Everything you need to know about the Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial

(TNND) — Sean “Diddy” Combs was an influential American hip-hop artist during the 1990s and 2000s. Between his success as both an artist and producer, the launch of his own record label, and the execution of major branding deals, Combs contributed to the globalization of hip-hop.

However, Combs’ success has fallen apart over the last two years, due to numerous sexual abuse and misconduct allegations. In September, Combs was indicted by federal prosecutors in a sweeping sex trafficking case.

Combs pleaded not guilty and denied any wrongdoing. The case, United States v. Combs, will go to trial in Manhattan starting on Monday, May 12 and will last for ten weeks.

Below is a recap of the key facts around Combs, the allegations against him, and his defense.

What are the allegations?

The allegations against Combs, 55, center around “elaborate and produced sex performances” known as “freak offs.” In their indictment, prosecutors allege that Combs orchestrated hotel room encounters involving heavy drug use and coerced sex.

Combs “abused, threatened, and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct,” the 14-page indictment, which has been updated three times since September, reads.

“Combs relied on the employees, resources and influence of the multi-faceted business empire that he led and controlled — creating a criminal enterprise whose members and associates engaged in, and attempted to engage in, among other crimes, sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice,” prosecutors allege.

What are the charges?

Combs faces five counts of criminal charges:

• One count of racketeering and conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
• Two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison
• Two counts on transportation to engage in prostitution, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Who is making the accusations?

There are four alleged victims expected to testify during the trial. In the indictment, they are identified as “Victim-1,” “Victim-2,” “Victim-3,” and “Victim-4,” as all of Combs’ accusers have not been named publicly.

However, the allegations of Victim-1 align closely with those of his ex-girlfriend Casandra Ventura, an R&B singer who goes by the stage name “Cassie.”

Ventura filed a civil lawsuit against Combs in November 2023, accusing the artist of rape and repeated physical abuse over roughly a decade. The lawsuit was settled privately without Combs commenting on the allegations or admitting wrongdoing.

Ventura’s allegations garnered a lot of attention after CNN aired hotel surveillance footage from 2016, showing Combs beating, kicking and dragging Ventura.

The judge in the case ruled that the video can be shown as evidence during the trial despite Combs’ lawyer’s attempts to get it excluded, arguing in part that it is “wholly inaccurate” and altered. CNN has strongly denied any claims altering the footage.

What does the defense say?

Combs has denied the allegations against him.

In April, Combs’ legal team released a statement where they described his accusers as “former long-term girlfriends, who were involved in consensual relationships. This was their private sex life, defined by consent, not coercion.”

What are the details of the trial?

The judge overseeing the case is Arun Subramanian, who was nominated to the Southern District by former President Joe Biden in 2022 and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2023 in a 59-37 vote.

Combs’ lead attorneys include Marc Antony Agnifilo, a criminal defense lawyer who previously represented NXIVM sex cult leader Keith Raniere, former Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng, former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn and “pharma bro” Martin Shkreli.

Agnifilo will be accompanied by Teny Geragos, a partner at his firm. She is “particularly experienced in defending and investigating allegations of sexual misconduct,” the firm’s website reads. She is also the daughter of Mark Geragos, a defense lawyer whose clients have included artists Michael Jackson and Chris Brown.

The court docket also lists five other attorneys on Combs’ team, including Alexandra Shapiro and Brian Steel. Steel recently joined the defense team and previously represented rapper Young Thug in a Georgia criminal trial.

The trial is expected to last eight to 10 weeks, five days a week, Monday through Friday.

The first week of the trial will go from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. After the first week, it will go from 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. ET.

Where is Combs right now?

Right now, Combs is in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn where inmates include Luigi Mangione, the accused United HealthCare CEO killer.

Combs has been held without bail since his arrest in September.