Maureen Comey dismantled Diddy’s defense in court Friday, accusing his legal team of making excuses for years of criminal abuse and coercion.
Diddy faced extreme scrutiny from lead prosecutor Maureen Comey Friday in a Manhattan courtroom, where she accused his legal team of offering “excuse after excuse” for what she called “inexcusable behavior” during the final day of his federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial.
Comey, delivering the government’s final word before jury deliberations begin Monday, tore into the defense’s portrayal of the Hip-Hop mogul’s conduct, calling their narrative a smokescreen.
She rejected the idea that Marc Agnifilo, Diddy’s defense attorney, had painted — that the case was about lifestyle choices, not crimes.
Comey said the defense’s claim that Diddy hired male escorts for companionship, not sex, was absurd. She told jurors that the evidence showed he flew sex workers across the country to engage in sexual acts with women while he watched and masturbated.
She described the alleged abuse of women like Cassie Ventura, Jane and Mia as part of a pattern of coercion and control. Comey said the women were manipulated, degraded and traumatized — not willing participants.
She emphasized that none of them had financial motives to lie – Cassie already received $20 million to settle her civil suit against Diddy, while Jane had no intention of filing one.
Comey also addressed the arson of rapper Kid Cudi’s car, saying Diddy followed through on threats. She reminded jurors that Cassie testified he said he would do it — and then it happened.
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She also pointed to the alleged bribery of a witness, referencing Diddy’s $100,000 cash payment in a brown paper bag and the mogul’s warning not to make any large purchases.
Earlier in the day, Agnifilo argued that prosecutors were targeting Diddy for his fame and wealth. He called his client a demanding but successful businessman, not a criminal kingpin.
Agnifilo ridiculed the government’s evidence, including the seizure of large amounts of baby oil and lubricant from Diddy’s homes.
He acknowledged Diddy assaulted Cassie Ventura in 2016 but called their relationship a “great modern love story” and described her as a “gangster.”
Agnifilo denied the rape allegations and dismissed the arson claim as “nonsense.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik, who delivered her closing Thursday (June 26), called Diddy the head of a criminal enterprise who used fear, violence and money to maintain control.
She said he surrounded himself with loyal insiders who helped him silence victims and cover up crimes. Jurors are expected to receive instructions and begin deliberations on Monday, June 30.
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