What to know about the trial

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• Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik urged members of the jury to “use common sense” as the government began its final arguments that Combs allegedly used his business empire as a criminal enterprise.
• Slavik said Combs’ young assistants “didn’t blink an eye” and did whatever it took to make him happy during their employ — even if it meant facilitating crimes.
• Combs faces five criminal counts: one count of racketeering conspiracy; two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. Combs has vociferously denied the allegations against him.

Government wants ‘attempted’ arson and kidnapping allegations removed from jury instructions

Federal prosecutors want to tighten their case against Combs, asking a judge to strike language regarding “attempted” kidnapping and arson from jury instructions, according to court documents filed Tuesday.

While Combs still faces the same racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking counts — which include the kidnapping and arson allegations — prosecutors said in a filing to U.S. District Court Judge Arun Subramanian that they understand “the Court’s desire for streamlined instructions” to jurors.

“Specifically, the Government has removed instructions from the charge relating to attempted kidnapping under both California and New York law, attempted arson under California law, and aiding and abetting sex trafficking,” the note said.

Here’s what the prosecution and defense are arguing

Since the trial kicked off more than six weeks ago, the government claims that Combs — the Bad Boy Records founder and rapper — leveraged his business as a “criminal enterprise” to sexually abuse and exploit women for decades. 

The jury heard from Combs’ staffers who testified the music mogul was an abusive boss and they were forced to work grueling hours, clean up after his “hotel nights,” and at times procure drugs for him. 

The jury also heard from two of his former girlfriends, Cassie Ventura and a woman by the pseudonym “Jane,” who testified that Combs repeatedly wanted them to engage in drug-fueled marathon “freak offs” with escorts, even though they didn’t want to at times. They also testified that Combs was physically violent and abusive. 

The defense has argued that Combs’ actions were within the realm of his personal life and his girlfriends, and that prosecutors failed to show that his staff criminally conspired with Combs.

Court is in session

U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian has called the court to order as a lengthy day of closing arguments is set to begin.

Deliberations will be on the jury’s schedule

This jury will have the right of self-determination, as Judge Subramanian told the court that once closing arguments are over, they will be able to determine their own schedule for deliberations.

Tension in the air

Several of Combs’ family members took their seats in the second row as a nervous energy coursed through the courtroom.

The two attorneys who will deliver closings, defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo and prosecutor Christy Slavik, seemed to be cordial to each other on this tense day.

They were spotted standing off in a corner sharing a laugh.

Government begins closing arguments

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik rose from the prosecution’s desk and began the government’s final arguments that Combs used his business empire as a criminal enterprise for “sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice.”

Combs could spend decades behind bars if a federal jury convicts him on all counts, which include racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking.

The rapper and music executive has pleaded not guilty, insisting his temper and other proclivities don’t make for federal crimes.

Combs ready for his big day

Combs donned light-colored pants and a white sweater this morning.

When the defendant entered the courtroom, he gestured to loved ones, putting his hand to his heart.

He took his glasses out of his folder, put them on the table and rubbed his palms together.

Government paints Combs as chief of a ‘criminal enterprise’ who didn’t allow the word ‘no’

Slavik began her address to the jury by painting Combs as the leader of a criminal enterprise, one who engaged in bribery and attempted arson to name some of his alleged crimes.

At the core of the enterprise was sex trafficking, Slavik continued. She told the jury that Combs manipulated both Cassie and “Jane” through power, violence and fear to get what he wanted.

And he doesn’t take no for an answer, Slavik said.

Eight years apart, very similar attacks

Combs has exhibited shockingly similar, violent behavior for years, Slavik argued.

The prosecutor cited the infamous 2016 beating of Cassie Ventura at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles and an alleged 2024 choking and slapping of his then-girlfriend, “Jane.”

Prosecutor says Combs relied on his ‘trusted inner circle’

Combs leaned heavily on those closest to him to loyally carry out all of his orders, the prosecution said.

“I am talking about the defendant and his trusted inner circle,” Slavik said. “He was the head and it existed to serve his needs.”

Combs’ criminal enterprise was his ‘kingdom’, prosecutor says

Combs was powerful in his own right but through the support of his business, became even more dangerous, Slavik asserted to the jury.

She began delving into the racketeering charge against Combs, highlighting the concept of a criminal enterprise. A group of people came together to protect Combs’ power, reputation and to help fulfill all his desires, Slavik said.

Those desires included committing crimes and keeping them from being discovered by law enforcement, she went on.

“It was his kingdom,” Slavik told the jury. And, “everyone was there to serve him.”

