michael B. Jordan mentioned throughout testimony. Kid
(04:26):
Cutty even took the stand to testify did. He was
once at the pinnacle of the music industry and pop culture,
but Cracks and Combe's glamorous mogul persona began when his
ex girlfriend Cassie Ventura filed a civil lawsuit against him
in twenty twenty three, which was settled the next day
for twenty million dollars without admitting wrongdoing. Then six months later,
(04:49):
this graphic, abusive video from a hotel surveillance camera, footage
that would later be used as evidence in court. Though
Comb's first denied all wrongdoing, after seeing it and release
the video, he put out a statement on social media.
Speaker 4 (05:02):
Now I hit rock bottom.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
I'll make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
But for Combs, that was just the beginning. The details
of that civil lawsuit and that abusive video leading to
the federal investigation is arrest now his ongoing trial. Over
four emotional days of testimony, Cassie described in detail the
alleged abuse, including physical assaults, threats, and instances of alleged
(05:31):
for sex. She testified Colmbs referred to as free calls.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Cassie is the heart and the essence of this trial.
Without her or the intercontinental video, there might not be
a case here. Her testimony was powerful. It truly showed
the elements of sex trafficking. It showed also some of
the repercussions of what happens when an individual is allegedly trafficked.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
Cassie testified how Combs initially proposed encounters that he called voyeurism,
where he would watch me have intercourse and sexual activity
with a third party, specifically another man, all within the
first year of their relationship. Cassie testifies she continued to
participate in free colls. I knew it wasn't something I
wanted to be doing, but I was in love in
(06:17):
wanting to make him happy. I didn't feel like I
had much of a choice. Didn't really know what no
could turn into. Cassie said the freakoffs became so frequent
they became weekly events. In their cross examination, defense attorneys
trying to portray Cassie as a willing participant in a
consensual relationship for sending text messages that seemingly show Cassie
(06:39):
at times initiating the freak offs, at one point texting
freak off with the girl, Combs responding, what makes you
want to do that? But it was another witness, an
ex girlfriend under the pseudonym Jane, who tearfully described her
tumultuous three year relationship with Combs, which began in twenty
twenty one and ended when he got a rest in
(07:00):
twenty twenty four. Jane testified she also experienced similar sexual
demands that Cassie Ventur testified to day's long hotel nights
with male sex workers fueled by drugs and baby oil
while Comb's watched.
Speaker 4 (07:15):
Her testimony has really struck a chord. Not just her
testimony stand alone. Her testimony buttresses corroborates everything Cassie Ventura said.
These women they were baiting, they were threatened.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Along with Cassie, Jane is another alleged victim here, and
her testimony doesn't just carry the allegation of sex trafficking,
it also carries the allegation of transportation to engage in prostitution.
I think the connection and also the similarities between the
two showed to the jury that potentially, this is not
a mistake. This is a scheme or course of conduct.
(07:50):
And I use those words because that's how you describe
a rico.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
In closing arguments, the prosecution showed a text message threat
between Jane and Combe's former chief of staff, Christina Kurra Jane,
claims Combs threatened her she did not participate in Hotel Knights,
Jane writing, he just threatened me about my sex tapes
that he has of me. He said that he would
expose Megan send them to my baby daddy tomorrow. The
(08:15):
defense makes their final case to the jury.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
The defense called no witnesses, relying only on cross examination,
and expect the defense to argue that the women federal
prosecutors said were trafficked were not victims, but long term
girlfriends who were in relationships with Sean Combs because they
loved him and because they were willing to participate in
(08:40):
his polyamorous lifestyle.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
The government's case was very compelling. During closing argument, Ausa
Slavic stood just feet away from the jury giving her
closing argument, and at times they seemed very entranced what
she was saying, taking notes, but other times the jury
seemed to look away, uninterested in what she was saying,
or somewhat skeptical in the way that she defined or
articulated how facts came into this case that may be
(09:06):
the opening for the defense to raise reasonable doubt and
how they present their facts tomorrow
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Will of course continue to follow this trial
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