CONTENT WARNING: This article discusses alleged sexual assault.
Rapper and disgraced music mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has rejected a plea deal in his federal sex trafficking and racketeering case on Friday in New York.
The plea deal and Combs’ rejection was disclosed by federal prosecutor Madison Smyser, although the terms of the deal have not yet been revealed.
Marc Agnifilo, one of Combs’ lawyers, also stated to a judge that his client was in the “swinger” lifestyle.
“There’s a lifestyle, call it swingers, that he was in that he thought was appropriate,” Agnifilo said per ABC News.
Combs’ lawyer defended his client by describing him as a “swinger”. (Source: Getty Images)
“The reason he thought it was appropriate is because it’s so common.”
Agnifilo also stated that any alleged bad behaviour that occurred at Combs’ infamous ‘freak-off’ parties were “part of the lifestyle”.
During the hearing on Friday, judge Arun Subramanian also denied Combs’ lawyers’ request to suppress a video that depicted the rapper physically assaulting singer and ex Cassie Ventura in 2016. The video can now be shown to a jury by prosecutors during his upcoming trial on May 5.
Ventura opened up about the video’s resurface in an Instagram Post in May 2024, where she implored people to believe victims “the first time”.
“Domestic violence is THE issue,” Ventura wrote.
“My only ask is that EVERYONE open your heart to believing victims the first time. It takes a lot of heart to tell the truth out of a situation that you were powerless in.”
Combs’ attorneys previously tried to prevent the video from being used in court, claiming that TV network CNN manipulated the footage. CNN has denied this.
A video of Ventura physically assaulting and dragging Ventura in a hotel lobby will be permitted for use in court. (Source: Getty Images)
“The defence can’t show the footage is inadmissible,” Subramanian said.
“There’s no unfair prejudice to Mr. Combs.”
Ventura is also set to testify against Combs in his upcoming trial on May 5, with opening statements scheduled for May 12. The trial is expected to last up to 10 weeks.
Combs has been charged with sex trafficking, sexual abuse, and more related charges. He has been behind bars in a Manhattan prison since September 2024 and has been denied bail three times.
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