Workers who were ‘young and eager’ helped Combs, prosecutor says

“Young and eager” staffers, hungry to break into the world of music management, were always at Combs’ beck and call, Slavik said.

These young assistants  “didn’t blink an eye” and did whatever it took to make Combs happy — even when it meant facilitating crimes, according to Slavik.

Employees were paid by Combs’ companies, thus turning work resources into fuel for his crimes, the prosecutor said.

Government asks jury to use its common sense

Slavik urged the jury to use its common sense against the defense’s claim that a criminal enterprise didn’t exist just because no one testified explicitly that they were in one.

She told the jury that when a person agrees to their boss’s demand to buy drugs, they’re agreeing to a crime. When a person locks their boss’s girlfriend in a room after he stomped on her face, that person is agreeing to commit a crime with their boss, Slavik continued.

And that is agreeing to participate in an enterprise, the prosecutor asserted.

The map tells a story, prosecutor says

Slavik urged jurors to pay attention to a map when they look back at Combs’ alleged criminal acts.

She said when sex workers were paid to cross state lines or cellphones were used, those acts amounted to violations of interstate commerce laws, according to the prosecutor.

The quantity doesn’t matter in defining drug distribution, U.S. says

Whether a Combs staffer moved a single pill or a thousand at his behest, those actions were criminal, the prosecutor said.

“You know what the defendant did,” Slavik said. “He gave them to Cassie and Jane, this is drug distribution plain and simple.”

Government explains the 4 elements of racketeering

There are four elements of the racketeering charge against Combs, Slavik explained to the jury as she walked through how the government’s case met each element.

The first is conspiracy to participate in a criminal enterprise, which she insists Combs’ employees did by agreeing to help him commit crimes. One example she gave was when chief of staff Kristina Khorram made sure drugs and cash were delivered to Combs’ hotel rooms.

“She might not have been happy, but she did it,” Slavik told the jury. “She was a member of the enterprise.”

The second and third elements are the impact on state or foreign commerce and that Combs was knowingly part of an enterprise. The former is fulfilled because Combs arranged for sex workers and drugs to travel across state lines, Slavik said. The latter is met because Combs is the through line of his businesses, which she said existed only because of Combs.

Finally, the fourth element is that the enterprise agreed to commit at least two crimes under the RICO Act. Slavik says Combs’ criminal enterprise agreed to commit crimes related to drugs, sex trafficking, bribery and arson as they helped cover up his alleged crimes.

Combs engaged in closing arguments

At times of this closing argument, Combs sat back in his chair, looked ahead, looked down and sometimes cast a glance toward jurors.

He’d been warned earlier in this trial against doing anything that could be interpreted as communicating with jurors.

Combs staff were ‘all involved in buying and distributing drugs,’ government says

Drugs were an essential part of Combs’ “freak offs,” so he and his staff “were all involved in buying and distributing drugs,” Slavik told the jury.

She called back to evidence from Brendan Paul, a former assistant, who was instructed by Combs’ chief of staff to ask for money reimbursing him for purchasing drugs. Combs needed a constant supply of illicit substances to give to his victims and made sure to have his staff drop off more when he ran out, Slavik said.

“He gave them to Cassie and Jane, this is drug distribution plain and simple,” Slavik told the court.

Combs controlled movements, an act of kidnapping, U.S. says

The defendant restricted the movements of others at least three times, which were all examples of kidnapping, the prosecutor said.

After beating Ventura in 2009, he forced her to stay in a hotel room until those wounds healed, Slavik said.

Slavik also cited testimony of longtime assistant Capricorn Clark, who said she was once forced to go with an angry Combs and search for Kid Cudi. The defendant was allegedly in a jealous rage when he learned the rapper had been seeing Ventura.

Combs was 100% behind the arson of Kid Cudi’s car, government asserts

It’s the end of the first quarter for the government

Slavik just hit the one hour mark on her closing statement.

Each side was allocated four hours to make their arguments to the jury.

The hotel beating cover-up was an example of bribery, prosecutor says

When Combs sought to cover his tracks following the 2016 Los Angeles hotel beating of Ventura, that amounted to an act of bribery, the prosecutor said.

Slavik cited testimony about Combs allegedly paying off security guards at the InterContinental Hotel.

Combs, in full “damage control” mode, used money and power to buy and manipulate witnesses, according to Slavik.

A common refrain shines through in Slavik’s closing argument

It appears that the theme of Slavik’s final argument to the jury is that Combs and his inner circle refused to take no for an answer.

