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What you need to know

• Combs on trial: [/b]The federal criminal trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs begins today in New York City.

• [b]Federal charges: Combs has pleaded not guilty to charges that include racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. If convicted on all counts, he could face up to life in prison.

• Graphic allegations: Prosecutors claim Combs coerced at least three women into engaging in sex acts with him and, at times, with male prostitutes, during occasions known as “Freak Offs,” where the women were allegedly drugged and forced to engage in sex for days.

• Inside the courthouse: Combs’ trial will not be televised, per the rules of federal court. CNN will have reporting from journalists inside and outside the court.


https://edition.cnn.com/entertainment/live-news/diddy-sean-combs-trial-05-12-25?Date=20250512&Profile=CNN&utm_content=1747054609&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR5sKYmqPctGHioPvPoDvFKwaZLhENuAY-J_Q9p8M2Q3B6Xji9NhTquGthRpbg_aem_5HsSyij43cIGgBNvy8rrDg

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How we got here: These are some of the key events that led to today's trial.

Sean “Diddy” Combs had just released a new album and was granted the key to New York City when he was accused of abuse and violence in a startling 2023 civil lawsuit from his former girlfriend.

Combs denied the allegations, and the lawsuit was settled a day after it was filed. But the person behind that lawsuit, Cassie Ventura, is expected to soon be a key witness for the prosecution in his federal criminal trial.

In nearly two years since Ventura’s lawsuit, much has happened: Dozens of men and women have alleged Combs committed serious wrongdoing, CNN published a 2016 hotel surveillance video showing him physically assaulting Ventura, federal authorities conducted searches on his homes, and he was arrested and faces serious criminal charges.

Now comes his criminal trial in a federal courtroom in Manhattan.

It all marks a sharp downfall for Combs, 55, who founded the music label Bad Boy in 1993 and has gone by the stage names Puff Daddy and Diddy. Over his illustrious decades-long career, he earned three Grammy wins and 14 nominations, and he successfully expanded from rap into the wider culture, with forays into fashion, alcohol sales, reality TV and acting.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to five counts, including one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. If convicted, he could face a sentence of up to life in prison.

Combs has entered the courtroom
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has entered the court has entered the courtroom. Opening statements in his federal criminal trial are set to begin this morning.

Combs waved to his family in the galley as he walked into the court. He also hugged some of his lawyers and shook hands with others.

The hip-hop mogul has two full rows of attorneys seated at two tables.

Marc Agnifilo, who is heading Combs’ defense against racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges, is seated in the first chair. Combs is flanked by defense attorneys Teny Geragos and Brian Steel.

Cassie Ventura could take the stand as soon as today.

Cassie Ventura, the former girlfriend of Sean “Diddy” Combs and one of his accusers, could take the stand as early as today as one of the first three witnesses called in the government’s sex-trafficking case against the music mogul.

Prosecutors indicated in court on Friday that they would call two “quick” witnesses before calling “Victim 1,” whose testimony will take up most of the first week. Ventura, who is pregnant with her third child and due to deliver next month, is referred to as “Victim 1” in the indictment but has agreed to testify in her own name.

Prosecutors allege Combs coerced her into having sex with male prostitutes, according to the indictment. Combs’ attorneys have said all sex was consensual.

Combs’ defense team said in court they plan to argue that Ventura had a propensity for violence toward Combs during their relationship, which lasted approximately 11 years, from 2007 to 2018.

“We are going to take the position that there was mutual violence in their relationship,” defense attorney Marc Agnifilo said in court Friday.

“That there was hitting on both sides,” Agnifilo added. “We’re probably going to refer to it as domestic violence.”

The defense attorneys said they may want to ask Ventura about violent interactions they say she’s had unrelated to the allegations in this case, which they allege will discredit the claim Combs coerced her into sexual activity. The judge said he would rule on that Monday.

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Diddy's family is in court today.
Ahead of the opening statements in the federal criminal trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs, his mom arrived outside the courthouse to support her son, closely followed by his children.

She walked in without speaking to the media.

At least six of Diddy’s seven children will also be present in court today as the case against their father gets underway. Arriving at the courthouse, they also ignored questions from the press.

included one count of racketeering conspiracy, one count of sex trafficking and one count of transportation to engage in prostitution and pleaded not guilty to those charges at the time.

Prosecutors filed another superseding indictment in April that added one additional count of sex trafficking and one additional count of transportation to engage in prostitution. He once again pleaded not guilty.

The embattled music mogul is accused of creating a criminal enterprise using his business empire where he engaged in sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice. Prosecutors allege Combs coerced at least three women, and at times male prostitutes, to engage in sex acts with him during occasions known as “Freak Offs,” where the women were allegedly drugged and forced to engage in sex for days.

Prosecutors also claim Combs recorded some of the sex acts and controlled his victims by promising financial and career opportunities, as well as through threats of violence and other harm.