Sean "Diddy" Combs: The Verdict

Summary

48 Hours: Sean "Diddy" Combs - The Verdict

Host: Jerica Duncan
Release Date: July 4, 2025
Station: CBS News
Description: This episode delves into the high-profile trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs, exploring his rise to fame, subsequent legal battles, and the broader implications on American culture and the music industry.

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1. Introduction to the Case

After fourteen hours of deliberation over seven weeks, a jury composed of eight men and four women reached a verdict in the case against Sean "Diddy" Combs. The charges included racketeering, conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. Combs was found not guilty of racketeering, conspiracy, and sex trafficking but was convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. These convictions could result in a prison sentence ranging from no additional time to as much as twenty years.

Jerica Duncan [00:52]:
"The verdict is in. After 14 hours of deliberation, a jury of eight men and four women who spent nearly seven weeks listening to over 30 witnesses decided the fate of Sean Diddy Combs."

---

2. Sean "Diddy" Combs: From Mogul to Accusation

Background:
Born in 1969 in Harlem and raised in Mount Vernon, New York, Sean Combs, also known as Diddy, Puff Daddy, and Love, rose to prominence in the early '90s as a music mogul. His establishment of Bad Boy Records and his partnership with the late Notorious B.I.G. cemented his status in the hip-hop industry.

Simone Redwine [01:43]:
"Puff represented more than just music. No, this was black excellence. Just a hip hop mogul. He's one of the biggest artists in the world."

Rise to Fame:
Combs' strategic marketing, highlighted by the launch of Bad Boy Records in 1993 and the production of Biggie's "Ready to Die," propelled him to superstardom. The tragic death of Notorious B.I.G. in 1997 further amplified Combs' influence, leading to hits like "I'll Be Missing You" and the successful release of Biggie's posthumous album, "Life After Death."

Jerica Duncan [06:34]:
"The hits with Bad boy continued. In 1997, there was excitement to Biggie's follow up album until it came to a devastating halt when Notorious B.I.G. was shot and killed at a Los Angeles intersection."

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3. The Turning Point: Legal Troubles Begin

In December 1997, Combs faced charges of illegal possession of a firearm related to a shooting in a Times Square nightclub. Despite these allegations, he was acquitted in 2001 and promptly rebranded himself as P. Diddy, continuing his ascent in the entertainment and business worlds.

Simone Redwine [08:32]:
"The 31-year-old rap mogul told a packed courtroom a gun that was found in his car was not his."

Jerica Duncan [09:11]:
"Not guilty. Not guilty. I think a lot of people who become successful and have a darker side, they use their influence and their wealth to keep it hidden because they want people to see what they want them to see."

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4. The Allegations and Civil Lawsuits

On November 16, 2023, Cassie Ventura, a singer, model, and former partner of Combs, filed a lawsuit accusing him of rape, trafficking, and years of brutal abuse. This lawsuit was swiftly followed by over 120 additional civil claims alleging sexual abuse, battery, and rape.

Tama Bryant [11:18]:
"I think it all started for Combs when Cassie came forward."

Combs settled Cassie's civil lawsuit within 24 hours for a reported $20 million. However, in March 2024, federal agents raided his residences in Los Angeles and Miami, uncovering evidence including over 1,000 bottles of baby oil allegedly used for orchestrated sex parties known as "freak offs."

Jerica Duncan [12:05]:
"Prosecutors say more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil were found, allegedly used to stock hotel rooms for orchestrated sex parties known as freak offs."

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5. The Trial: Testimonies and Key Witnesses

Cassie Ventura's Testimony:
Cassie Ventura took the stand visibly pregnant, detailing her tumultuous relationship with Combs. She described an initially charming relationship that became controlling and abusive, highlighting incidents where she was forced into non-consensual sex parties.

Tama Bryant [19:32]:
"Cassie was absolutely a compelling witness. She read a text message after umpteen beatings from Puffy, saying, 'I am not a rag doll, I am someone's child.'"

Kid Cudi's Testimony:
Rapper Kid Cudi, Ventura's ex-boyfriend, corroborated her claims by describing instances where Combs exerted control, including threatening to sabotage Cudi's property and personal life.

Terri Austin [25:28]:
"Kid Cuddy, I think, was a very credible witness. I think he had a certain sophistication to him."

Brianna Bongalin's Testimony:
A friend of Ventura's, Brianna Bongalin, provided a harrowing account of being physically assaulted by Combs, although the defense contested her allegations by presenting travel records placing Combs elsewhere at the time.

Jane's Testimony:
An anonymous ex-girlfriend, referred to only as Jane, testified about enduring drug-fueled sex marathons orchestrated by Combs, further painting a picture of manipulation and control.

Jerica Duncan [28:31]:
"Jane's testimony really shared examples of Jane being in love with Diddy, also jealous. Her testimony showed that she used the freak offs to reward or punish Diddy."

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6. Media and Public Reaction

The trial garnered significant media attention, with influencers and content creators actively participating in the discourse. While some amplified misinformation, others provided insightful legal analysis, making the case widely accessible but also contentious.

Simone Redwine [30:35]:
"A crime story mixed with a reality show all in one."

Terri Austin [41:21]:
"Social media influencers are completely changing the way that cases are covered because they are doing the digging and they're bringing it directly to their viewers."

