NEW YORK — A defense attorney for Sean “Diddy” Combs expressed concerns over growing secrecy in the hip-hop mogul’s ongoing federal trial, which involves charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. On Thursday, attorney Marc Agnifilo voiced his discontent after Combs, along with the public, was excluded from a lengthy private discussion regarding whether to disclose the name of another prominent rapper.
The private meeting in a courtroom anteroom delayed the start of the sixth and final day of testimony by a witness identified only as “Jane,” who has had a relationship with Combs since 2001 until his arrest in September 2022. Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to accusations that could lead to a prison sentence ranging from 15 years to life if convicted. Prosecutors allege that he exploited his wealth and influence to coerce partners into engaging in sexual acts with paid workers during events they later regretted. The defense claims the government’s case is misinterpreting consensual relations between adults.
During her testimony, Jane recounted a trip to Las Vegas in January 2023, where she was accompanied by a well-known rapper and his girlfriend. While she did not name the rapper, defense attorney Teny Geragos inquired whether he was one of Combs’ collaborators in the music industry and if the two were close friends. Jane affirmed both questions.
In Las Vegas, Jane described attending dinner and a strip club with the rapper and a group of others before moving to a hotel party where sexual activities occurred, which included a sex worker engaging with one woman while others observed. Jane recalled an incident where she danced and flashed her breasts at the gathering when the rapper expressed his interest in her.
The testimony emerged shortly after the closed-door discussions, which stirred objections from Agnifilo regarding the lack of transparency in the proceedings. He emphasized the importance of a public trial, arguing that it allows potential witnesses to come forward and provide their accounts, a vital element of the legal process.
Judge Arun Subramanian offered to clear the courtroom if Combs wished to make a statement, but Agnifilo declined. He maintained that the justification for public trials was to ensure that the community could engage and contribute facts relevant to the case.
Throughout Jane’s testimony, a monitor displaying exhibits to spectators remained turned off, although the judge, jury, and attorneys could see the materials. The judge also prohibited public display of any sexual content in exhibits, even as the defense argued this material demonstrates that the sexual activities were consensual and not criminal.
As the trial progresses, numerous communications from lawyers to the judge have been filed under seal, restricting public access to critical information, including the rationale behind prosecutors’ attempts to disqualify a Black juror. The judge is expected to make a ruling on that issue on Friday. Defense attorney Alexandra Shapiro labeled the prosecution’s move a “thinly veiled effort” to dismiss the juror on dubious grounds.
In their testimonies, both Jane and Casandra “Cassie” Ventura described years of involvement in what they referred to as sexual “marathons,” with Cassie terming them “freak-off” nights and Jane calling them “hotel nights.” Agnifilo acknowledged that while the defense consented to Jane testifying under a pseudonym, it did not agree to the broader enforceability of confidentiality around her and other witnesses’ testimonies.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen Comey criticized Agnifilo’s arguments for increased public access, suggesting that they risked revealing Jane’s identity, asserting that such efforts could intimidate the witness.
This case continues to unfold, heightening scrutiny on both the proceedings and the implications of high-profile status within the legal system.
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