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Sean “Diddy” Combs’ trial wraps up with the defense team dismissing his case as exaggerated and invalidating Cassie Ventura’s claims in final arguments. What seemed like a fireproof case against disgraced rapper Diddy took an unexpected turn after a six-week-long trial, ending with most of the cases against him crumbling. For weeks, the federal prosecutors and defense team have presented their arguments before the jury, shaping the final verdict in the sex-trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution charges filed against Diddy last year as the trial progresses.
While the prosecutors presented a total of 34 witnesses throughout the trial, the rapper’s defense team shocked this week with their decision to present no witnesses. Instead, the team presented evidence of inconsistencies in statements made during the trial, ultimately using the prosecutors’ witnesses against them. So far, their “calculated risk” seems to be working, as the latest developments in the case have been in Diddy’s favor. Seemingly emboldened by these surprising plot twists, his defense team on Friday got even more daring with their closing arguments, owning up to only one of the multiple charges he faces and dismissing the entire case as a “sham” orchestrated to target a successful black entrepreneur.
Diddy’s Lawyers Call Cassie Romance a Modern Love Story
Sean “Diddy” Combs’ co-lead counsel, Marc Agnifilo, gave the closing argument on Friday, insisting that the rapper was only guilty of domestic abuse, distancing him from the sex trafficking and RICO case. Agnifilo pointed out that while Diddy’s acts of domestic violence against his ex-girlfriends, including Cassie Ventura and “Jane,” who have testified against him as witnesses, were condemnable, his actions only depicted the complicated dynamics in their relationship.
Agnifilo further invalidated Cassie Ventura’s testimony against Diddy by portraying their disturbing dynamics as “a great modern love story.” He noted that while complicated, the two truly loved each other, which completely defines their relationship. He further noted that the case was based on love, invariably portraying Cassie as simply a woman scorned. Delivering his verdict on Cassie and her relationship with Diddy during the trial’s closing arguments, Agnifilo noted,
“Anyone telling you Cassie is a victim, [that] she didn’t see what was coming… She matched him, she was like him, she was at a certain level.”
He doubled down on claims that Cassie, like the rapper’s other ex-girlfriend’s consensually participated in the freak-offs and enjoyed living the swingers lifestyle that defined their relationship.
Diddy’s Defense Team Trash Sex Trafficking Claims in Trial’s Closing Arguments
Agnifilio went on to establish that the rapper had already faced the law for his acts of domestic abuse against Cassie, who received millions in damages after filing a civil lawsuit against him earlier, while Diddy remained locked up. Even so, Diddy’s team quickly pointed out that domestic violence was not one of the charges against him, asserting that he would have pleaded guilty to it otherwise, despite his retribution.
However, since domestic violence constituted a state crime and not a federal offence, the federal prosecutors had no such luck in the federal case against him. Diddy’s team urged the judge to overlook the other charges, describing them as “badly exaggerated,” to legally persecute him for his swingers’ lifestyle. Notably, several of the initial charges against the rapper had already been tossed out this week after the defense cited inconsistencies.
In a dramatic turn, prosecutors on Wednesday moved to drop charges related to attempted kidnapping, attempted arson, and aiding and abetting sex trafficking ahead of the final arguments. While they attribute this decision to the need to meet the court’s desire for streamlined instructions, it has widely led to the belief that the RICO case against Diddy was growing increasingly weaker, and that the disgraced rapper may soon walk free. The final deliberations on Diddy’s trial would be left to the jury, who has the burden to issue the verdict that determines the defendant’s fate after months behind bars.