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7. The Defense's Strategy and Prosecution's Closing

Combs' defense team opted not to call any witnesses, choosing instead to submit text messages suggesting consent and agency from Ventura and Jane. They aimed to undermine the prosecution's narrative by portraying the relationships as consensual.

Terri Austin [32:25]:
"Personally, I feel like it's always a good idea to put at least one person up there."

The prosecution, however, presented a compelling case centered around Ventura's testimony and the overwhelming evidence of control and abuse. Their closing remarks emphasized the illegality of the prostitution charges and the orchestrated nature of the alleged activities.

Terri Austin [35:13]:
"Sex trafficking is definitely one of the charges I think they'll get as it relates to Cassie. All you have to do is show that March 5, 2016 video."

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8. Verdict and Aftermath

The jury delivered a mixed verdict: acquitting Combs on the most severe charges while convicting him on two counts related to transportation for prostitution. Although he avoids lengthy imprisonment, the verdict severely tarnishes his reputation and legacy.

Simone Redwine [38:37]:
"His legacy is secure as far as what his legacy has been since the 90s. I think his legacy as a human being is what is in jeopardy because he's a treacherous, treacherous human being."

Jerica Duncan [42:06]:
"The reality is Combs was able to escape the most serious charges against him. He still faces two prostitution-related convictions that could send him to prison. But the damage to his reputation is done."

---

9. Reflections on Cultural Impact

The trial has sparked a broader conversation about the accountability of celebrities and the abuse of power within the entertainment industry. Victims' advocates argue that this case highlights systemic issues that persisted even after movements like MeToo.

Simone Redwine [40:08]:
"This represents a lag in hip hop really embracing the movement itself. Talking about sexual harm has always been really hard."

Terri Austin [43:15]:
"Sean Combs is huge. And for him to be charged with all of these charges and counts and women, I think is really a pivotal case."

---

10. Ongoing Legal Battles

Despite the verdict, Combs continues to face over sixty civil lawsuits alleging various forms of abuse. His estimated net worth of $400 million may be significantly impacted by the financial repercussions of these ongoing legal challenges.

Jerica Duncan [44:02]:
"Sean Combs legal troubles are not over. He is facing over 60 civil lawsuits."

---

11. Conclusion

The trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs serves as a critical examination of power dynamics, accountability, and the cultural influence of celebrity figures. While Combs may have avoided the most severe charges, the case leaves enduring questions about the entertainment industry's role in enabling and perpetuating abusive behaviors.

Simone Redwine [43:38]:
"I'm hoping that this case becomes a cautionary tale for those who aspire to be Sean Combs, those who are approaching that status. It's about men with power and them abusing them."

Jerica Duncan [44:58]:
"For all of us here at CBS News, we thank you for watching."

---

Key Quotes with Timestamps

• Jerica Duncan [00:52]:
  "The verdict is in. After 14 hours of deliberation, a jury of eight men and four women who spent nearly seven weeks listening to over 30 witnesses decided the fate of Sean Diddy Combs."

• Simone Redwine [01:43]:
  "Puff represented more than just music. No, this was black excellence. Just a hip hop mogul. He's one of the biggest artists in the world."

• Tama Bryant [19:32]:
  "Cassie was absolutely a compelling witness. She read a text message after umpteen beatings from Puffy, saying, 'I am not a rag doll, I am someone's child.'"

• Terri Austin [25:28]:
  "Kid Cuddy, I think, was a very credible witness. I think he had a certain sophistication to him."

• Simone Redwine [30:35]:
  "A crime story mixed with a reality show all in one."

• Simone Redwine [38:37]:
  "His legacy is secure as far as what his legacy has been since the 90s. I think his legacy as a human being is what is in jeopardy because he's a treacherous, treacherous human being."

---

This episode of "48 Hours" offers a comprehensive and gripping exploration of one of the most talked-about legal cases in recent history, providing listeners with an in-depth understanding of the complexities surrounding Sean "Diddy" Combs' trial and its broader societal implications.

Transcript

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So book your Test drive for Polestar 3 [e-mail] the verdict is in. After 14 hours of deliberation, a jury of eight men and four women who spent nearly seven weeks listening to over 30 witnesses decided the fate of Sean Diddy Combs. Not guilty of racketeering, conspiracy and sex trafficking, but guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. I'm Jerica Duncan, CBS News national correspondent. As Sean Combs faces as little as no additional time behind bars to as many as 20 years in prison for both counts. Tonight we will explore his incredible life. How he rose to fame, descended into shame, and the trial that changed his place in American culture.

[Simone Redwine]

Puff represented more than just music.

[Jerica Duncan]

Diddy, Puff Daddy, love everything, baby.

[Simone Redwine]

No, this was black excellence. Just a hip hop mogul. He's one of the biggest artists in the world. I don't really play by the rule. I'm a bad boy. He understood what to do with music to make a hit.

[Jerica Duncan]

The MTV Global icon BET lifetime achievement award. Give it up for Puff Daddy.

[Simone Redwine]

Sean Puffy Combs. The people chose it, baby. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He wanted to be at the top. He realized that if you wanted to really become wealthy, you don't just stop with being a recording artist. You have to take it a few steps further. He started making millions and millions. Not guilty. Not guilty. I think a lot of people who become successful and have a darker side, they use their influence and their wealth to keep it hidden because they want people to see what they want them to see.

[Tama Bryant]

If that video of Cassie being beat down by Diddy had not become public, had not been on airwaves across America, I don't think we'd be here a.

