Sean “Diddy” Combs committed “domestic violence” in his relationship with one of the accusers expected to testify at his sex trafficking trial, the hip-hop mogul’s lead attorney told a federal judge Friday.
In a notable remark during the jury selection process, Combs attorney Marc Agnifilo said the defense team plans to “take the position that there was mutual violence” in the rapper’s relationship with an accuser identified in prosecutors’ indictment as Victim-1.
Agnifilo said his team intends to argue that “there was hitting on both sides, behavior on both sides” that constituted violence. “It is relevant in terms of the coercive aspects, we are admitting domestic violence,” Agnifilo told Judge Arun Subramanian.
The remark adds a new layer to Combs’ defense. He has pleaded not guilty to five criminal counts, including one count of racketeering conspiracy and two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion.
He has also denied accusations of sexual abuse, with his lawyers arguing that his accusers consented to all sexual activity.
Victim-1 is not identified in the prosecution’s indictment, but her allegations closely mirror those of R&B singer Casandra Ventura, one of Combs’ ex-girlfriends. Ventura, known by the stage name Cassie, accused Combs of rape and repeated physical abuse in a civil lawsuit filed in November 2023.
The lawsuit was settled privately in a day without Combs admitting any wrongdoing.
Ventura’s allegations drew greater national attention after CNN aired hotel surveillance video, recorded in 2016, showing Combs beating, kicking and dragging Ventura.
Subramanian has ruled that the video can be shown during the trial as evidence. Combs’ lawyers tried to get it excluded, arguing it was “wholly inaccurate” and altered — claims CNN has strongly denied.
Combs apologized publicly after the video was released, saying that his behavior was “inexcusable” and that he took full responsibility for his actions.
In a separate development Friday, Subramanian decided to push the final stage of jury selection to next week, expressing concern that people on the panel might get “cold feet” before the start of opening statements.
The decision came after one potential juror emailed the court asking to be excluded from the panel for “issues of personal well-being,” the defense team said.
Subramanian granted a request by Combs’ lawyers to delay until Monday morning the part of the process that permits lawyers to eliminate prospective jurors. The defense team will be allowed to “strike” 10 potential jurors, and prosecutors six.
When the final pool of 12 jurors and six alternates is selected, Subramanian will deliver instructions and then turn the proceedings over to the lawyers for opening statements.
Prosecutors have said they plan to start with two witnesses who will give short testimony, followed by a key witness who will take most of the week.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey confirmed Friday that prosecutors still have not managed to get in touch with the accuser identified in the indictment as Victim-3, or her attorney.
Comey said her team will have a “final answer” soon on whether they will ultimately call Victim-3 to the stand.
