While Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal trial has been rife with drama, cringe and explosive comments, lawyers not involved in the case say prosecutors have yet to prove that the music mogul is guilty of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking, the two most serious charges brought against him in a five-count indictment.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy; two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.
About a dozen people have taken the stand so far in the trial, which will enter its third week Tuesday.
“I’m not seeing the development of a racketeering enterprise,” said veteran criminal defense attorney Tama Beth Kudman. “I’m not seeing the thread that creates an enterprise with a unified purpose.”
On the racketeering conspiracy charge, prosecutors must prove Combs was involved in a criminal enterprise with a group of people engaging in criminal acts, multiple lawyers said.
For the sex trafficking charges, prosecutors must demonstrate that R&B singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, Combs’ former girlfriend, was forced to travel across state lines and commit sex acts.
Attorney Rachel Maimin, a former federal prosecutor for the Southern District of New York, stressed patience because it’s still early in a trial that is expected to last eight weeks.
“This is a very long trial, and all of the evidence doesn’t come in through one witness,” said Maimin, now a criminal defense attorney with Lowenstein Sandler LLP. “Just because the evidence hasn’t been presented yet doesn’t mean they don’t have it.”
Prosecutors will eventually present all their findings and tie everything together in their closing arguments, she added.
However, Thursday’s testimony from Grammy Award-winning rapper Kid Cudi, whose real name is Scott Mescudi, 41, could move the needle forward. He alleged that Combs and one of his employees broke into his home, and that his Porsche was torched in his driveway with a Molotov cocktail. The alleged crimes occurred in 2011 and 2012.
Mescudi said he suspected Combs was involved in the car bombing because the mogul had learned about Mescudi’s romantic relationship with Ventura. Although Combs has not addressed the bombing directly, Ventura alleged in a 2023 civil lawsuit against him that he told her he would blow up Mescudi’s car. The lawsuit was settled privately without Combs admitting any wrongdoing.
The testimony…
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