[Simone Redwine]

Year ago, Sean Combs stood in Times Square and was handed a key to New York City.

[Tama Bryant]

I love you, New York.

[Simone Redwine]

Today he's been indicted and will face justice. This office is determined to investigate and prosecute anyone who engages in sex trafficking, no matter how powerful or wealthy or famous you may be.

[Terri Austin]

He knew this day was coming.

[Simone Redwine]

Mr. Combs is a fighter. He's gonna fight this to the end.

[Jerica Duncan]

Wow. Was my first impression. They really have him now.

[Tama Bryant]

It's like a crime story mixed with a reality show all in once.

[Simone Redwine]

Excuse me. The kings are falling. Most of the people who come into music, they really, really want to get in. And sometimes when you get in and someone says, hey, all you gotta do is this one thing and I got you. But they don't got you. They're gonna get you.

[Jerica Duncan]

Before he was Diddy or love or Puff Daddy or Puffy, he was simply Sean. Sean John combs. Born in 1969 in Harlem, he was raised by a single mother in Mount Vernon, New York after his father was violently shot to death. During his teenage years, he earned the nickname Puffy. And due to his quick temper, he would later go on to attend Howard University at Howard.

[Simone Redwine]

He was doing a lot of parties.

[Jerica Duncan]

Darrell James is the author of Becoming the Making of Sean John Combs. From mogul to monster.

[Simone Redwine]

He's a bright guy, so he came up with some really, really clever marketing ploys that worked.

[Jerica Duncan]

In 1990, Combs landed an internship at Uptown Records.

[Simone Redwine]

Sean Combs was gonna outwork everybody. He didn't just observe, he soaked it in. He took what he learned and then, you know, learned how to add on to it culturally.

[Jerica Duncan]

Bonsuit Thompson is a writer and producer.

[Simone Redwine]

He goes from dog intern to assistant to production assistant to artisan repertoire onto becoming his own exec. He seemed to be somebody that definitely wanted to rise in the music business.

[Jerica Duncan]

Cynthia Horner, a well known hip hop journalist in the 80s and 90s, is the of write on magazine. She covered Diddy's career from the very beginning.

[Simone Redwine]

He knew how to throw all the best parties and he knew all the latest music. All the other record company executives looked at him as the go to person. So they put him in charge of all these different artists.

[Jerica Duncan]

He soon dropped out of Howard University and focused entirely on music at Uptown.

[Simone Redwine]

Records, becoming the number one guy there. His ego blows up so much that he gets himself fired, but has the talent, connections and the vision to build his own label.

[Jerica Duncan]

In 1993, he launched Bad Boy Records. The first signed artist was Christopher Wallace, aka the Notorious B.I.G.

[Simone Redwine]

It was all a dream.

[Jerica Duncan]

Diddy produced Biggie's debut album in 1994, Ready to Die. The album went platinum platinum with over 1 million sales in a year.

[Simone Redwine]

Biggie's look was not the traditional look, but having better access to clothing, which Puffy could definitely do something about, he just had that it factor. As a marketing man, this guy was, was on point. He wasn't really a producer per se because he's not musically inclined, but he understood what to do with music to make a hit.

[Jerica Duncan]

The hits with Bad boy continued. In 1997, there was excitement to Biggie's follow up album until it came to a devastating halt when Notorious B.I.G. was shot and killed at a Los Angeles intersection. How did Biggie's death impact Combs?

[Simone Redwine]

There was so much interest in Biggie's death that it just propelled Puffy to superstardom because he was still around, Biggie wasn't. I know you're still living your life after that.

[Jerica Duncan]

Soon after Biggie's death, Diddy released his song I'll Be Missing youg, which earned him his first Grammy.

[Simone Redwine]

When Biggie passed, he took the opportunity to honor his slain artist, but also live his artist dreams. And I mean I sold a lot of records out the gate.

[Jerica Duncan]

Biggie's second album released posthumously, Life After Death was a massive success and it gave Diddy the opening to create even more music.

[Simone Redwine]

Went from Bad Boys to the Crushed Linen. He went and just started going through all the, you know, the 80s songs that were really, really hot and sampling those songs. So right about that time, most of us who were in our 20s and 30s, we were kind of keyed into that music and it worked and it was powerful to the edge.

[Jerica Duncan]

But as his dreams were coming true, he got a wake up call.

[Simone Redwine]

The 31 year old rap mogul told a packed courtroom a gun that was found in his car was not his. And when asked if he knew where the gun came from, replied absolutely not.

[Jerica Duncan]

In December of 1997, Combs was charged with illegal possession of a firearm in connection to a shooting inside a Times Square nightclub.

[Simone Redwine]

It's not a good feeling to be sitting in that chair with other people. You got 12 people, you know that are in control of your life.

[Jerica Duncan]

In 2001, the jury found Combs not guilty. Just two weeks later, he changed his stage name to P. Diddy and continued his path to becoming a mogul.

[Simone Redwine]

He almost stole as good a party as me. I knew that was coming. Almost.

[Jerica Duncan]

Diddy became the executive producer and host of Making the band on MTV, which at its height was seen by over 50 million viewers.

[Simone Redwine]

This is the real deal right here.

[Jerica Duncan]

He also launched his signature sportswear collection, Sean John, which at one point grossed over a half billion dollars annually. He didn't stop with the clothing either.

