The sex-trafficking case against music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs is headed into its final stretch on Tuesday with the prosecution’s final witness, Special Agent Joseph Cerciello, continuing to testify about flight, hotel, and phone records.
Jurors in Manhattan viewed more sexually explicit footage and saw messages between Combs and his staff organizing “freak offs” with male escorts and Combs’ ex-girlfriend, “Jane.”.
Cerciello testified that the music mogul asked his staff to bring him baby oil, coconut water, vegetable soup, and more items for his “freak offs.” He also testified that Combs paid for male escorts to travel to different cities across the country to participate in the drug-fueled sex marathons.
In one message, “Jane” said she did not want to participate in a “freak off” because she felt “used.”
Defense attorneys began cross-examining Cerciello by showing explicit messages that “Jane” sent to Combs.
Cross-examination is expected to continue this morning.
Combs is facing charges of sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution, and racketeering conspiracy. Federal authorities have accused him of threatening, abusing, and coercing victims “to fulfill his sexual desires” between 2004 and 2024.
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Key Points
- Defense expected to continue cross-examination
- What you missed on Monday
- Special agent testifies that Combs paid for sex workers' travel
- Combs requested vegetable soup and baby oil for 'freak offs'
Diddy’s lawyers to offer unusual defense involving Iran in closing statement, report says
13:55
,
James Liddell
Just days after the U.S. and Iran exchanged strikes, a new report states that Sean “Diddy” Combs’s defense team could refer to the tensions in the Middle East during its closing argument later this week.
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Defense expected to continue cross-examination
13:21
,
Ariana Baio
Good morning and welcome back to The Independent’s live coverage of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex-trafficking trial in New York City.
Defense attorneys are expected to continue cross-examination of Special Agent Joseph Cerciello today. Once they’re done, prosecutors will conduct re-direct and Cerciello will be off the stand.
What you missed on Monday
Monday 23 June 2025 20:37
,
Ariana Baio
Special agent Joseph Cerciello’s testimony continued on Monday with prosecutors showing jurors a chart that combined flight, hotel and payment records with messages between Combs, his ex-girlfriend, his staff, and a male escort company.
Cerciello testified that Combs sent messages to his staff demanding items for “freak off” such as baby oil, Astroglide, coconut water, vegetable soup, and more. Combs also texted agents at the male escort company asking for lower rates.
Cerciello also testified that “Jane” sent messages saying she did not want to participate in a “freak off” because it made her feel “used.”
Defense attorneys began cross-examination of Cerciello and showed jurors text messages where “Jane” appeared to want to participate in “freak offs” and even messaged with male escorts.
Court adjourned for the day
Monday 23 June 2025 20:16
,
Ariana Baio
Court has been adjourned for the day and cross-examination of Special Agent Joseph Cerciello is expected to continue tomorrow.
Defense lawyer Teny Geragos said there’s roughly an hour and some left of cross-examination.
Closing arguments are likely to begin Thursday.
Defense shows other side of 'Jane's' text messages
Monday 23 June 2025 19:46
,
Ariana Baio
Defense attorney Teny Geragos is having Special Agent Cerciello review text messages that the prosecution did not include in its chart, where “Jane” shows a desire to be with Combs.
In one text message from 2021, “Jane” told Combs she couldn’t wait to hook up with him, calling Combs her “favorite person.”
In other messages, she told Combs she missed him and used explicit language to express her desire to be with him.
Cross-examination of special agent begins
Monday 23 June 2025 18:59
,
Ariana Baio
After a break for lunch, the jury is back in the courtroom and defense attorneys are beginning cross-examination of Special Agent Cerciello.
Oprah Winfrey and Bishop TD Jakes address rumors they attended Diddy’s parties
Monday 23 June 2025 18:52
,
Kevin E G Perry
Oprah Winfrey and the high-profile pastor Bishop T.D. Jakes have both publicly denied attending parties hosted by embattled rap mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs.
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Prosecution wraps up testimony of special agent
Monday 23 June 2025 18:04
,
Ariana Baio
Prosecutors have just finished their direct examination of Special Agent Joseph Cerciello.
Judge Subramanian has dismissed jurors for lunch.
When court resumes, defense attorneys will begin cross-examination
Combs requested vegetable soup and baby oil for 'freak offs'
Monday 23 June 2025 17:45
,
Ariana Baio
Combs asked staff for a litany of things to prepare for, or sustain him, during “freak offs,” prosecutors shared during the special agent’s testimony.
