NEW YORK (BN24) — Jurors weighing federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges against Sean “Diddy” Combs asked Tuesday to review testimony from one of the prosecution’s most pivotal witnesses: his former girlfriend Cassie Ventura.
On the second day of deliberations, the panel of eight men and four women requested transcripts of Ventura’s accounts detailing years of alleged abuse and intimidation.
Judge Arun Subramanian began the day by addressing a question the jury posed late Monday about an alleged racketeering act: possession with intent to distribute drugs. The panel had asked for clarification about the legal instructions on that charge, part of the broader racketeering conspiracy count.
Combs’ lawyers pressed the judge to issue a more detailed explanation. Prosecutors objected, arguing it could confuse jurors, and Subramanian ultimately sided with the government.
“Can you do what I’m asking or no?” the judge asked pointedly during a tense exchange with the defense.
“Of course I can do what your honor is asking,” one of Combs’ attorneys replied.
Roughly 75 minutes into the day’s deliberations, the jury requested Ventura’s testimony about a 2016 incident in which she alleged Combs beat, kicked and dragged her inside a Los Angeles hotel — an assault captured on security video that surfaced earlier this year. Combs, 55, has since publicly apologized for the attack.
Jurors also asked to review Ventura’s account of a 2013 incident at the Cannes Film Festival, when she said Combs accused her of stealing drugs, kicked her off his yacht, and later threatened to release explicit footage of her having sex.
In addition, the panel requested testimony from Ventura and Daniel Phillip, a stripper who described seeing Ventura in a distressed state in a New York City hotel suite sometime between 2012 and 2014. Phillip said Ventura jumped into his lap after he heard what sounded like Combs slapping and slamming her against walls in another room.
“Her whole entire body was shaking, like she was terrified,” Phillip told the jury. He said Ventura tried to reassure him she would be all right.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to charges of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking, and two counts of transporting individuals across state lines for prostitution. Prosecutors allege he arranged private flights for sex workers and orchestrated what witnesses called “freak-offs” — drug-fueled sex marathons in hotel rooms.
On Monday, the jury deliberated for several hours without reaching a verdict, sending a series of notes to the court. One note indicated some jurors worried a fellow panelist could not follow the judge’s instructions. After hearing from the parties, Subramanian reminded the jurors of their duty to apply the law impartially and sent them back to continue.
The jurors have been provided a laptop with all exhibits, including text messages, photos, and videos entered into evidence. Five alternate jurors remain on standby should they be needed.
Deliberations follow seven weeks of often graphic and emotional testimony about Combs’ private life. Prosecutors portrayed him as a violent predator who controlled women through intimidation, drugs, and money. Defense lawyers countered that no conspiracy existed and argued Combs’ conduct, however salacious, did not amount to federal crimes.
The trial marks one of the most dramatic reckonings in the music mogul’s decades-long career. A verdict could come as early as this week, depending on how long the jury deliberations continue.
AP
