Sean Combs trial updates | Defense closes; deliberations set for Monday

The government rebuttal concluded with prosecutor Maurene Comey imploring jurors to find Sean Combs guilty and lauding his alleged victims for coming forward with "overwhelming evidence."

"The defendant never thought the women he abused would have the courage to speak out loud what he had done with him," Comey argued. "For 20 years, the defendant got away with his crimes. That ends in this courtroom."

Comey told the jury the violence between Combs and "Jane" at her home in June 2024 represented the most "clear cut" example of sex trafficking in the entire case.

The defense suggested "Jane" instigated it to use it later against Combs, knowing he was under criminal investigation.

Comey said there was no evidence of that.

Court is adjourned, the jury was sent home with instructions not to discuss the case.

The jury returns 9 a.m. ET Monday for the judge's charge and deliberations.

In the government's rebuttal, prosecutor Maurene Comey denounced the defense summation for insinuating the women "wanted it," telling the jury it defied logic to think Cassie Ventura wanted certain explicit elements of so-called "freak offs."

"What we're talking about is being in dark hotel room, awake for days, covered in oil, often with a UTI, in heels, with your pelvic area sore...having sex for hours, including with strangers," Comey said. "The defense wanted you to believe Cassie and 'Jane' wanted that. That's ridiculous on its face."

Comey also argued sex tapes that the defense said depicted "date nights" with "beautiful rooms" and "nice music" were not visual representations of beautiful evenings but repetitive sessions for one man's enjoyment. "It's the same performance," Comey said.

Comey told the jury that in order to convict Combs of sex trafficking, they only needed to find there was one so-called "freak off" when Combs knew he was using force, fraud or coercion to gain Ventura or "Jane's" compliance in the event.

After the defense argued the career opportunities Combs afforded Ventura and the rent he paid for "Jane" were evidence of generosity, not leverage, Comey insisted it was the opposite.

"The money, the career, the house, were all tools the defendant used to control Cassie and Jane," Comey said. "It trapped them."

Prosecutor Maurene Comey, in the government's rebuttal, took immediate aim at the defense's argument there was no evidence of Combs committing transportation for prostitution. She said Combs flew escorts across the country, masturbated in front of them and gave them money.

"When the defendant flew those men out and paid them it wasn't for their scintillating conversation," Comey said.

Comey also took aim at the defense's suggestion Cassie Ventura was not a trafficking victim but part of a "great modern love story" with Combs.

"The defense just spent a whole lot of energy trying to blame his victims and the government for his lies, his threats and his violence," Comey said. "Make no mistake, this trial was about how, in Sean Combs' world, 'no' was never an option."

In a closing argument that lasted just over four hours, defense attorney Marc Agnifilo asked jurors to acquit Sean Combs.

"He is not a racketeer; he is not a conspirator to commit racketeering. He sits there innocent," Agnifilo said. "Return him to his family."

Agnifilo asked jurors to consider whether they should trust the government's case against their client.

"I think that the evidence shows, and you can conclude, that the government targeted Sean Combs," Agnifilo said. "The Cassie lawsuit comes out and these guys wanted to make a case."