Combs stands accused of leading what federal prosecutors describe as a decades-long criminal enterprise. Their case paints a dark portrait of a man who, behind a successful public image, allegedly orchestrated serious crimes, including sex trafficking, racketeering, witness tampering, forced labor, arson, and bribery. Central to the case are claims that Combs manipulated two women—singer Cassie Ventura and another who testified under the pseudonym "Jane"—into coerced relationships that involved drugs and paid escorts.
The most severe charge—racketeering—suggests a coordinated criminal enterprise, and carries the potential for a life sentence if the jury delivers a conviction. Additional charges include two counts of sex trafficking and two for the transportation of individuals for prostitution.
Combs, who has remained in custody throughout the trial, has firmly denied all allegations. His legal team has insisted the relationships at the heart of the case were consensual and have worked to portray key witnesses as unreliable, motivated by financial gain, fame, or revenge.
Over the course of the trial, jurors heard from 34 witnesses, including former assistants, escorts, family and friends of alleged victims, and law enforcement officers. One particularly striking account came from a hotel security guard who claimed he was paid $100,000 in cash to stay silent. The prosecution also called a forensic psychologist to support their argument of long-term coercion and abuse.
Combs did not testify in his own defense, a decision that legal experts say is not unusual in high-profile criminal trials. His team instead focused on cross-examinations and presenting counter-evidence, including text messages and videos suggesting the alleged victims willingly participated in many of the encounters.
Court records and trial exhibits included thousands of pages of digital communications, financial statements, CashApp transactions, and travel itineraries. While some messages pointed to distress and trauma, others—highlighted by the defense—showed apparent affection and consent.
Video clips of what prosecutors described as illicit sex parties were presented as evidence of exploitation. The defense, however, argued those same recordings showed adults engaging in legal, consensual behavior.
Outside the courthouse in Manhattan, the trial has become a magnet for media figures, content creators, and online commentators, despite strict rules banning electronics inside the building. The buzz has remained constant, even though Combs himself has not been seen entering or exiting the courthouse due to his incarceration.
The trial has also attracted prominent figures from the music industry, including rapper Kid Cudi, who testified that Combs’s associates set his car on fire—an incident prosecutors allege was part of a broader campaign of intimidation.
Closing arguments are expected to continue into Friday, capping weeks of intense courtroom drama. Though it’s possible the jury could begin deliberations as early as Friday afternoon, both legal teams have indicated that Monday is the more likely starting point for their decision-making process.
Once the case is handed to the jury, the spotlight will shift to twelve New Yorkers tasked with deciding the outcome of one of the most sensational celebrity trials in recent memory. At stake is the legacy—and freedom—of a man once considered one of the most influential figures in modern music.