Attorneys for Sean "Diddy" Combs told the court their client led the lifestyle of a "swinger" at a hearing ahead of his sex trafficking trial.
According to a report the BBC published on Friday, April 25, the Bad Boy Records founder appeared inside a courtroom in New York City as his lawyers seemingly laid out a portion of their defense. During the hearing, Combs' lawyer Marc Agnifilo told the court that his client had multiple sexual partners because he was a "swinger."
"There's a lifestyle, call it swingers or whatever you will, that he thought was appropriate because it was common," Agnifilo argued. "Many people think it's appropriate because it's common."
Agnifilo told U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian that Combs believed in polyamorous relationships and asserted the mogul had no criminal intent when he hired sex workers to participate in his sexcapades. Judge Subramanian allowed Combs' legal team to mention his lifestyle but prohibited them from citing other prominent swingers.
Combs is charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He was arrested last September and has remained locked up in a jail cell in Brooklyn after he was denied bail. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges and has maintained his innocence ever since. During the same hearing, prosecutors also provided more insight about their game plan ahead of the trial. Federal prosecutor Madison Smyser informed the court that Combs rejected a plea deal, but didn't reveal the terms of the proposed agreement.
The prosecution was also granted an opportunity to show the jury a video from 2016 that shows Combs violently beating his ex-girlfriend Cassandra "Cassie" Ventura at the Intercontinental Hotel in Los Angeles. Combs' team didn't deny their client's involvement in the video, but they argued it was "deceptive" based on their claims that CNN, the network who debuted the footage, allegedly altered the video and destroyed the original copy. CNN denied their claims.
The jury will hear testimony from three of Combs' alleged victims including Ventura and two others. One of the other witnesses, who will remain anonymous throughout the proceedings, might testify about a "medical procedure" they following their encounter with Combs. The judge hasn't ruled on that request from the prosecution yet. Jury selection for the trial begins next week and opening statement will commence on May 12.