[Simone Redwine]

No, because he also had Ciroc because he noticed that when you have these videos, a lot of the rappers would talk about what they drank.

[Jerica Duncan]

By 2014, Ciroc was selling more than 2 million bottles a year. Diddy left the vodka brand 10 years later with a payout topping $1 billion.

[Simone Redwine]

How y' all feeling out there?

[Jerica Duncan]

With the success of his music and businesses came a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Forbes listing him as the world's highest paid celebrity, A lifetime achievement award from Beta, and an MTV Global icon award. Diddy was now a brand and he was on top of the world.

[Simone Redwine]

If there's a face to rap becoming rich, it's Puff. He's the guy. He told me a long time ago that he wanted to be wealthy, he wanted to be at the top. Puff represented more than just music. This was black excellence. He was a marketing genius who, who got an opportunity in music and got in and really, really made an impact. And then it all just went sideways.

[Jerica Duncan]

A lawsuit filed against Sean Diddy Combs. It was a headline that landed like a bomb. On November 16th of 2023, Cassie Ventura, singer, model, and former partner of Sean Diddy Combs, filed a lawsuit accusing him of rape, trafficking and years of brutal abuse.

[Terri Austin]

I think it all started for Combs when Cassie came forward.

[Jerica Duncan]

Attorney Terri Austin has been following the federal case and was in the courtroom.

[Terri Austin]

Every day she filed that civil lawsuit. But I think there was a flood of other suits that came after that.

[Jerica Duncan]

Combs settled the civil lawsuit within 24 hours for a reported $20 million. After vetting, we now represent 120 individuals.

[Simone Redwine]

Who intend to bring civil claims in civil court against Sean Diddy Combs.

[Jerica Duncan]

In March of 2024, federal agents raided Combs homes in Los Angeles and Miami.

[Simone Redwine]

The Department of Homeland Security has raided the homes of Sean Diddy Combs.

[Jerica Duncan]

Agents sees guns, drugs and surveillance footage. But it was something else that was making headlines. Prosecutors say more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil were found, allegedly used to stock hotel rooms for orchestrated sex parties known as freak offs. Oh, the guns, the baby oil, the baby oil. Judy Saunders is a leading sexual abuse and human trafficking attorney. That's all you saw.

[Terri Austin]

Went viral.

[Jerica Duncan]

Memes about that. That's made it a little bit of a public spectacle for both sides. Simone Redwine is also a lawyer And a reality TV star who followed the case against Combs.

[Tama Bryant]

The significance of establishing that there was 1,000 bottles of baby oil, and in court, they'd show the videos, the caseloads they show, where they were stored, is to show just how prevalent these freak offs were, how many different people were involved.

[Jerica Duncan]

Then In May of 2024, surveillance footage surfaced from a Los Angeles hotel. In 2016, Combs was seen chasing Cassie, slamming her to the ground, and kicking her. After the video aired, Combs apologized, saying he was disgusted by his actions.

[Simone Redwine]

I mean, I hit rock bottom, but I make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable.

[Tama Bryant]

Let's be frank. If that video of Cassie being beat down by Diddy had not become public, had not been on airwaves across America, I don't think we'd be here.

[Jerica Duncan]

The footage displayed a side of Diddy he did not want revealed. How did you react to the video of Cassi Ventura being dragged and assaulted?

[Terri Austin]

I've got to tell you, that video, no matter how many times they played it, and they played it multiple times, every single time I saw it, it affected me.

[Jerica Duncan]

A grand jury indicted Combs on multiple felony charges, including racketeering, conspiracy, and sex trafficking. The charges span from 2009 to 2024.

[Terri Austin]

So racketeering conspiracy is that top charge. And to prove that, you have to prove there's a criminal enterprise and that it was engaged, that there was interstate criminal activity.

[Tama Bryant]

Now, we know there's an enterprise because it's literally called Sean Combs Enterprises. And the enterprise does not have to be created for criminal reasons. What they have to show is that he actually used employees to execute these crimes.

[Jerica Duncan]

In September, Combs was arrested at a New York hotel. He was denied bail and has been in federal custody ever since.

[Simone Redwine]

Mr. Combs is a fighter. He's gonna fight this to the end. He's innocent.

[Terri Austin]

I think part of the reason he didn't get bail is because he knew this day was coming. And the allegation is he was trying to call potential witnesses and obstruct justice and tamper with these witnesses. So there was evidence that he made a few calls.

[Jerica Duncan]

Combs has denied any wrongdoing. His legal team calls the case a money grab built on lies and opportunism. When he called it a money grab, that's a common, you know, defense, whether it's your publicist or damage control, to have that come out. Before the first witness was called, prosecutors laid out their case with text messages, videos, and digital files, painting a picture of fear control. And systemic abuse. But none of it would matter without a jury. Everyone I've spoken to has said that is the most important part of a case. Who is sitting on that jury?

[Terri Austin]

Exactly. It is critical, and there are a lot of people who think it is the most important part. Yes, you want to make sure you pick people who are. Who can understand your perspective. But there's no guarantee this trial would.

[Jerica Duncan]

Hinge on the women who say they were abused, on the employees who allegedly watched it happen and the insiders who remained silent. And it would begin with the woman who said she survived it all. This was the testimony I think everybody was waiting for.

[Terri Austin]

I think she was the pivotal witness for that case. No doubt about it.

