Defense lawyer Teny Geragos introduces Sean Combs to the jury during opening statements on Monday. (Jane Rosenberg / Reuters) |
In opening arguments today, the lawyers on opposite sides of United States v. Combs presented the jury of eight men and four women with sharply contrasting portraits of the hip-hop mogul. |
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Emily A. Johnson, one of the federal prosecutors, set out to portray Diddy as a ruthless serial abuser who “ran a criminal enterprise” for 20 years, forcing women to participate in drug-fueled, marathon sexual encounters known as “freakoffs.” Johnson accused Diddy of orchestrating a vast network of employees who “helped him commit the crimes and cover it up.”
In graphic terms, Johnson laid out Diddy’s alleged pattern of “lies, drugs, threats and violence” — all in the service of getting women to “cater to all his desires” and preserving his “power and control.” Johnson described Diddy’s alleged physical and sexual abuse of the government’s key witness, R&B singer Cassie Ventura, as well as other accusers referred to by pseudonyms.
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Teny Geragos, one of Diddy’s attorneys, forcefully pushed back on the government’s narrative. “Sean Combs is a complicated man, but this is not a complicated case,” she said. Geragos framed the case as a story of “love, jealousy, infidelity and money” centered on a wealthy celebrity. Prosecutors are trying to turn Diddy’s consensual relationships with “capable, strong” women into sex trafficking, she argued — but “it will not work.”
Yes, Diddy used drugs, flew into rages and committed domestic violence, Geragos conceded. But the evidence introduced at the trial “will show you a flawed individual, not a racketeer or sex trafficker,” she added. “We will not shy away from the things he did, but we will not own the things he did not do,” Geragos told jurors. “He is physical, he is a drug user, you may know of his love of baby oil. Is that a federal crime? No!”
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The jurors also heard from two witnesses: Israel Florez, an ex-security guard at the hotel where a camera recorded Diddy dragging and kicking Ventura; and Daniel Phillip, a male escort who said he was paid to have sex with Ventura in Diddy’s presence and described the rapper physically assaulting her. We can expect more graphic testimony in the days ahead. |
— Daniel Arkin, national reporter |
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| By Chloe Melas and Adam Reiss |
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By Chloe Melas and Adam Reiss |
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Diddy’s mother, Janice Combs, and six of his children appeared in court today, taking up the second row of the gallery behind the defense table. Early in the day, before the jury was finalized, the graying defendant turned around and blew a kiss to his relatives. Diddy’s family seemed to pay particularly close attention to the jury during openings.
Meanwhile, at least 20 Diddy fans camped out overnight ahead of the court’s doors opening at 8 a.m., including some who slept in tents. The circus-like atmosphere — dozens of cameras and spectators outside — suggests there’s a ton of interest. It’s in stark contrast to the relatively muted turnout for Harvey Weinstein’s retrial.
It's worth noting that Mark Geragos, the celebrity defense attorney and father of Teny, sat in the gallery today. He’s not a formal part of the defense team, but he’s on board as an unofficial adviser. |
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| 👨⚖️ Analysis: The defense’s strategy |
By Danny Cevallos, NBC News legal analyst |
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👨⚖️ Analysis: The defense’s strategy |
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The defense unveiled one theme during its opening that was likely no surprise to anyone on the prosecution. It was a version of: “You may conclude my client is a bad person, but that doesn't mean he committed these crimes.” Defense attorneys trot out this old chestnut whenever they know the evidence will make their client look detestable, but there’s still a defense to the crimes charged — and that goes for this case. If Diddy was charged with simple assault based on the video of him assaulting Ventura, this case would be over. If Diddy was charged with deviant sex, illegal drugs, or prostitution, this case could probably be over after the first day of testimony. But he’s not charged with those things. Those are state crimes, and the statute of limitations has long passed for some of the alleged incidents. Diddy is charged with federal crimes that contain more elements. So the defense had to raise this theory of the case before the jury early on. I’d look for the defense to try mightily to challenge the credibility of victims and witnesses — and try to create reasonable doubt based on the government’s case alone. |
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Tomorrow: We expect Diddy’s lawyers will continue their cross-examination of Phillip, the male escort. Ventura could be called to the stand after that.
P.S.: Every night during Diddy’s trial, NBC’s “Dateline” will drop special episodes of the “True Crime Weekly” podcast to get you up to speed on the case. “Dateline” correspondent Andrea Canning will be in conversation with NBC News’ Chloe Melas and special guests — right in front of the courthouse. Listen here. 🎧
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