She repeatedly stated the phrase, emphasizing it in the beginning as she described Combs’ role at the top of his alleged criminal enterprise.

When describing the push to bribe guards for the 2016 hotel beating footage, Slavik told the jury that his employees would stop at nothing to keep the video from getting to law enforcement.

Combs had to cover up hotel beating because it’d ‘ruin him,’ prosecutor says

The defendant had overwhelming motive to use any means possible to cover up the 2016 hotel beating, Slavik said.

Bad publicity surrounding the videotaped assault would “ruin him,” according to the prosecutor.

Those actions amounted to a criminal act, Slavik said.

“Paying for silence is influencing testimony,” she told jurors.

Delving into the elements of sex trafficking

Slavik moved on to the sex trafficking charges against Combs in relation to Cassie Ventura and “Jane.”

She broke down three elements of the charge: recruiting, enticing and harboring the victim; acting with reckless disregard; and interstate commerce. Combs used force, fraud and coercion to to get the women to sleep with sex workers in his fueled “freak offs,” Slavik said.

The prosecutor noted that coercion is more complicated, as it can mean that a victim believes refusal would subject her to a physical, psychological or financial harm. It could also cover harm to a victim’s reputation, Slavik said.

Jurors reminded of men hired for ‘hotel nights’ and ‘freak offs’

The prosecution showed jurors 27 head shots of men hired for sex during Combs’ “freak offs” and “hotel nights.”

The images, shown in nine rows of three, served to remind the panel that Combs allegedly hired sex workers to perform with his girlfriends while he watched from a short distance away, videotaping the acts.

Combs groomed ‘Jane’ for his sexual desires, prosecution says

Combs love-bombed “Jane” early on after meeting him, charming her with overwhelming affection before introducing her to the concept of “hotel nights,” Slavik told the jury.

Slavik accused Combs of grooming Jane and giving her drugs as she learned what Combs liked sexually to keep him happy. Jane agreed to one of his fantasies when she was high and arranged for a “hotel night” with a sex worker, the prosecutor continued.

Jane became resistant as time went on and wanted these nights to drop, but Combs plied her with drugs and manipulated her into continuing, Slavik told the jury. He even used paying her rent as a way to control her, the government said.

Talk of ‘freak offs’ seems to sadden Combs

The defendant looked dejected as Slavik launched into him about his “freak offs” and the possible criminal liability connected to those rendezvous.

Combs sat back in his chair, away from the defense table with his head down writing notes, during much of Slavik’s arguments about these elicit acts.

He did manage to write some observations on Post-it notes and hand them to his defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo.

Reminding jurors of Combs sex tape threats

The prosecution showed a flurry of text messages, reminding jurors that Combs allegedly threatened “Jane” with sex videos if she didn’t stay in line.

A panicked Jane sent text messages to Combs’ chief of staff Kristina Khorram about the music mogul allegedly telling her those tapes could be leaked.

Khorram instructed Jane to give Combs some space and said she’d talk to him, in hopes of keeping his boss from doing anything rash, text messages showed.

‘Jane’ and sex workers were flown all over for hotel nights, prosecutor says

Combs frequently arranged transportation for “Jane” to travel across state lines and engage in sex with men, Slavik said.

He had Jane flown to and from New York, California, Miami, Las Vegas, and Turks and Caicos, the prosecutor pushed. At the same time Kabrale, a frequently used sex worker, was also being transported across state lines for their hotel nights, Slavik told the jury.

Prosecution reaches halfway point of closing arguments

Slavik reached the two-hour mark of the government’s allotted four hours of closing argument.

Combs looks defeated as government hammers away

Combs has his hands clasped in his lap and his head is down as Slavik continues to hammer her case against him to the jury.

He appears downtrodden. On occasion, Combs looks up and glances over to the jury with a look of defeat on his face.

Combs changed tactics from the carrot to the stick with ‘Jane,’ prosecutor says

As time went on with “Jane,” she began to resist the idea of hotel nights and Combs was forced to change tactics from the carrot to the stick, Slavik told the jury.

Slavik recounted a time in October 2023 when Jane told Combs that she didn’t want to do hotel nights anymore, insisting that she needed a break. Combs agreed to spend a day with her without strangers, Slavik continued, but Jane somehow found herself sober in a room having sex with three men.

The night went very badly, Slavik insisted to the jury. Jane vomited twice and Combs insisted she get back to the men waiting to have sex with her, the prosecutor said.

He coerced her even when she wanted to stop, Slavik told the jury.

Combs continued violent behavior even after 2024 raids, prosecutor says

The prosecution turned its attention to an alleged June 8, 2024 beating that “Jane” suffered at Combs’ hands.