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[Tama Bryant]

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[Jerica Duncan]

With the jury seated and the charges read aloud, the trial of Sean Diddy Combs officially began. Outside, it was a media circus. Long lines formed before sunrise. Content creators and news crews jockeyed for space. The Combs family walked in, united, silent, hand in hand, only adding to the spectacle. But inside the courtroom, all eyes were on the government star witness Cassie Ventura.

[Terri Austin]

There was lots of details as to what he did to her, what he forced her to do, actual sexual acts, all included in that. And that's where the prosecution got much of their information.

[Jerica Duncan]

Cassie walked in visibly pregnant, supported by her husband and family. She didn't look at Combs, but he never took his eyes off of her.

[Terri Austin]

She is beautiful, drop dead gorgeous. When she walks in the room, she has a certain presence about her. And you can't help but look at her and say, wow, she is a beautiful woman and she dresses impeccably. And when she walked in the room repeatedly, she didn't look at him. I think she commanded the room.

[Jerica Duncan]

She described a relationship that was intoxicating and isolating. It started with charm, but spiraled into what she called all consuming confidence. I think that Ms. Ventura was able to tell us a story of meeting this very powerful, very Charismatic individual at such a young age, which is extremely important. How wonderful is it to be flattered to be chosen, so to speak, by someone like that? She recalled the so called freak offs or drug fueled sex marathons with escorts that she says Combs would watch and direct, saying she was filmed without consent.

[Tama Bryant]

There are a lot of salacious allegations and descriptions about those sexual nights, the freak off nights. And at times it was kind of unbelievable to think, were they really being intimate like that for three or four days?

[Jerica Duncan]

The jury paid close attention as she described her pain, saying that when she tried to leave, she was threatened and manipulated.

[Tama Bryant]

Cassie was absolutely a compelling witness. It was brilliant of the prosecution to have her lead the testimony. And one of the most compelling things that she said on that stand was she read a text message after umpteen beatings from Puffy. And she said in that message, I am not a rag doll, I am someone's child. And it was testimony like that where you could look over at the jury and you would see that they were captured by it.

[Jerica Duncan]

Often in relationships where there is intimate partner abuse, it's important to know along with physical and sexual, there's also the emotional abuse. Tama Bryant is a licensed psychologist and professor at Pepperdine University. So the psychological abuse really damages your sense of yourself, your trust of yourself, and your sense of what we call agency or self efficacy. The singer testified she felt confused and nervous about the freak offs. But when it came to Combs, she said, quote, I also loved him very much and wanted to make him happy. In psychology, we call it please and appease. So I figure out who has the power and the control and I try to stay on their good side in order to remain safe. Then they will be kind to me then, because this was weekly, then we could have a good week, right? If I give this person this gift right, then things will be safer, that things will be calmer. Then they won't be outraged. On social media, there was backlash. Some questioned why she stayed. Others said she must have wanted the lifestyle, that if it were really that bad, she would have left Sooner.

[Terri Austin]

Just the March 5, 2016 tape alone shows her being forced. She was trying to leave and she was leaving a hotel night. There was an escort in that room and she's trying to get away, she's sneaking out, she's going to the elevator.

[Jerica Duncan]

They'll stay because they hope that things are going to get better. And sometimes they stay because of fear that they have been threatened. But the defense argued Ventura wasn't a victim. She was a willing Participant in court Combs lawyers played an audio recording of an enraged Ventura threatening a man she believed had a freak off video of her.

[Terri Austin]

I'm going to kill you.

[Jerica Duncan]

You don't understand.

[Terri Austin]

I don't give a f. I've never killed anybody in my life. It was very loud and it was very different from the Cassie we saw on the stand and that might affect the jury.

[Jerica Duncan]

Ventura's four day testimony ended with her crying on the stand stand and saying she would give back the $20 million if it meant she never had to perform another freak off. Next, the government would call the people who say they witnessed it. The bruises, the fear, a chorus of testimony to back up the star witness.

[Tama Bryant]

The way in which Cassidy's testimony really brought together other members of Diddy's organization, his assistants, those different people. It really showed the level of power that he had and the level of control.

[Simone Redwine]

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[Jerica Duncan]

Okay, I know we never actually left.

[Simone Redwine]

But I'll just say it. We are back with another season of Fly on the Wall. Every episode, including ones with guests, will now be be on video. Every Thursday, you'll hear us and see us chatting with big name celebrities.

[Jerica Duncan]

And every Monday, you're stuck with just me and Dana.

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We react to news, what's trending, viral clips follow. And listen to Fly on the Wall. Everywhere you get your podcasts, you know.

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[Terri Austin]

Is a total game changer.

[Jerica Duncan]

Cassie Ventura's testimony was riveting. But there were many more witnesses to come. Over the course of seven weeks, there were 34 witnesses, each one building on her story. While many witnesses shared harrowing accounts, two stood out for how their testimony gripped the public's attention. There was rapper Kid Cudi, who was Ventora's ex boyfriend, and Combs anonymous ex girlfriend known only as Jane.

[Simone Redwine]

The jury in the Sean Diddy Combs sex trafficking and racketeering trial heard from one of his former romantic robbers rivals yesterday. Rapper Kid Cudi.

