Legal analysts have said a possible acquittal could be on the horizon for music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs after federal prosecutors have yet to prove the sex trafficking and racketeering case against the rapper.
According to a defense attorney who spoke to Newsweek, there are significant hurdles prosecutors would need to overcome to secure a guilty verdict.
These include the text messages from Combs’ ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, who appeared to be a willing participant in Combs purported “freak offs,” where Ventura organized many of the drug-fueled orgies, including finding escorts, outfits, and drugs.
Defense attorney Ronald Chapman II, who has experience in cases involving racketeering, pointed out that Ventura had “hired staff.”
“Her texts were lurid and enthusiastic. This is direct evidence of consent. The only way to rebut that is to erode the concept of agency — that is a dangerous proposition,” Chapman said.
Text messages sent by Ventura appear to show her role in the “freak offs,” including telling Combs she loved “FOs when we both want them.”
“Wish we could’ve FO’d before you left,” Ventura wrote to Combs in July 2013.
“For a conviction of sex trafficking, the government has to prove force,” Chapman said. “They argue that force can be psychological. But we need to tread lightly as a society. Consequences such as not producing your album, implied threats and leveraging industry power is not sufficient unless — big unless — the person has no viable choice.”
Chapman noted that the jury would only be able to consider psychological or economic pressure if the person had no other options but to comply.
However, Chapman said it appeared that options were in fact open to Ventura, including contacting law enforcement or expressing her desire to not want to participate in the orgies that involved drug use including cocaine, ketamine, MDMA, and GHB.
“The defense’s arguments are made for them,” Chapman said. “Viable choices are everywhere.”
Ventura sued Combs in 2023 after she accused the rapper of rape and assault during their 10-year relationship, in which the case was settled within 24 hours. Ventura told the jury while on the stand that she received a $20 million settlement from Combs.
Ventura further revealed she is expecting another $10 million settlement from the California hotel where she was seen on security camera being physically assaulted by Combs while he wore a bath towel.
“Cassie Ventura elected to seek $20 million seven years after the 2016 video,” Chapman said. “If we see a conviction here, any person in a position of power should be concerned that implied threats equate to coercion in this postmodern legal culture.”
Chapman added that Combs may want to consider taking the stand and questioned whether there is any evidence that show Ventura was forced into “freak offs.”
“This case comes down to whether the jury believes that Cassie was escaping a FO or whether this was a domestic violence episode as Diddy’s team claims,” Chapman said. “This is why Diddy must testify. Acquittal is very likely.”
