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

Last updated: Tuesday, July 1, 2025 2:52PM GMT
Diddy trial: Day two of jury deliberations underway
Phil Taitt reports from Lower Manhattan.

NEW YORK -- The defense delivered their closing arguments, and the government gave their rebuttal on Friday in the Sean "Diddy" Combs trial.

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

Combs, the founder of Bad Boy Entertainment, has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges in the trial.

This story may contain accounts and descriptions of actual or alleged events that some readers may find disturbing.

"Bad Rap: The Case Against Diddy," a new podcast from "20/20" and ABC Audio, traces how the whispers of abuse came to light and led to the downfall of Sean "Diddy" Combs, who was once among the most influential entertainers and entrepreneurs in hip hop. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and more.

(ABC News and The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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Jun 26, 2025, 2:44 PM GMT

Prosecution to deliver closing arguments summarizing six weeks of graphic testimony

After more than six weeks of emotional, often graphic testimony about sex, drugs and violence, federal prosecutors on Thursday are set to summarize their case against Sean "Diddy" Combs, trying to convince a jury of eight men and four women, ages 30 to 74, that one of hip-hop's most acclaimed figures coerced women into drug-fueled sexual marathons with male escorts.

Prosecutors also allege that Combs used an inner circle of advisers, assistants, bodyguards and other employees to carry out a pattern of criminal activity.

While the prosecution has pruned some of the alleged crimes that underpin the racketeering conspiracy charge - no longer pursuing attempted kidnapping or attempted arson as acts in Combs' alleged liability - the arson of rapper Kid Cudi's car is still included as a predicate act, with prosecutors arguing it arose out of jealousy when Cudi started dating Combs' girlfriend, Cassie Ventura. The defense has countered that there's no direct evidence linking Combs to the arson.

In their closing argument, currently scheduled to begin Friday morning, defense attorneys are expected to deny Combs led the sprawling criminal conspiracy that prosecutors allege. They're also expected to argue that his sexual partners were not victims of sex trafficking who were coerced into taking part, but were willing participants and girlfriends who stayed with Combs for years.

Christy Slavik will deliver the government's closing statement, which is expected to last about four hours.

Marc Agnifilo will deliver the defense summation. He is expected to speak to the jury for about three hours, after which the prosecution will have the opportunity to deliver a rebuttal.

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Jun 26, 2025, 12:11 AM GMT

Charge conference includes adjustments to trial schedule

The charge conference concluded Wednesday night after numerous adjustments to the language of the judge's instructions to the jury.

Some of the changes involved legal concepts and necessitated adding or subtracting sentences. Other tweaks, like one to make sure the word "government" is not capitalized in the written version of the instructions, defense attorney Alexandra Shapiro said could be accomplished with a simple "find and replace" function.

"We will incorporate these changes. There are a couple of issues I wanted to take a look at the authorities cited," Judge Arun Subramanian said.

The judge had noted at the outset, "This is the most people I've seen at a charging conference."

Sean Combs sat through a portion of it with his shoes off, his stockinged feet visible beneath the defense table.

Subramanian will read the jury charge once each side completes summations Friday.

The prosecution summation is expected to last about four hours. The defense summation is expected to last about three hours. The prosecution's rebuttal is expected to take about an hour.

The judge adjusted the schedule of closings at the request of the defense.

"We would prefer to start early on Friday morning," Shapiro said, adding that the defense was concerned the jury could be sleepy in the afternoon.

Prosecutor Maurene Comey objected.

"Our concern this is a move of gamesmanship more than anything else," Comey said.

She also noted the upcoming July 4 holiday, which the defense had previously cited as a concern.

The judge agreed to the defense adjustment.

Prosecutor Christy Slavik will deliver her closing statement Thursday. Court will then adjourn.

Defense attorney Mark Agnifilo will deliver his closing on Friday, followed by the government rebuttal and the judge's charge.

It's unclear whether there would be time to begin deliberations late Friday or whether those will start Monday.

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Jul 01, 2025, 2:53 PM GMT

Prosecutors give jurors 10 possible predicate acts to find Combs guilty of racketeering conspiracy

Federal prosecutors, discussing with the defense and Judge Arun Subramanian what instructions will be given to the jury, have afforded jurors 10 possible predicate acts to find Sean Combs guilty of racketeering conspiracy. To convict, they must unanimously agree on two of these so-called predicate acts.

Two of the predicate acts involve kidnapping and two involve transportation for purposes of prostitution. There is also arson, bribery, witness tampering, forced labor, sex trafficking and distributing controlled substances.

Prosecutors on Wednesday pruned the kidnapping and arson predicates, but they remain viable options for the jury.

For example, the jury will still consider whether the pattern of racketeering activity involved kidnapping, aiding and abetting kidnapping or conspiracy to commit kidnapping. Prosecutors earlier Wednesday removed attempted kidnapping as a theory of liability. Similarly, the jury will consider whether the pattern of racketeering activity involved arson, aiding and abetting arson or conspiracy to commit arson but will no longer consider attempted arson.

Prosecutors will still include in closing arguments the testimony of rapper Kid Cudi, which related to arson, and testimony by Combs' former employee Capricorn Clark, which related to kidnapping.

Combs has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

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Jun 25, 2025, 2:09 PM GMT

Prosecutors streamline racketeering predicates

Federal prosecutors are no longer including attempted kidnapping and attempted arson as underlying crimes in the alleged racketeering conspiracy charge against Sean Combs.

Prosecutors disclosed in a letter to Judge Arun Subramanian that they would "no longer proceed on these theories" when they deliberated closing arguments, which are scheduled to begin Thursday.

Instead, prosecutors signaled that they would push sex trafficking and forced labor as primary predicate acts that the jury could find to convict Combs of racketeering conspiracy.

Defense attorneys have argued that no evidence was presented directly tying Combs to the arson that damaged rapper Kid Cudi's Porsche. Defense attorneys also argued that the alleged kidnapping of Combs' former employee, Capricorn Clark, by Combs to confront Kid Cudi was far removed from the heart of the case.

Federal prosecutors did not elaborate on their decision in their letter.

Attorneys are scheduled to meet at noon today to discuss the judge's instructions to the jury.