[Jerica Duncan]

Ventura testified she dated rapper kid Cudi in 2011 after working together and becoming friends. She told the court she didn't tell Combs about the relationship, but he found out during an alleged freak off because he went through her phone and read some emails. Ventura testified she ended things with Kid Cudi so that no one would get hurt. On May 22, Kid Cuddy, whose real name is Scott Mescaty, took the stand and corroborated her testimony.

[Terri Austin]

Kid Cuddy, I think, was a very credible witness. I think he had a certain sophistication to him. I think he came across extremely well to that jury and I think they believed him.

[Tama Bryant]

Kid Cudi testified that Diddy came into his home and took his dog and locked his dog in the bathroom, but didn't appear to have hurt him. And I think what that establishes that Diddy likes to play mind games in that instance.

[Jerica Duncan]

Ventura also testified that Combs threatened to blow up Cuddy's car. Cuddy testified that a few weeks later, his Porsche 911 convertible was damaged by fire while parked in his driveway.

[Tama Bryant]

A lot of the testimony that we heard about different consistent instances of Diddy exercising force and control and using fear to control those around him, I believe that it was Diddy who in fact orchestrated or directed the arson.

[Jerica Duncan]

What about the moment Kid Cudi describes having a meeting at the Soho house? Cassie's there, but then the two of them kind of meet up man to man, and all is forgiven. Cuddy says, what about my car? And Combs allegedly says, what car?

[Terri Austin]

Right. And then the question was, what did you think he meant by that? And that's when Kid Cudi said that he, you know, firebombed my car.

[Jerica Duncan]

It wasn't just celebrity friends speaking out. One woman far from the spotlight came forward with a story that shook the room. On June 4, Brianna Bongalin, a friend of Ventura, told jurors that In September of 2016, Combs lifted her over the balcony of Ventura's Los Angeles apartment for about 15 seconds before pulling her back and throwing her onto patio furniture. Prosecutors showed the jury photos of her bruises, which they say occurred that night, images that seemed to grab the jury. But the defense pressed hard. They challenged Bongolin on when the alleged incident happened, pointing to travel records showing Combs was in New York for the Bad Boy reunion tour. In other words, Combs was not in LA on the day Bongolin said she was assaulted.

[Tama Bryant]

It all goes down to credibility. If you don't believe that Breonna Bonglin was dangled off the edge of the apartment, you may not believe anything about the other instances that she talks about of violence.

[Jerica Duncan]

The next day, June 5, another woman took the stand, known only as Combs ex girlfriend Jane. Her story painted a similar picture to Cassi Ventura's and chilling detail. Jane described enduring drug fueled sex marathons until the hip hop mogul's arrest in September. What was so different about Jane's story from Cassie's? The common thread that I think runs through Ms. Ventura and Jane is that belief, that internal belief that they honestly believe they can't leave, they have no agency.

[Tama Bryant]

Jane's testimony really shared testimony and examples of Jane being in love with Diddy, also jealous. But the testimony elicited really showed that she, different than Cassie, liked to actually use the freak offs to reward or punish Diddy.

[Jerica Duncan]

I want to talk about Jane because she was on the stand longer than Cassie. She was and she described her relationship as complicated even today. Why do you think Jane's testimony was so problematic?

[Terri Austin]

Well, let me start out by saying I think that any victim who is claiming abuse should be given an opportunity to tell their story. Having said that, I think she came across as someone who was looking for benefits, someone who was in the relationship because she wanted an expensive home, because she wanted to buy expensive bags. She wanted that lifestyle.

[Jerica Duncan]

Jane's testimony may have been anonymous in court, but online nothing stayed private for long. The Sean Diddy Combs trial became a trending topic, a magnet for influencers to follow the case. Some even crossed the line, exposing Jane's identity and turning her trauma into content.

[Tama Bryant]

A number of influencers felt that, oh, because they weren't in the courtroom, that it was totally fine for them to name Jane and out these witnesses. But the problem is that it totally defeats the purpose of why they're there testifying under anonymity in the first place.

[Jerica Duncan]

What followed was a digital feeding frenzy.

[Terri Austin]

I just spent eight hours in a room with Diddy.

[Simone Redwine]

Donna was back on the stand to.

[Tama Bryant]

Finish cross examination, Day two of the Diddy trial. You could hear a pin drop.

[Jerica Duncan]

TikToks live streams, YouTube videos. Everyone seemed to have an opinion, but few had expertise.

[Tama Bryant]

Her attorneys were really brilliant. They didn't sue just Diddy. They sued his corporation.

[Jerica Duncan]

Simone Redwine was one of the few influencers who used her knowledge of the law to break down the combs case.

[Tama Bryant]

Part of the challenge is that these influencers don't have legal backgrounds. So sometimes when they share misinformation by misapplying the law to the facts, it can create issues because people feel that the defendant isn't getting a fair trial.

[Jerica Duncan]

But it wasn't all noise. While some amplified misinformation, others became trusted sources, translating the legal jargon and reaching audiences that traditional media often miss.

[Tama Bryant]

Viewers are able to get tidbits and. And little drama, courtroom drama, whether it's in the courtroom and out of the. They're getting a T, as we call it, right? But that's what the people want to know. They want to know what's Diddy wearing? How gray is the hair. It's like its own little reality show where people are both getting the law, but they're also getting the facts.

[Jerica Duncan]

As the prosecution rested, what remained was a question of strategy. Would the defense try to dismantle every voice or try to silence them altogether? Either way, it was their turn to speak. You have to make this relatable to the jury. You have to get them to minimize the level of violence. Now it was time to hear Diddy's defense.

