Sean Combs’ Attorney Raises Concern Over Lack of Transparency in Trial Involving Well-Known Rapper
As Diddy faces federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges, his attorney raised objections to secret proceedings that excluded both the defendant and public, particularly concerning another rapper’s undisclosed identity.
Attorney Marc Agnifilo raised concerns with Judge Arun Subramanian after his client, Sean Combs, was excluded from a private hour-long meeting about an alleged January 2024 hotel room incident.
The closed-door session caused a significant delay in proceedings, pushing back the final testimony from “Jane,” a woman who dated Combs for years. At 55, Combs faces serious allegations that could lead to life imprisonment.
Prosecutors accuse him of leveraging his power and fame to pressure women into sexual situations involving hired escorts. His legal team, however, argues all interactions were consensual.
On the stand, Jane admitted she had flown to Las Vegas with another well-known rapper and his girlfriend in early 2023.
During cross-examination, defense attorney Teny Geragos did not name the rapper but asked Jane whether he was “an icon in the music industry” and “someone at the top of the industry.”
Jane confirmed with a simple “yes.”
She testified that once in Las Vegas, she joined the rapper and others for dinner, a strip club visit, and later a hotel room party. There, a sex worker engaged in sexual activity with another woman while several people watched.
Jane recalled the rapper complimenting her by saying, “hey beautiful,” and expressing that he had always wanted to sleep with her. Though uncertain of the exact moment, she testified that she did flash her breasts while dancing.
The courtroom testimony followed a confidential meeting Thursday, where attorneys debated which facts from a hotel room encounter should be disclosed.
Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo argued that the increasing secrecy was troubling and undermined Combs’ constitutional right to a public trial.
Judge Subramanian offered to continue the matter in private by clearing the courtroom if Combs wished to speak.
Agnifilo declined, stressing, “Trials are public for a reason. When people hear about something they recognize, they may step forward with important information.”
Calling it discriminatory, defense attorney Alexandra Shapiro said the prosecution was making a “thinly veiled effort to dismiss a Black juror.”
Jane and Cassie Ventura both described their years-long involvement in what they called sex marathons with Combs. Ventura referred to them as “freak-off” nights, while Jane labeled them “hotel nights.”
Defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo objected to courtroom secrecy, saying that while they permitted Jane to use a pseudonym, they never agreed to close the courtroom for other parts of the related testimony.
Prosecutor Maureen Comey fired back, arguing that such transparency could jeopardize Jane’s safety and anonymity, and framed the defense’s actions as an effort to “harass and intimidate” her.
Also Read: Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ Attorney Confronts Ex with Romantic Messages During Testimony
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Manoj Patel is a senior video journalist who has a degree in Mass Communication. He has a rich experience in editing videos and writing stories on different platforms.
