Sean 'Diddy' Combs Trafficking Trial Shocker: Prosecutors Rest Case After 34 Witnesses, Explosive Testimony

Federal prosecutors delivered their final arguments Tuesday, June 24, in the trafficking and racketeering conspiracy trial against Sean "Diddy" Combs, resting their case following an intense 28 days of testimony that featured 34 witnesses.

"At this time, subject to confirming all of the government records are accurate in the record, the government rests," prosecutor Emily Johnson announced in court.

Prosecutors presented a series of jaw-dropping allegations against Combs, including incidents of firebombing a Porsche, kidnapping former employees and bribery. They argue that he coerced women into watching him engage with male prostitutes during drug-fueled s-- parties lasting days. In a bid to silence his alleged victims, Combs reportedly resorted to violence, coercion and threats of embarrassment or financial ruin.

"To the public, he was Puff Daddy, or Diddy, a cultural icon, a businessman larger than life," Johnson told the jury in her opening statement. "But there was another side to him, a side that ran a criminal enterprise."

Prosecutors exposed a stark contrast between Combs’ immaculate public persona and the chaotic reality underlying his life.

Two former girlfriends testified about allegedly being coerced into participating in "freak offs" and how they were blackmailed into silence.

The case against Combs gained momentum after ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura filed a civil lawsuit in late 2023, claiming she was "trapped by Mr. Combs in a cycle of abuse, violence and s-- trafficking." Though the claim was settled swiftly, federal authorities became intrigued by the allegations.

Three women emerged as key witnesses, alleging they were coerced into s-- acts. Ventura, who was pregnant at the time, detailed a decade spent in "freak offs," which she claims involved violence and manipulation.

"I can't carry this anymore. I can't carry the shame, the guilt, the way I was guided to treat people like they were disposable," she said before the court. Ventura also disclosed her lawsuit settlement of $20 million, further solidifying her claims.

Prosecutors showcased evidence, including footage from 2016 of Combs physically assaulting Ventura — a moment that drew significant media scrutiny that prompted Combs to release a public apology.

"I take full responsibility for my actions in that video," he stated at the time, attributing his behavior to jealousy and drug use.

Other witnesses, including makeup artists and friends, corroborated Ventura’s story, detailing instances of Combs’ explosive rage and violence.

As prosecutors linked Combs' business practices to a criminal operation, testimonies from his own staff revealed the intense pressures and threats they faced.

Capricorn Clark, a longtime assistant, painted a chilling picture of Combs’ ruthless enforcement of loyalty, including forcing her to take lie-detector tests after losing jewelry. "If I failed a test, I was told by one of Combs' bodyguards that I'd be ‘thrown into the East River,’" she recalled.

Jurors also heard dramatic accounts of confrontations between Combs and rival record executives. In one particularly harrowing episode, Ventura recalled begging Combs not to act recklessly when he rushed to confront rival Marion "Suge" Knight.

"I realized for the first time being Mr. Combs' assistant that my life was in danger," assistant David James confirmed.

The trial's shocking revelations continued with musician Kid Cudi’s testimony regarding a 2012 incident involving the firebombing of his Porsche, which he believed was orchestrated by Combs out of jealousy.

"I looked right back at him, very cold stare and said ‘I don't know what you're talking about,’" Kid Cudi testified about their confrontation.