The trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs, accused of sexual abuse, “vicious” attacks and blackmail, began May 12 with witness testimonies of the hip-hop mogul’s alleged violent episodes.
Prosecutors alleged the hip-hop mogul lured women into romantic relationships, forced them through emotional, physical and financial manipulation to take part in days of highly coordinated, drug-fueled sex parties called “freak offs” with male escorts that he directed, and then blackmailed them with videos he recorded of the encounters.
Much of the first day was devoted to an infamous video that allegedly shows Combs beating, kicking, and dragging his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura Fine in a hotel hallway. The video was shown to the jury and former security guard Israel Florez testified about her “purple” eye, a smashed flower vase in the room, and Combs offering him money to stay quiet.
The jury also heard testimony from former male stripper Daniel Phillip, who told the court he was paid to have sex with Ventura Fine while Combs watched, but finally stopped after seeing Combs physically abuse her.
The Bad Boy Records founder’s defense lawyer Teny Geragos said in her opening statement that the video was “horrible,” “dehumanizing,” and “terrible,” but it was domestic violence, not Combs forcing her into sex. Geragos argued that all of Combs’ sexual encounters were entirely consensual and blamed the charges on jealous exes and former employees wanting money.
“Sean Combs is a complicated man, but this is not a complicated case. This case is about voluntary choices made by capable adults in consensual relationships,” Geragos told jurors.
What was Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs charged with?
Combs, whose two mansions in Florida were raided in March 2024, is facing two counts of sex trafficking, two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, and one count of racketeering. He has pleaded not guilty.
Along with the “freak offs” and abuse, the indictment also alleges that Combs punched, struck, dragged and kicked various women since at least 2008, and forced employees to “cover up his abuse and commercial sex” operation. Other incidents listed in the indictment include an armed kidnapping and blowing up a car.
Can I watch the Diddy trial? Where is the Diddy trial streaming?
The trial is not being photographed, televised or streamed. You’ll have to follow reporter updates.
While states and federal civil proceedings have more flexibility, broadcasting and photographing criminal proceedings in federal courts is prohibited under the Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure, largely thanks to another sensational trial: the kidnapping of Charles Lindbergh’s baby.
In the 1935 trial of Bruno Hauptmann, who was convicted of kidnapping and killing the famous aviator’s infant son, about 700 journalists swarmed the courtroom. People ran back and forth to send updates, and some of the estimated 120 cameramen there climbed on tables to get better shots and blind witnesses with flash bulbs.
Hauptmann’s appeal that the “media circus” in the courtroom denied him a fair trial was rejected, but it caused the American Bar Association to ban photography and broadcast coverage of trials in 1937.
Electronic media coverage of criminal trials in federal courts was prohibited in 1946 by Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53.
Several of the prosecution’s key witnesses in the Combs trial will also be testifying under pseudonyms to protect their identities.
USA TODAY is reporting live from the trial each day. You can follow along here.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Can I watch the Diddy trial? Is it livestreaming? Here’s how to follow, get updates
Reporting by C. A. Bridges, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
