After seven intense weeks in federal court, the Sean Combs federal trial has entered its final stage with the Diddy trial closing arguments. 

On Friday, both sides delivered their closing arguments in the high-profile Diddy sex trafficking case, offering starkly different portrayals of the music mogul’s actions. 

The jury is now preparing to deliberate on charges that could send Combs to prison for life.

Diddy Trial: Closing Arguments Recap

On Thursday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik gave a nearly five-hour closing argument, painting Sean “Diddy” Combs as the mastermind behind a criminal enterprise built on fear and control.

According to prosecutors, Combs ran a covert operation involving sex trafficking, drug distribution, kidnapping, forced labor, and even bribery. 

Slavik told the jury that Combs used his fame and money to avoid consequences for years, and that the trial was the first real opportunity to hold him accountable.

“The defendant was a very powerful man,” Slavik said, “but he became more powerful and more dangerous because of the support of his inner circle and his businesses – the enterprise.”

Key to the prosecution’s argument were testimonies from two women: singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura and another woman referred to only as “Jane.” 

Both women said they were coerced into participating in drug-fueled sex parties, which Combs allegedly orchestrated, watched, and sometimes filmed. They also recounted threats of violence, financial manipulation, and emotional abuse.

Prosecutors emphasized that this was not about consensual relationships or adult choices. It was about exploitation, intimidation, and manipulation.

Slavik concluded her remarks by saying that Combs was able to get away with these crimes because of his money, power, and influence. Now, she believes, it’s time to hold him accountable.

The Defense Pushes Back: “This Is Not a Crime – It’s a Lifestyle”

On Friday morning, Marc Agnifilo, Combs’s lead attorney, took the floor for the defense’s closing. In his four-hour argument, Agnifilo pushed back hard against the prosecution’s narrative, calling their case “false” and “exaggerated.”

He acknowledged past domestic violence incidents involving Combs, but insisted that those were not the crimes on trial. “We own the domestic violence,” Agnifilo told the jury. “It happened. That’s not charged. But, he didn’t do the things he’s charged with.”

The defense argued that the sexual encounters in question were consensual and part of a “swingers lifestyle.” They denied any existence of a criminal conspiracy and claimed that the government’s case relied too heavily on salacious headlines rather than facts.

Agnifilo challenged the credibility of the prosecution’s witnesses, especially Ventura. He pointed out that she received a $20 million civil settlement from Combs and is expected to receive an additional $10 million from the hotel where she was brutally assaulted by Combs in the hallway. “This isn’t about a crime,” he said. “This is about money.”

He also took a swipe at the government’s raids of Combs’s homes last year, sarcastically mocking the seizure of over 1,000 bottles of lubricant. He jokingly said he’s glad all those boxes of Atroglide were taken off the streets, as if this was some sort of laughing matter. 

Regarding the racketeering charges against Diddy, Agnifilo noted that no one else was charged alongside him and no witnesses claimed to be part of a criminal enterprise. “He is not a racketeer,” Agnifilo said. “He is none of these things. He is innocent.”

Prosecution’s Rebuttal: “Blame-Shifting and Excuses”

After the defense wrapped, prosecutors offered a one-hour rebuttal – their final word before the case was handed to the jury.

They accused the defense of spending too much time blaming the government and the victims instead of addressing the facts. “What you saw was a whole lot of energy blaming everyone else for Mr. Combs’s lies, threats, and inexcusable behavior,” the prosecution stated.

Jurors also heard new allegations that Combs may have tried to influence witnesses, including “Jane” and another woman referred to as “Mia,” raising additional concerns under the broader racketeering charge.

Prosecution vs. Defense: Diddy Trial Closing Arguments

The Diddy trial closing arguments offered two completely different narratives: one of a powerful man using his influence to commit serious crimes, and another of a high-profile entrepreneur targeted by opportunists and exaggerated claims. When the jury begins deliberation on Monday, June 30th, the world will be watching.

Whether Sean Combs walks free or faces a lifetime behind bars now rests in the hands of twelve jurors. But, one thing is certain: this Sean Combs’ federal trial recap marks a pivotal moment in the intersection of celebrity, power, and accountability. Let’s see if these Diddy courtroom updates in June 2025 lead to a conviction.