In a heated defense against sex trafficking charges, Sean “Diddy” Combs’ legal team denounced the prosecution as “sexist and puritanical” on Tuesday, claiming that nine explicit videos central to the case depict nothing but consensual encounters between adults. The lawyers are demanding greater access to the recordings, arguing they prove the music mogul’s innocence.
Combs, 55, has been in federal custody since his September arrest, facing allegations of orchestrating elaborate sexual encounters involving drugging and coercion. Prosecutors describe these events as “Freak Offs,” citing them as evidence of a sex trafficking operation. However, Diddy’s legal team is framing the case as a moralistic crusade rather than a criminal matter.
Defense Counters Allegations: ‘Consensual and Controlled’
The recordings, submitted by an alleged victim referred to as “Victim-1,” have been temporarily viewed twice by defense lawyers but remain in government control. The defense contends that these videos reveal no coercion, violence, or incapacitation. Instead, they portray Victim-1 as “happy, dominant, and in complete control” during the encounters.
“Any fair-minded viewer of the videos will quickly conclude that the prosecution of Mr. Combs is both sexist and puritanical,” the defense asserted in a submission to the Manhattan federal court. They argued that the government’s case perpetuates outdated stereotypes of women as victims lacking agency and unjustly criminalizes consensual sexual activity.
The Prosecution’s Case: A Dark Picture of ‘Freak Offs’
The indictment paints a starkly different picture, accusing Combs of hosting marathon sex parties involving drugged participants and sex workers to maintain “obedience and compliance.” Prosecutors say raids on Combs’ Los Angeles and Miami homes uncovered evidence of these events, including drugs, cameras, and over 1,000 bottles of lubricant and baby oil.
According to the government, these so-called “Freak Offs” were highly orchestrated spectacles that sometimes spanned days, with Combs allegedly recording the encounters and taking an active role. The indictment further claims that victims were manipulated or coerced into participating.
Defense Challenges the Narrative
Combs’ legal team fiercely disputes the prosecution’s depiction, arguing that the case relies on puritanical biases rather than hard evidence. They state the recordings show consensual acts without any signs of coercion, incapacitation, or exploitation.
“There is certainly no evidence of sex trafficking,” the defense lawyers wrote, adding that the government’s characterization of the videos as “dirty or unsavory” reveals an attempt to police sexual behavior rather than prosecute legitimate crimes.
A Call for Forensic Analysis
The defense is requesting additional access to the videos to enhance their audio and visual quality and examine metadata to establish timelines. They claim the recordings are vital to dismantling the allegations and demonstrating that no illegal activities took place.
A High-Stakes Trial Looms
Combs’ case has ignited fierce debates over consent, privacy, and the limits of the law in policing unconventional sexual behavior. With a trial set for May 5, the stakes are immense for both the Grammy-winning mogul and the broader cultural conversations surrounding his prosecution.