[Tama Bryant]

Should Diddy take the stand in his own defense?

[Terri Austin]

Here's why that decision is complicated. Diddy is getting ready to put on his defense.

[Simone Redwine]

There has been a major development in the Diddy trial.

[Jerica Duncan]

He did not take the stand, and his defense team decided not to call any witnesses.

[Tama Bryant]

So here. Initially, Diddy's legal team expected to put on a defense for three weeks. Then later, throughout the trial, they narrowed it down and said two. And then in the last week, they said they had five witnesses. Well, days later, they decided they would call no one.

[Jerica Duncan]

The defense does not call any witnesses. Good thing or bad thing?

[Terri Austin]

I think it's probably a good thing. Personally, I feel like it's always a good idea to put at least one person up there. Sometimes the jury does look for that. On the other hand, you don't want to overplay that hand because you don't want to act as though you're really worried and put on a whole bunch of witnesses.

[Tama Bryant]

They think their job is done because if they believe that the prosecution has proven their case, they're going to want to put someone up to rebut that. Or they could also believe that whoever they do have could possibly do more harm than good.

[Jerica Duncan]

The defense rested its case in less than 30 minutes, arguing that the government had failed to meet the burden of proof to any of the charges. They did, however, submit new evidence text messages between Diddy and Cassi, as well as with another alleged victim under the pseudonym of Jane. In one message from 2012, Cassie wrote, Besides making love, talking to you is my favorite thing. Five years later, Ventura sent a series of messages that she missed him and asked him to send a picture of his genitals and pledge to be your little freak. Combs also texted, you think you can freak off without getting high? Lol. Ventura texted back, yeah, I'll just have to be at my level and what is good for me. These text messages are used to do what? Knowing that Sean Combs is not going to take the stand. They're used by the defense solely to show consent agency and that she had the ability to leave. They're used to mute the prosecution's theory that this was a forced relationship. The defense was putting a punctuation in in their theory and in their appeal to the jury to say, this is an adult, this adult chose this relationship. The next day, the prosecution dismissed some of the charges. Attorney Terry Austin was in the courtroom and explained why.

[Terri Austin]

The prosecution decided, okay, do we need to have all of these charges? We've already proven that there's arson. Do we need need to prove that there's attempted arson? We've proven that there's bribery. They did pay money to get that tape of Cassie. I think that they went through all of them and decided which ones they could let go of and still have the meat of the argument in their charges.

[Jerica Duncan]

With a few charges dismissed, the prosecution gave its closing remarks. The room was packed.

[Terri Austin]

Everybody was expecting this closing statement. And the judge, I think, even was a little bit on edge. It was different because we all know this is wrapping up.

[Jerica Duncan]

Walk us through what happened today.

[Terri Austin]

I actually think the prosecution did a great job today. One of the things they had to do was to tie it all together. There were over 30 witnesses and weeks of trial. And I think what Kristi Slavik did today was to put that so she went through each count, she laid out the law. She said, this is what the judge is going to tell you. And then she explained to the jury how it all fit with the evidence.

[Jerica Duncan]

I almost get this sense that some people when I was in the overflow were talking a little bit. It was the reality that perhaps the prosecution has the goods.

[Terri Austin]

Sex trafficking is definitely one of the charges I think they'll get as it relates to Cassie. All you have to do is show that March 5, 2016 video. There's no question that force was used in that instance, you just need one instance. You don't know what the jury's gonna do. But I think they made a good case for that today with that video.

[Jerica Duncan]

The prosecution spent nearly five hours giving its closing remarks. The next day, Diddy's defense team gave theirs. We again spoke to attorney Terry Austin, who was inside the courtroom.

[Terri Austin]

The atmosphere today was thrilling. It was filled. You could hear a pin drop. The entire family for the Combs was in that courtroom. I do think they were focused and listening to what Mark Agnipolo had to say. Sean Combs also was focusing on that closing argument. He was paying close attention. Mark Akiniplo, who is the lead attorney for the defense team, he had a theme, and his theme was there are two stories to this case. He did a good job at explaining what the defense's position is. In other words, there's consent as far as sex trafficking is concerned, for transportation to engage in prostitution. He said they weren't paying for sex. Where he went a little bit over the line was he questioned the motives of the victim. He tried to say that they were lying in some instances.

[Jerica Duncan]

Diddy's defense spent four hours explaining to jurors why they believe he is innocent. But it was the prosecution that had the last word with a rebuttal that.

[Terri Austin]

Was done by Maureen Comey. She was adamant, and she also focused on just a few points that count for transportation. To engage in prostitution, she said, was laughable. She said, obviously, when they had these freak offs, these hotel nights, that they were paying for the escort. She tried to make that jury understand that of course, this was prostitution. If you're getting paid and it's sex, it's prostitution, and that's illegal.

[Jerica Duncan]

The rebuttal took over an hour, and court adjourned. Next, it was time for the jury to deliberate. If you're just tuning in, Sean Combs, not guilty on the most serious of charges, the racketeering, conspiracy, and sex trafficking. Sean Combs still faces possible years in prison, but larger questions remain. What does this verdict say about America's tolerance for the power of celebrity and the behavior of those who wield it? And what should we make of the now tarnished legacy of the music mogul known as Diddy?

