The sex trafficking and racketeering case against hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs is “badly, badly exaggerated,” his lawyer asserted to a panel of 12 New York jurors on Friday.
In his closing argument, Marc Agnifilo spent four hours contending that the government was inappropriately criminalizing Combs and his girlfriends’ “swingers lifestyle,” characterizing the proceedings as a “fake trial.”
Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation for the purpose of prostitution.
“The government targeted Sean Combs,” Mr. Agnifilo stated to the court, prompting an objection from prosecutors that was subsequently sustained.
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On Thursday, prosecutor Christy Slavik addressed jurors for five-and-a-half hours during the prosecution’s closing arguments, arguing that Combs abused his power and business empire to engage in sex trafficking and other criminal activities.
The prosecution alleges that Combs supplied his former girlfriends with drugs and employed violence and other coercive tactics to force them into what he termed “freak-offs”—events where he allegedly watched and filmed them engaging in sexual acts with male escorts.
In contrast to Ms. Slavik’s calm and methodical presentation aided by a digital display, Mr. Agnifilo was animated, pacing the courtroom and frequently making jokes.
He began by challenging the credibility of Combs’ former girlfriends, Casandra Ventura and an anonymous witness identified as “Jane,” who testified against him.
He described Combs’ 11-year relationship with Ms. Ventura—during which she alleges repeated physical abuse—as “one of the great modern love stories,” asserting that she willingly participated in their sexual activities.
“She’s a woman who actually likes sex—good for her,” Mr. Agnifilo remarked. “She’s beautiful, she should.”
He argued that Ms. Ventura was not a victim, given that Combs is currently incarcerated and she secured a multi-million dollar settlement in a civil lawsuit against him for physical abuse and sexual coercion.
“If you had to pick a winner in this whole thing, it’s hard not to pick Cassie,” he stated.
Mr. Agnifilo contended that the issues in their relationship amounted to domestic violence, not sex trafficking. He sought to undermine the prosecution’s argument that the rapper used violence to coerce Ms. Ventura into participating in freak-offs.
The government has focused on a 2016 surveillance video depicting Combs assaulting Ms. Ventura in the hallway of a Los Angeles hotel, allegedly after she attempted to leave a freak-off.
Replaying the video for the jurors, Mr. Agnifilo argued that it could not represent an instance of sex trafficking because Ms. Ventura appeared to gesture Combs back to their room when a security guard arrived.
He claimed there was “nothing scary in the room,” and described the freak-offs as “beautiful evenings” with pleasant music and well-decorated spaces.
Mr. Agnifilo also attempted to discredit Jane’s testimony, citing an instance where she alleges the rapper was violent towards her before a freak-off.
“Her story truly makes no sense,” he said.
Combs’ lawyer further attacked the government’s racketeering case, which alleges that Combs relied on his loyal employees to facilitate sex trafficking and other crimes, and then to cover them up.
He argued there was a “gaping lack of evidence” that Combs and his employees operated a criminal enterprise or that any co-conspirators existed.
Agnifilo described Combs’ former chief-of-staff, Kristina Khorram, whom prosecutors have identified as a co-conspirator, as a “helpful” and well-liked woman.
He argued that a real co-conspirator would have assisted in kicking down the door when Combs allegedly attempted to break into his ex-girlfriend’s home.
Addressing the charge of transportation for the purpose of prostitution, Mr. Agnifilo argued that the male escorts hired by the hip-hop mogul and his girlfriends were paid “for their time” with the couple, not for sexual acts.
At the conclusion of his arguments, Combs, wearing an off-white sweater, embraced his attorney. His family, including his twin daughters and mother, were seated behind him for the second consecutive day.
In a rebuttal to the defense’s closing on Friday, prosecutor Maurene Comey adopted a more aggressive tone than Ms. Slavik, criticizing Combs’ lawyers for suggesting that his former girlfriends were lying and that they willingly participated in freak-offs after being subjected to violence.
“There is no separating the violence from the sex,” Ms. Comey stated. “They were trapped emotionally, physically, and financially.”
She referenced Ms. Ventura’s lawsuit settlement, questioning, “Why risk it all by perjuring herself at a federal trial?”
Jurors are scheduled to reconvene on Monday for the judge’s instructions on how to weigh the case against the hip-hop mogul. Deliberations are expected to commence shortly thereafter.
Combs faces a potential life sentence on the most serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking.
Get all the latest trial updates on the BBC Sounds ‘Diddy on Trial‘ podcast available wherever you get your BBC podcasts.
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