Sean “Diddy” Combs’ highly publicized trial is nearing its final chapter, with both sides expected to wrap up their cases as early as Tuesday.
Closing arguments are tentatively scheduled for Thursday. After that, the jury will begin deliberating the future of the music mogul, who faces a possible life sentence if convicted.
On Monday, prosecutors called their 34th and final witness to the stand. Meanwhile, Combs’ defense team revealed they won’t be bringing any witnesses of their own—a strategic move that isn’t uncommon in criminal trials, where the burden of proof falls solely on the prosecution. Unless the jury is convinced beyond a reasonable doubt, Combs remains legally presumed innocent.
Over nearly two months of testimony, federal prosecutors pieced together a case they say exposes Combs as the central figure of a criminal network—one that allegedly used intimidation, bribery, arson, and even kidnapping to maintain control and feed his personal desires.
According to the prosecution, Combs orchestrated drug-fueled, days-long sexual encounters—nicknamed “freak-offs” or “hotel nights”—involving both women and men. Jurors were shown explicit footage and presented with a trove of messages and documents said to detail the logistics of these events, including alleged trafficking and prostitution arrangements.
The 55-year-old has firmly denied all accusations.
The decision by the defense to rest without calling any witnesses may suggest they believe they’ve already created reasonable doubt by cross-examining the prosecution’s witnesses. They do plan to introduce some documents into evidence before concluding.
Combs’ legal team continues to argue that all activities prosecutors labeled as trafficking were in fact consensual. But the emotional weight of the trial has been intensified by testimony from three women who gave graphic accounts of alleged sexual, physical, and emotional abuse.
Among them was singer Casandra Ventura—known publicly as Cassie—Combs’ longtime partner, who filed a civil suit in 2023 that was quickly settled. Her case helped open the floodgates to further claims and led to her pivotal role as a witness in the criminal proceedings.
Jurors also viewed disturbing hotel surveillance footage, now widely circulated, showing Combs physically attacking Ventura. A hotel security guard testified that he was paid $100,000 in cash by Combs to hand over the footage, which eventually surfaced via CNN.
Although the jury isn’t sequestered, they’ve been warned daily to avoid media coverage about the case—a difficult task as the trial dominates headlines and social media feeds.
As the trial nears its close, all eyes now turn to the jury and what they’ll decide in one of the most watched legal sagas in recent entertainment history.