[Simone Redwine]

His legacy is secure as far as what his legacy has been since the 90s. I think his legacy as a human being is what is in jeopardy because he's a treacherous, treacherous human being.

[Jerica Duncan]

What are artists and even executives to learn from this trial?

[Simone Redwine]

Well, unfortunately, executives, if they're participating in this kind of behavior, they've learned to keep it secret. I don't think the artists have learned anything. I mean, we keep seeing the same thing happen. And it's always young people come into the industry and they don't know anything. But more. Most of the people who come into music, movies, fashion, film, television, they really, really want to get in. And sometimes when you get in and someone says, hey, all you gotta do is this one thing and I got you. But they don't got you. They're gonna get you.

[Jerica Duncan]

Some. Believe Combs recent legal troubles stem from a 2023 lawsuit he filed alleging racism against his longtime corporate partner Diageo. The multi billion dollar alcohol conglomerate denied those claims and settled the case out of court last year, but the terms were not announced. But victims rights advocates maintain this trial was purely about abuses of power ignored during the height of the MeToo movement.

[Simone Redwine]

I mean, look, hip hop had every opportunity to be part of the MeToo movement. When it first started off with Tarana Burke's work a few years back. It has continued to resist. And I think this represents a lag in hip hop really embracing the movement itself. Talking about sexual harm has always been really hard. When I look back at the MeToo movement, it was galling to me to see the amount of silence black men inside of the industry and complex of hip hop culture largely were just too silent. There were more of us who could have spoken out and that didn't, but we haven't seen that. I don't think it's profitable for people. I don't think love and healing are profitable things inside the music industry. And so I think you have this constellation of things that make it easier for artists, for fans, and for everyone virtually other than victims to remain silent about this. And that silence is a heavier wave than speaking up and speaking, speaking out.

[Jerica Duncan]

One group with no problem speaking out, content creators who showed up to the courthouse in droves, instantly making their perspectives on the case available for the world to watch.

[Tama Bryant]

And the defense is saying in their.

[Terri Austin]

Motion, well, that can't be true because.

[Tama Bryant]

Social media influencers are completely changing the way that cases are covered because they are doing the digging and they're bringing it to directly to their viewers.

[Jerica Duncan]

The defense is not letting up.

[Tama Bryant]

They're pulling court records, they're reading it to their audience, and then together the audience is trying to decipher, oh, okay, well, what does this mean in the indictment? So as a result, it's like a crime story mixed with a reality show all in one.

[Terri Austin]

These charges in particular, they're sealed.

[Tama Bryant]

They're done. But part of the challenge is that these influencers don't have legal backgrounds. So sometimes when they share misinformation by misapplying the law to the facts, it can create issues because people feel that the defendant isn't getting a fair trial.

[Jerica Duncan]

The reality is Combs was able to escape the most serious charges against him. He still faces two prostitution related convictions that could send him to prison. But the damage to his reputation is done.

[Simone Redwine]

The entertainment business is not exactly a bed of roses. And there are so many bad influences. And a lot of people get sucked up in that they don't think they're going to, but they do. I mean, Sean Combs story is a little more extreme, but if you think about the history of what has happened to many of these different celebrities, everybody's got a bad story to.

[Jerica Duncan]

What impact does that have on the culture? And not just hip hop culture, American culture.

[Simone Redwine]

American culture, yeah, it's the kings are falling, right? It's almost like, is this going to become a trend? What's the next icon that's gonna go down? Because it's almost par for the course, right?

[Jerica Duncan]

Only time will tell if hip hop's future becomes more transparent and perhaps more critical itself.

[Terri Austin]

Sean Combs is huge. And for him to be charged with all of these charges and counts and women, I think is really a pivotal case. And I do think that it could change the scenery. I mean, we had R. Kelly, but I think people are looking at Sean Combs a little differently.

[Simone Redwine]

I'm hoping that this, this case becomes a cautionary tale for those who aspire to be Sean Combs, those who are approaching that status. You know, whether you're a mogul, whether it's music, I don't care what business that you're in, right? It's about men with power and them abusing them. It's about the system. And the people are the ones that are going to have to change the system.

[Jerica Duncan]

As we digest the end of what some have called the trial of the decade, it is also a time to remember that while this criminal trial is over, Sean Combs legal troubles are not. The self proclaimed bad boy for life is facing over 60 civil lawsuits. Most of the allegations are of sexual abuse, battery and rape. Combs denies the allegations. His net worth is estimated by Forbes to be about $400 million. And he may need all of it to defend against the lawsuits he is still facing and any possible judgments in the future. For now, I'm Jerica Duncan. For all of us here at CBS News, we thank you for watching.

[Simone Redwine]

Sam.

[Jerica Duncan]

Summer is heating up. The shy's back on Paramount. It's the season of the women.

[Terri Austin]

This is our chance.

[Jerica Duncan]

It's time to get to work. But the men aren't giving up without a fight. The shy New season now streaming on the Paramount with Showtime Plan.

[Simone Redwine]

I'm Dexter Morgan. I've been through hell, but now I'm back for my curtain call. And what better place to hide than New York City? There may be a new area code, but my code never changes. In a city full of monsters, my dark urges will feel right at home. Dexter Resurrection Starring Michael C. Hall, Uma Thurman and Peter Dinklage. New series streaming July 11th on the Paramount plus with Showtime Plan.