April 26th 2025.
During a court hearing in New York City on April 25th, lawyers representing Sean Combs, also known as Diddy, rejected a plea deal offered by federal prosecutors in regards to his ongoing sex trafficking lawsuit. The lawyers also argued that Diddy leads a "swinging" lifestyle, further denying any wrongdoing on his part. This is not the first time both Diddy and his legal team have maintained that the alleged sexual activities were consensual.
According to Reuters, federal prosecutor Madison Smyser did not disclose any details about the plea deal offered to the music mogul. Diddy's lead attorney, Marc Agnifilo, made an appearance in front of U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian and argued that Diddy's belief in polyamorous relationships and his hiring of escorts should not be seen as an intent to commit illegal acts. "It's important to consider Diddy's lifestyle and his involvement in the swingers community. Many people see this as normal and acceptable behavior," Agnifilo stated during his remarks.
As reported by Variety, Diddy has previously pleaded not guilty to the five counts outlined in the case against him. Some of the charges accuse him of using threats and intimidation to coerce women into participating in what he referred to as "freak-offs." Diddy's legal team also requested that a video showing him violently attacking his then-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, be excluded from the trial. They believe that the footage has been edited by news outlets, specifically CNN.
Before his attorneys made this argument, Diddy publicly apologized for the incident that took place at a hotel in 2016. In a video addressing the footage, he assured his fans that he was not asking for forgiveness, but rather acknowledging his mistakes and seeking forgiveness from God. Ventura, who is also known professionally as Cassie, is expected to testify in the trial, which is set to begin on May 12th and last for approximately eight to 10 weeks.
According to People Magazine, Ventura has been confirmed by sources as "Victim-1," as mentioned in a motion filed by federal prosecutors on April 4th. The motion states that she is prepared to testify under her real name, while three other victims have requested to remain anonymous. The prosecution has asked for these victims to be referred to using pseudonyms, and for the defense to protect their identities due to the public nature of the trial.
In their argument for anonymity, the prosecution stated, "This case has already received a great deal of media attention, and it will only increase as the trial progresses. Allowing these measures will protect the victims from unnecessary public disclosure, media harassment, embarrassment, and other negative consequences that would likely arise if they were forced to reveal their true identities in court."
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