That list includes baby oil, Cialis, Astroglide, coconut water, vegetable soup, and an Apple TV system.
Combs' staff coordinated hotels, travel, IV fluids and more
Monday 23 June 2025 17:36
,
Ariana Baio
Prosecutors are going through troves of text messages and voicemail between Combs, “Jane,” male escorts, and his staff about coordinating travel, lodging, and more for “freak offs.”
In one exchange, Combs and his staff arranged for I.V. fluids to be administered to him and others who participated in the drug-fueled sex marathons.
Jurors are hearing Combs’s voice through voicemails that he sent to staff with requests.
Texts show Combs refused to pay for male escort due to poor performance
Monday 23 June 2025 17:00
,
Ariana Baio
In more text messages between Combs and a representative from Cowboys 4 Angels, a male escort agency, Combs refused to pay $600 because the escort “couldn’t perform.”
Cassie Ventura, Combs’ ex-girlfriend, previously testified that Combs would refuse to pay escorts if they could not perform up to his standard.
Jane texted that she did not want to be used in a ‘freak off’
Monday 23 June 2025 16:52
,
Ariana Baio
Jurors saw text messages where “Jane,” the pseudonym for Combs’ ex-girlfriend, said she did not want to participate in a “freak off” because it made her feel used.
In September 2023, Combs inquired if “Jane” would meet him in New York City to participate in a hotel night, but she declined, saying it was “clear” he only wanted her “for a hotel binge.”
“Jane” said she did not want to be “used” and “locked in a room” to fulfill Combs’ fantasies.
Ultimately, she did meet Combs in New York.
‘I am a long timer:’ Combs asked male escort agency to stop raising rates
Monday 23 June 2025 16:20
,
Ariana Baio
Combs used one particular male escort agency so often that he asked an agent to stop raising their rates on him, according to text message seen in court.
In a September 2023 text, Combs asked a representative from Cowboys 4 Angels, a male escort agency, to “Stop raising my rate I am a long timer.”
Combs’ ex, Cassie Ventura, previously testified that the two often used the agency when looking for a third person to conduct “freak offs” with.
Ultimately, the agency representative told Combs that it was individuals who raised their rates, not the company.
Inside the courtroom: Combs listens to 'freak off' footage
Monday 23 June 2025 16:06
,
Kelly Rissman
Jurors watched 14 clips of seven sex encounters with headphones on.
During the first clip, Combs was shifting in his chair and looking around as if he were uncomfortable. He can only listen to the audio of the clips because the explicit videos aren’t shown on attorney screens.
Court on a 15-minute break
Monday 23 June 2025 16:01
,
Ariana Baio
The judge has given jurors a 15-minute break this morning before prosecutors continue with Cerciello’s testimony.
Special agent testifies that Combs paid for sex workers' travel
Monday 23 June 2025 15:59
,
Ariana Baio
Special Agent Cerciello is testifying about flight, phone, and financial records that he says show Combs paid for a sex worker to travel across the country for “freak offs.”
One flight and hotel record shows the sex worker stayed at Trump International Hotel in New York in September 2023 after taking a flight from Atlanta to Newark. Those transactions were paid for by Combs.
Jurors watch more than 10 minutes of 'freak off' footage
Monday 23 June 2025 15:19
,
Ariana Baio
Jurors have been shown at least 13 different clips of sexually explicit videos on Monday while a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations testifies.
The videos were filmed in November and December 2021, and February, August, and October 2022.
Federal agents discovered at least 50 sexually explicit videos in Combs’ possession that were created from December 17 to December 2021, Cerciello testified.
When jurors see explicit videos they view them with private screens and headphones so the public and members of the media cannot see them.
Combs' staff put Plan B in his hotel room
Monday 23 June 2025 14:46
,
Ariana Baio
In a text message, reviewed by Cerciello, Combs’s chief of staff, Kristina Khorram (also known as “KK”), made sure the music mogul had Plan B in his hotel room.
KK had planned for Combs to stay at the Waldorf Astoria in Las Vegas and in a text message to Combs, notified him that Plan B was in the nightstand.
Special Agent is back on the stand
Monday 23 June 2025 14:26
,
Ariana Baio
Special Agent Joseph Cerciello with Homeland Security investigations is back on the stand.
Cerciello is reviewing flight records and messages between Combs and others.