The date is significant because it came after federal agents raided Combs’ properties so the music mogul knew he was under investigation but didn’t change his behavior, Slavik said.

Combs beat up Jane in her home on that day, telling her, “you are not going to ruin my night,” according to the prosecutor.

A male sex worker was called to the home where he and Jane allegedly had sex for Combs’ entertainment, the government said.

 

Combs used liquid molly to control ‘Jane,’ government says

The prosecutor cited a “hotel night” in July 2024 when Combs allegedly resorted to drugs to control then-girlfriend “Jane.”

While the defense would suggest there’s evidence Jane was a willing participant that evening, Slavik said otherwise.

“But what it really showed was that she was super super high,” the prosecutor said.

‘Before ‘Jane,’ there was Cassie’; prosecution moves into Cassie’s allegations

“Before ‘Jane,’ there was Cassie,” Slavik said as she transitioned her closing arguments to tackle the sex trafficking charge related to allegations made by Cassie Ventura.

Combs transported Ventura across state lines and international borders, harboring her at various places where “freak offs” took place, the prosecution said. Ventura testified that she never engaged with sex workers without drugs, she said.

Slavik told the jury that Combs plied her with drugs, beat her, threatened her and forced her to perform sex acts with escorts despite her shame over it all.

Ventura felt ‘shame’ being with Combs, prosecutor says

Ventura was at Combs’ side for a decade but the relationship felt more like a shameful job to her, according to Slavik.

“It was not normal,” the prosecutor said. “He regularly threatened and beat her and he plied her with drugs and he forced her to perform sex with escorts in front of him. It was her job and her shame.”

Combs took control over Cassie’s life and career, government says

Ventura was only 19 when she signed on to a 10-album deal with Combs’ record company, Slavik reminded the jury.

Not long after her first album release, Combs made it clear that he wanted more from her, she continued. And Combs exerted control over her as both her boss and her sexual partner — he told her what to do and refused to take no for an answer, the prosecutor argued.

Combs decided what Ventura wore, what her nails looked like, who she spoke to, and so much more, Slavik told the jury. And despite the hours Ventura spent in the recording studio, he would never allow her to release another album, Slavik said.

He would not allow her to make money for her music, making her dependent on him, the prosecutor said.

Jurors shown pictures of a bruised Ventura

The prosecution showed multiple pictures of a bruised and beaten Ventura.

The images included wounds suffered after Combs allegedly flew into a rage after learning she once dated Kid Cudi. Another was of her with a busted eyebrow when Ventura was purportedly thrown into a bed frame.

“Any one of these attacks would have been life-changing,” Slavik said. “But for Cassie, it became her normal.”

There was no place safe for Cassie, prosecution says

Combs’ inner circle helped him keep Ventura under his thumb any time she tried to escape, the prosecutor said.

Slavik told the jury that there was no safe space for Ventura as Combs exerted his control over and threatened her with violence. One of Combs’ bodyguards may have iced her injuries but he was ultimately playing both sides, Slavik said, as he reported everything back to Combs.

Prosecution nearing the end as third quarter closes

Slavik has been making her closing arguments for three hours now.

The government told the court her speech was likely to end at around four hours.

Cassie and ‘Jane’ were ‘performing’ for Combs under duress, prosecutor says

Slavik reminded jurors they’ve seen video of Ventura having sex with escorts in acts allegedly forced by Combs.

“She is performing just like ‘Jane.’ Don’t be fooled it is anything more than that, a performance,” the prosecutor said.

“They are orchestrated and directed, at times focusing on escort and not her at all. This was his fantasy, not Cassie’s. Sean Combs caused her to have sex with escort using coercion.”

Jury rewatches Combs’ 2016 assault of Cassie

Combs’ head was down as Slavik replayed video of him assaulting Ventura in March 2016 in the hallway of the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles.

The video, first aired by CNN, shows Ventura in bare feet headed to the elevator and away from the room where Combs and a sex worker remained. Combs then comes running down the hall in just a towel, throwing Ventura to the ground.

Ventura curled up as Combs kicked her repeatedly before trying to drag her back down the hallway.

Hotel assault and aftermath leaves ‘no doubt’ on sex trafficking, prosecutor says

Combs’ assault of Ventura at the InterContinental hotel “should leave no doubt that he committed sex trafficking,” Slavik told the jury.

He used force to try to get Ventura back into the hotel room where the escort was waiting so he could continue with the “freak off,” the prosecutor argued.

