NEW YORK — Sean “Diddy” Combs’ lead attorney admitted in court Friday that the hip-hop mogul engaged in “domestic violence” during a past relationship, marking a pivotal shift in the defense strategy as Combs faces sex trafficking and racketeering charges in federal court.
During a hearing related to jury selection, attorney Marc Agnifilo told U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian that Combs’ legal team will acknowledge there was physical abuse between Combs and a woman identified as “Victim-1” in the government’s indictment. The defense, Agnifilo said, plans to argue the violence was mutual.
“We are admitting domestic violence,” Agnifilo stated plainly in court. “There was hitting on both sides, behavior on both sides.” He added that the dynamic is relevant to the prosecution’s allegations of coercion, a central claim in the sex trafficking charges against Combs.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to five federal charges, including racketeering conspiracy and two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion. He has denied all allegations of sexual abuse, maintaining through his attorneys that the women involved consented to all sexual encounters.
Victim-1’s identity has not been publicly confirmed by prosecutors, but her accusations appear to closely align with those of Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, Combs’ former girlfriend. Ventura, an R&B singer, filed a civil lawsuit in November 2023 accusing Combs of rape and long-term physical abuse. That case was resolved privately within a day, with Combs admitting no wrongdoing.
Public attention to the allegations against Combs intensified after CNN aired 2016 surveillance footage showing the music mogul beating, kicking and dragging Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel hallway. Judge Subramanian has ruled the video admissible at trial. Combs’ legal team sought to exclude the footage, calling it “inaccurate” and “altered,” but CNN has rejected those claims, standing by the video’s authenticity.
Following the video’s release, Combs issued a public apology, calling his behavior “inexcusable” and saying he accepted full responsibility for his actions in that incident.
In a procedural development Friday, Judge Subramanian postponed the final phase of jury selection to next week, citing concerns that potential jurors may be experiencing anxiety. One individual emailed the court seeking removal from the panel due to “issues of personal well-being,” according to Combs’ attorneys.
The defense was granted a delay until Monday to begin peremptory challenges — the process by which lawyers eliminate potential jurors without stating a cause. The defense will be allowed to strike 10 jurors, while the prosecution will have six strikes. Once a jury of 12 and six alternates is finalized, opening statements will begin.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey confirmed that prosecutors plan to start with two brief witnesses, followed by a primary witness expected to dominate the first week of testimony. However, she also revealed that federal prosecutors have not been able to make contact with “Victim-3,” another accuser named in the indictment. Comey said the government will soon determine whether Victim-3 will testify.
The trial of Combs, a major figure in the music industry for decades, continues to unfold under intense public scrutiny and legal complexity.
