Sean Combs, a renowned hip-hop impresario, is set to face a federal trial that accuses him of being a “criminal sexual deviant” who exploited his fame to abuse women at exclusive gatherings. The 17-page indictment, which includes descriptions of “Freak Offs” – drugged-up orgies where women were forced to have sex with male sex workers while Combs filmed them – alleges that he used the power and prestige he gained in building a hip-hop empire to destroy young lives.
Prosecutors will present numerous witnesses who claim Combs terrorized people into silence by choking, hitting, kicking, and dragging them. They also allege that he dangled someone from a balcony during one incident. Combs’ lawyers argue that prosecutors are trying to police consensual sexual activity, but the indictment paints a damning picture of Combs’ alleged abuse.
The trial will focus on the claims of four women, including Combs’ former girlfriend Cassie, who filed a lawsuit alleging years of abuse, including beatings and rape. The investigation into Combs’ alleged crimes began after Cassie’s lawsuit was settled in a day, which sparked federal investigators to raid his homes in Los Angeles and Miami.
If convicted on all charges, Combs faces decades in prison. His lawyers say that he has acknowledged one episode of violence – the caught-on-camera beating of Cassie – but other allegations are false. The trial is set to begin with jury selection on Monday, with testimony likely starting the following week.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/sean-diddy-combs-trial-41e416ecca338b85ecbad506180558e1