Not only did he assault her in the hotel and bribe guards to buy the footage of his attack, but Combs also showed up at Ventura’s apartment after banging at the door with a hammer, Slavik reminded the jury.

Combs knew he had to keep Ventura under control, she said.

Combs’ ‘climate of fear’ made it tough for Ventura to escape, prosecutor says

The prosecutor cited several instance in which Ventura appeared to be trapped in her abusive relationship with Combs.

“He created a climate of fear, ” Slavik said. “Violence was in her mind whenever he proposed freak offs.”

Ventura allegedly put herself at risk by not complying with Combs.

“She didn’t want to make him angry because when he was angry, he would be violent. He could be a scary person,” Slavik said.

It ‘defies logic’ that Combs’ inner circle didn’t know, prosecution says

While the defense might try to say Combs’ highest-ranking employees were unaware of his “freak offs,” the prosecution points out the times they appeared to help it happen.

Slavik noted how Kristina Khorram got sex workers to the hotel rooms, and that she did damage control. Combs’ head of security mentioned it to Combs’ former assistant and helped buy drugs for Combs, Slavik said.

A former assistant saw video of a “freak off” on a staff iPad, she continued.

“It defies logic to think his most trusted lieutenants were in the dark,” Slavik told the jury. “They knew what was happening, and they helped him do it.”

Prosecution reviews travel plans for sex workers

Interstate transportation for prostitution, two of the five counts against Combs, is likely the least talked about part of the case and that’s reflected in Slavik saving it for just the last portion of her closing arguments.

Slavik reviewed travel itineraries for sex workers who were flown out across the country for Combs’ “freak offs.” She went over the payments as well, which were put on Combs’ American Express card.

Combs’ ‘freak offs’ were a traveling show, prosecutor says

The traveling “freak off” show was always in motion and coming to a glamorous locale near you, Slavik said.

Ventura and male sex escorts traveled through Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Atlanta, the Turks and Caicos Islands and Ibiza, according to travel and credit card records cited by the prosecutor.

Combs had his go-to male escorts, prosecutors say

Escorts named Paul, Kabrale and Reggie from the agency Cowboys 4 Angels were among the go-to hires for Combs, Slavik said.

They frequently traveled to meet with Combs and his girlfriend, often making a mess where they stayed, according to the prosecutor.

The jury was reminded of a text “Jane” sent to Combs, telling him of bodily fluid stains left at The London West Hollywood.

Prosecutor says UTIs common place during ‘freak offs’

Ventura and “Jane” had no choice but to perform sexually for Combs even as they became sick and their bodies wore down, Slavik said.

Days-long “freak offs” were fueled by ecstasy, molly and cocaine, according to the prosecutor.

Both of his girlfriends regularly suffered from urinary tract infections (UTI) but were still forced to have sex at Combs’ direction, Slavik said.

Combs subjected ‘Mia’ to forced labor, prosecution says

Slavik veered into the concept of forced labor by revisiting the testimony of “Mia,” a former assistant who worked for Combs and said he sexually assaulted her.

Combs used a pattern of force that caused Mia to believe she would be harmed if she didn’t comply with his wishes, Slavik told the jury. The former assistant testified that Combs slammed her into a wall in addition to violence she saw him subject Ventura to, Slavik said.

When Mia was in South Africa with Ventura, her job was threatened if she didn’t answer the phone, the prosecutor continued. Mia knew that she couldn’t tell Combs “no,” Slavik argued.

Combs knew he was in trouble after Ventura’s lawsuit, prosecutor said

Ventura’s lawsuit and Combs’ reaction to it “weaves this whole story together,” Slavik told jurors.

Combs knew that civil action could lead to prosecution, according to the prosecution, so he had to circle the wagons and keep his most trusted advisers, such as his chief of staff and security head, quiet and unseen.

“Paying people off with a brown paper bag was not an option — he needed to stay under the radar,” Slavik said.

Prosecution concludes nearly 5-hour closing argument

Slavik sat down after a nearly 5-hour address to the jury making the government’s case against Combs on all five charges.

She thanked the jury for their dedication, noting that much of the evidence was hard to hear and see throughout the six weeks of trial.

Combs is guilty, Slavik said, and he was able to get away with it because of the power and influence he held.

“It is time to hold him accountable, it is time for justice,” Slavic said. “And it’s time to find him guilty.”

Court adjourned for the day

Judge Subramanian sent jurors home for the day.

The panel will hear from Combs’ side of the table tomorrow.

Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo has said previously he’ll need about three hours for his summation.

Slavik’s closing lasted 4 hours and 49 minutes.

S: NBC News