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Diddy Won’t Testify as Defense Prepares Swift Close to Sex Trafficking Trial

Prosecutors are set to rest this week with the defense preparing a two-to-five-day case ahead of jury deliberations early next week.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson displays text messages between Sean "Diddy" Combs and Casandra "Cassie" Ventura as she questions Special Agent DeLeassa Penland during Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City on June 17, 2025 in this courtroom sketch.
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SDNY special agent DeLeassa Penland back on the stand on Tuesday morning. She walked the jury through travel records linked to Combs’ American Express card, with some charges paid by some banks linked to Combs’ company. The jury also saw a timeline of events surrounding the March 2016 incident at the InterContinental Hotel where Combs was seen on surveillance video assaulting Cassie Ventura.

Overview

  • The prosecution plans to rest by Friday after six weeks of witness testimony and presentation of videos, phone records and text messages.
  • Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo told the court the team’s case could last as little as two days and confirmed Sean Combs will not take the stand.
  • Judge Arun Subramanian dismissed a juror this week over conflicting residency statements that raised doubts about the panel’s integrity.
  • The judge sharply rebuked both sides for leaking sealed details from a closed hearing and warned that any further violations of his gag order could lead to contempt charges.
  • Jurors have viewed extensive footage of ‘freak-off’ parties along with hotel and travel records central to the government’s racketeering and sex trafficking conspiracy allegations.