What Could Bring Diddy Down? Former Prosecutor Names Most ‘Damning Evidence’
Hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs’s federal sex trafficking trial commenced on May 12, 2025, in Manhattan. Opening statements unfolded at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan U.S. Courthouse, where prosecutors outlined allegations that Combs orchestrated a two-decade-long pattern of abuse, coercion, and exploitation of women, including former girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura. According to a former federal prosecutor, there’s certain “damning evidence” that could take Combs down. Here’s what it is.
A former prosecutor named the most ‘damning evidence’ in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ case
Opening statements for Sean “Diddy” Combs’ trial were said on May 12, 2025. According to the prosecution, Combs committed crimes that included kidnapping, arson, drug distribution, sex crimes, bribery, and obstruction. They also alleged that Combs’ inner circle helped him get away with his crimes. The prosecution’s case focuses on two women: Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, and another unnamed victim.
If convicted, Combs faces a potential life sentence. Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani told The U.S. Sun that the videos of Combs’ alleged “freak-offs” serve as “the most powerful evidence” available for the prosecution.
“The most powerful evidence that was seized by the government has to be the videos,” Rahmani said. “And we’ve only seen one video of Diddy seemingly beating Cassie Ventura at the Intercontinental Hotel in Los Angeles in about 2016. Criminal defendants can lie. Only when CNN got a copy of that video in May of last year did Diddy finally issue an apology. That’s how powerful video evidence is. And that’s why the government wanted to get the hard drives, the iPhones, the iPads, because Diddy reportedly videotaped these freak-offs.”
“The video of the freak-offs, if they exist, may be the most damning evidence in this case,” Rahmani continued. “It may be the reason Combs gets convicted. There are two sets of people that should potentially be worried. Obviously, if anyone participated in these freak-offs and sexually assaulted victims, they can be charged or sued civilly. But there are also individuals in Diddy’s entourage that maybe helped set up the freak-offs.”
Federal prosecutors have already made horrific claims regarding Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ treatment of Casandra ‘Cassie’ Ventura
According to the prosecution, Sean “Diddy” Combs had a network of intimidation involving threats, physical violence, and blackmail, supported by associates within his inner circle. The defense countered by asserting that all relationships were consensual, portraying the case as a media-driven spectacle lacking substantial evidence.
On May 12, 2025, a prosecutor claimed Combs made a sex worker urinate into Casandra “Cassie” Ventura’s mouth during one of the mogul’s alleged “freak-offs.” According to TMZ, Assistant United States Attorney Emily Johnson also told the jury that Combs forced Ventura to have sex with male sex workers while Combs watched and recorded the events.
Additional allegations state Combs’ staff helped set up the freak-offs by providing transportation and lodging. They also helped set up the hotel rooms with lubricant, lighting, and drugs.
The mogul has around an ‘80%’ chance of receiving a guilty verdict
Attorney and legal commentator Elie Honig spoke to Stephen A. Smith about the chances of Sean “Diddy” Combs receiving a guilty verdict.
“Look, I think the case is a sound case, looking at the indictment,” Honig explained. “I think the hype around it — maybe the SDNY helped promote this hype — got a little beyond what actually ended up happening. But, look, the odds are stacked against any criminal defendant in that courthouse.”
Honig noted that “reliable data” doesn’t exist regarding how many trials result in a guilty verdict. However, he doesn’t have high hopes for Combs. “But, in my experience, and just following that courthouse, 70-80% or so of all trials result in conviction,” Honig continued. “I don’t think Sean Combs is going to cut a sympathetic figure here for the jury.”
How to get help: In the U.S., call the RAINN National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 to connect with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area.
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