Diddy’s legal team ends defense in just 20 minutes, calling no witnesses.
Sean “Diddy” Combs’ legal team surprised the courtroom Tuesday by wrapping up their defense in just 20 minutes, following nearly seven weeks of intense prosecution testimony in his federal sex trafficking trial in New York.
Combs, who has pleaded not guilty to charges including sex trafficking, racketeering, and transporting individuals for prostitution, chose not to testify, telling the judge, “It’s my decision with my lawyers.”
Account to BBC, The defense didn’t call a single witness. Instead, they submitted a few text messages into evidence — including exchanges between Combs and two key accusers, singer Cassie Ventura and another woman who testified under the pseudonym Jane.
One text read aloud showed Jane saying, “I always have fun” during what she referred to as “hotel nights” or “freak-offs,” allegedly involving Combs and male escorts.
Combs’ lawyer, Alexandra Shapiro, argued the government had not proven its case, emphasizing that the women involved were consenting adults who could have left if they wanted. She admitted Combs may have been “regrettably violent,” but asserted, “Domestic violence is not sex trafficking.”
The prosecution has painted a different picture — that Combs used drugs, violence, and manipulation to coerce women into sex acts, leveraging his fame and business empire as tools in what they call a criminal sex trafficking ring. Over 30 witnesses were called during their case.
Closing arguments are set for Thursday and Friday, after which the case will go to the jury. If convicted, Combs could face up to life in prison.
