Logo

Sean “Diddy” Combs won’t be testifying at his bombshell Manhattan trial, his lead attorney signaled Monday — revealing the disgraced mogul’s legal team isn’t planning on calling a single witness in his defense.

Defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo told the judge that Combs’ attorneys would instead present jurors at the federal sex-trafficking trial with an array of evidence, that prosecutors have already signed off on.

The shocking decision is an about-face from the Bad Boy Records founder’s purported plan as of last week to call at least three witnesses: two Combs Enterprises employees and a psychological expert.


  Sean “Diddy” Combs watching as text messages between him and his former chief of staff Kristina Khorram are displayed at his sex-trafficking trial on June 23, 2025. REUTERS Sean “Diddy” Combs watching as text messages between him and his former chief of staff Kristina Khorram are displayed at his sex-trafficking trial on June 23, 2025. REUTERS

Agnifilo’s announcement also indicated that the “I’ll Be Missing You” rapper will not take the witness stand to testify in his own defense — like he did in a 2001 shooting trial that saw him acquitted.

The burden to prove Combs’ guilt is fully on prosecutors and not on the hip-hop mogul, so the jury isn’t allowed to hold it against him if he doesn’t testify or call witnesses.

Judge Arun Subramanian is sure to instruct jurors of this rule before the panel starts deliberating — which could happen as soon as the end of the week.

Over the last six weeks, prosecutors have called more than 30 witnesses, including three women who claimed they were variously beaten, sexually assaulted and coerced into “freak-offs” by Combs.


  Marc Agnifilo told the judge that Combs’ attorneys would instead present jurors at the federal sex-trafficking trial with an array of evidence. REUTERS Marc Agnifilo told the judge that Combs’ attorneys would instead present jurors at the federal sex-trafficking trial with an array of evidence. REUTERS

  Marc Agnifilo, attorney for Sean “Diddy” Combs, arriving at court. REUTERS Marc Agnifilo, attorney for Sean “Diddy” Combs, arriving at court. REUTERS

The sick sessions — where Combs allegedly made the women have sex with male prostitutes while he watched, pleasured himself and taped it — are at the center of prosecutors’ case against the once-powerful music producer.

Combs’ move to not call witnesses, or testify, was revealed before jurors entered the courtroom Monday to continue hearing the prosecution’s evidence in the case.

Jurors were later shown sexually explicit videos of “hotel nights” — or “freak-offs” —  that Combs’ former gal pal “Jane,” one of three alleged victims who testified against him, took part in. 


  Jurors watching sexually explicit videos of “hotel nights” — or “freak-offs.” REUTERS Jurors watching sexually explicit videos of “hotel nights” — or “freak-offs.” REUTERS

The footage — as well as other video of Combs’ ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura’s participation in “freak-offs” — were kept from the public and the press since Subramanian previously ruled they were too graphic.

The videos involving “Jane,” who testified under that pseudonym, were shown as the prosecution’s final witness, Homeland Security special agent Joseph Cerciello was on the stand.

He is expected to be finished testifying sometime Tuesday morning. And closing arguments have been set for Thursday with each side slated to take at least four hours.


  Diddy’s former driver Wardel Fenderson leaving a courthouse. New York Post Diddy’s former driver Wardel Fenderson leaving a courthouse. New York Post

Combs previously faced a jury on the stand during his 2001 Manhattan state court trial in which he was accused of firing a gun at a ceiling inside a West 43rd Street dance club on Dec. 29, 1999. 

He was also accused of trying to bribe his driver, Wardel Fenderson, to claim ownership for another gun found in the getaway car he shared with his girlfriend at the time, Jennifer Lopez.

“I thought I was being shot at,” the rapper testified then, as he maintained the shooting was in self-defense.


  Jennifer Lopez and Diddy, then known as Puff Daddy, dated for almost two years and were both arrested after the infamous shooting in December 1999 at Club New York. Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency / SplashNews.com Jennifer Lopez and Diddy, then known as Puff Daddy, dated for almost two years and were both arrested after the infamous shooting in December 1999 at Club New York. Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency / SplashNews.com

Combs — who’d been facing up to 15 years in prison on the top charge — was acquitted after jurors deliberated for 22 hours and convicted his co-defendant of first-degree assault for shooting two bystanders.

A defendant testifying at a criminal trial is usually regarded as risky, since it opens them up to cross-examination by prosecutors.

The “It’s All About the Benjamins” rhymer now faces life in prison if convicted at his federal trial.

He has pleaded not guilty to sex-trafficking, racketeering and prostitution related charges.

Prosecutors claim for over a decade, Combs used his employees to carry out crimes, like bombing rapper Kid Cudi’s Porsche convertible.


  Kid Cudi at the Tribeca Film Festival. Getty Images for Tribeca Festival Kid Cudi at the Tribeca Film Festival. Getty Images for Tribeca Festival

  Evidence Photos from the March 2024 raid at Diddy’s Los Angeles Mansion. Department of Justice Evidence Photos from the March 2024 raid at Diddy’s Los Angeles Mansion. Department of Justice


  Combs — who’d been facing up to 15 years in prison on the top charge — was acquitted after jurors deliberated for 22 hours and convicted his co-defendant of first-degree assault for shooting two bystanders. REUTERS Combs — who’d been facing up to 15 years in prison on the top charge — was acquitted after jurors deliberated for 22 hours and convicted his co-defendant of first-degree assault for shooting two bystanders. REUTERS

Combs, 55, also allegedly used his employees to ensure he had a steady supply of drugs, sometimes even making them fly from California to Miami with the contraband.

Prosecutors charged that he made his assistants stock up hotel rooms with cash, baby oil, personal lubricant and drugs for the days-long, drugged-up, sex-sessions he forced women to partake in.

Combs has claimed the women involved in the “freak-offs” were his girlfriends and willing participants.

Comments
anonymous profile image
Powered by RoundtableBuilt on infrastructure designed for real-time media. Learn more at RTB.io.© Roundtable 2026. By using this site you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy