REPORTER:
00:00:31
Mark, how do you feel. Let's go. Let's go.
ALI BAUMAN:
00:00:34
Defense attorney Mark Agnifilo used his closing argument to call the case against Sean "Diddy" Combs a trial of lifestyle and called the evidence brought against his client badly exaggerated. Agnifilo argued prosecutors twisted Combs' drug use and swinger lifestyle into a sex trafficking and racketeering case that could put the music mogul in prison for the rest of his life. The defense acknowledges that Combs beat his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, but argue his violent behavior does not justify the charges he faces. For nearly five hours Thursday, assistant US attorney Kristy Slavich walked the jury through the five counts against Combs. The most serious? Racketeering conspiracy, which includes sex trafficking, drug distribution, and arson. The tougher charges are going to be the RICO racketeering charges and the sex trafficking charges. I think the government has a bit of an uphill battle proving those. That's really going to depend upon how credible they found the government's chief witnesses.
ALI BAUMAN:
00:01:36
Prosecutors allege Combs used threats, drugs, and violence to make former girlfriends, including Ventura and Jane, a woman who testified under a pseudonym, participate in so-called freak-offs with male escorts. During the seven-week trial, prosecutors brought 34 witnesses to the stand. The defense did not call on any witnesses, and Combs did not testify. Most of the time when the defendant takes the stand, it doesn't end up well because it gives the prosecution a chance to essentially retry their entire case through the cross-examination of the defendant. So the case has really turned upon whether or not Mr. Combs' conduct, while morally reprehensible, crossed the line into criminality. And the defense told jurors that Combs accusers are looking to drain him of his wealth through lawsuits. A day after Combs settled a suit with Ventura for $20 million, federal law enforcement officers opened their criminal investigation. If convicted, Combs could face 15 years to life in prison. Michelle.
MICHELLE:
00:02:37
A lot for the jury to think about. Ali Bauman, thank you.
