New York (AP) – Sean “Diddy” Combs, the prominent hip-hop mogul, once celebrated for hosting opulent white parties in the Hamptons, where he mingled with A-list celebrities, is now facing serious allegations that depict him as a predator exploiting his fame. Starting Monday, prosecutors will present their case, claiming he has abused women far from public scrutiny.
For over two decades, they assert that Combs, the founder of Bad Boy Records, leveraged his power to harm young individuals.
He faces various charges, including what prosecutors have described as “freak-off.”
Numerous witnesses have come forward, detailing experiences of being choked, struck, dragged, and threatened into silence, with some alleging he even dangled someone from a balcony.
Combs’ legal team contends that the charges stem from consensual activities.
While Combs, now 55, has acknowledged a past incident of violence involving his ex-girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie, his attorney claims the other allegations are untrue.
Jury selection is set to begin Monday in federal court in Manhattan, with testimonies expected to start the following week.
If found guilty of all charges related to conspiracy assault, sex trafficking, and prostitution across state lines, Combs could face decades in prison.
Numerous individuals have come forward alleging abuse, but the trial will specifically focus on claims from four women.
One of them, Cassie, filed a lawsuit late last year, alleging years of abuse, including assault and rape, starting from when they met in 2005.
The Associated Press typically does not identify individuals who allege sexual abuse unless they publicly come forward, as Cassie has done.
Her case marks the first public instance of the “freak-off” claim mentioned in the indictment, which was resolved within a day. However, four months later, federal agents raided Combs’ homes in Los Angeles and Miami, confronting him at a private airport in Florida, and seizing 96 electronic devices. They also discovered three AR-15 style rifles with obliterated serial numbers.
He was indicted last September and subsequently detained in a federal jail in Brooklyn, after the judge determined his release could pose a threat to witnesses.
The indictment comprises 17 pages, accusing Combs of utilizing his business affiliates—ranging from record labels to media companies—to perpetuate criminal activities, including arson and bribery.
Prosecutors plan to support their claims with travel records, text messages, emails, hotel records, and videos related to what they term “Freak Off Active.”
A video from 2016 shows Combs allegedly assaulting someone in a Los Angeles hotel hallway.
Following the airing of this footage on CNN last year, Combs stated, “I’m fully responsible for my actions in that video. I’m tired of it now.”
His defense team claims the activities were consensual.
Attorney Marc Agnifilo mentioned in a bail hearing that Combs had paid a “very large sum” to Cassie after she filed her lawsuit, suggesting this may have encouraged others to come forward with false allegations.
Agnifilo described the relationship between Combs and Cassie as “sometimes very loving,” suggesting they engaged third parties in their intimacy at times.
“That was their choice,” he remarked. “It was a unique aspect of their relationship.”
This isn’t Combs’ first encounter with legal trouble. Back in 2001, he was involved in a shooting incident at a crowded Manhattan nightclub, with a close associate found guilty of the shooting and serving nearly nine years in prison.
During a pretrial hearing on Thursday, Combs confirmed to the judge that he turned down a plea offer that could have resulted in a lighter sentence than what he might face if convicted at trial.
As he departed the courtroom, he defiantly shook his fist in the air.
