BRIAN STEEL JOINS SEAN COMBS CASE
DAY TWO OF SEAN COMBS TRIAL. CASSIE VENTURA TESTIFIED FOR HOURS AND WILL RETURN TOMORROW
CASSIE VENTURA’S ATTY WANTS FREAK OFF TAPES “SEALED”
BY SNN.BZ STAFF
Update on Sean Combs Trial: May 12 to May 13, 2025
The federal trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs began in Manhattan’s Daniel Patrick Moynihan U.S. Courthouse, presided over by Judge Arun Subramanian. Combs faces charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution. The allegations claim he operated a criminal enterprise from at least 2004 to 2024, coercing women, including ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, into sexual “freak-offs” with male escorts, involving drugs and coercion. Combs has pleaded not guilty to all charges and faces a potential life sentence if convicted.
Opening Statements
Prosecutor Emily Johnson described Combs’ alleged use of violence, drugs, and blackmail to control women, including Ventura and a second victim, “Jane.” She told jurors they would view “freak-off” videos showing Ventura and Jane following Combs’ instructions under duress. Johnson presented a 2016 hotel surveillance video, shown to the jury, depicting Combs assaulting Ventura by beating, kicking, and dragging her, alleging it occurred during a “freak-off.” Defense attorney Teny Geragos acknowledged Combs’ “indefensible” domestic violence but argued the sexual activities were consensual, describing Ventura and Jane as “capable, strong” women who made voluntary choices. Geragos emphasized that domestic violence does not constitute sex trafficking.
Witness Testimony
- Israel Florez, a former security guard at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles, testified about the 2016 incident captured on video. He described Ventura’s distress and Combs’ aggressive demeanor, noting he recorded the footage on his iPhone to show his wife. Florez filed an incident report but omitted details like Ventura’s discolored eye, which defense attorney Brian Steel challenged as inconsistent. Florez claimed Combs offered him money to stay silent, supported by Johnson’s assertion that Combs paid $100,000 to suppress the footage.
- Daniel Phillip, a 41-year-old former male escort and male revue manager, testified about being paid $700 to $6,000 per session from 2012 to 2013 to engage in sexual acts with Ventura while Combs watched and directed. Phillip described “freak-off” sessions involving roleplay, baby oil, and drugs like molly. He recounted a 2012 incident at the Gramercy Park Hotel where Combs threw a liquor bottle at Ventura for not responding promptly, then dragged her to a bedroom, where Phillip heard slapping and Ventura crying, “I’m sorry.” Phillip said Combs photographed his ID, which he perceived as a threat. Defense attorney Xavier Donaldson began cross-examination, aiming to question Phillip’s account, which continued into day two. Combs’ three teenage daughters left the courtroom during Phillip’s explicit testimony.
Court Dynamics
The jury, consisting of 12 members and six alternates from Manhattan, the Bronx, and Westchester, includes professionals such as an investment analyst and a massage therapist. Several jurors had seen the 2016 video prior to the trial, raising impartiality concerns. The court adjourned with Phillip’s cross-examination incomplete.
May 12, 2025: Motion to Seal “Freak-Off” Videos
On the evening of May 12, Cassie Ventura’s legal team, led by attorney Douglas Wigdor, filed a motion to seal or restrict public and media access to videos of alleged “freak-offs” depicting Ventura in sexual acts under Combs’ direction. The motion argues that the explicit footage, described as showing Ventura in traumatic situations, could lead to privacy violations and harassment if released. While recognizing the videos’ relevance to proving coercion, Wigdor’s team emphasized the need to protect Ventura, who is pregnant and due to deliver her third child in June 2025.
Media organizations, including The New York Times and The Washington Post, filed a counter-motion on May 12, requesting that the courtroom remain open during video screenings or allow three pool reporters to view them, citing the public’s First Amendment right to access trial evidence. The media argues the videos are critical to assessing Combs’ guilt or innocence. Ventura’s team maintains that sealing is essential to safeguard her and other alleged victims, given the case’s extensive media coverage. As of May 13 morning, Judge Subramanian had not ruled on the motion.
May 13, 2025: Day Two Developments
The trial resumed at 9:15 a.m. EDT, with Daniel Phillip undergoing approximately one hour of continued cross-examination by Xavier Donaldson. The defense is expected to challenge Phillip’s credibility, focusing on inconsistencies in his testimony.
Cassie Ventura’s Testimony: Ventura, identified as “Victim-1” in the indictment but testifying under her own name, is scheduled to take the stand, likely on Tuesday morning or afternoon. Her testimony is expected to be central, covering her 11-year relationship with Combs (2007–2018), during which she alleges he coerced her into “freak-offs,” used drugs to control her, and physically abused her, including the 2016 hotel assault. Prosecutors will likely use her testimony to corroborate the 2016 video and Phillip’s account, highlighting Combs’ alleged pattern of control. Ventura’s 2023 civil lawsuit against Combs, settled for an estimated $30 million, detailed similar abuses, including arranging “freak-offs” and hiring escorts. Her decision to testify publicly, despite her pregnancy and prior settlement, underscores her significance to the prosecution’s case.
Defense Strategy: Combs’ legal team, including Marc Agnifilo, Teny Geragos, and Brian Steel, argues that the “freak-offs” were consensual acts within a mutual lifestyle, asserting Ventura was a willing participant who ended the relationship on her terms in 2018. They plan to question Ventura’s credibility by referencing her alleged behavior toward Combs, as mentioned in court on May 9, and challenge other witnesses’ accounts, such as the employee who claimed kidnapping but later sought employment with Combs.
Media and Public Interest
The unresolved motion to seal the “freak-off” videos continues to spark debate between media access and victim privacy. Posts on X highlight significant public attention, with users discussing Ventura’s upcoming testimony and Phillip’s detailed account, using hashtags like #DiddyTrial and #CassieVentura. The courtroom remains crowded with Combs’ family, including his mother Janice and children Quincy, Justin, Christian, Chance, D’Lila, and Jessie, as the trial progresses.
Connection to Hollywood Friendships
In the early 2000s, Sean Combs was part of a social circle that included Ashton Kutcher, Jamie Foxx, Danny Masterson, and Wilmer Valderrama, who were friends and frequent collaborators. A 2003 New York Times article noted that Combs, Kutcher, and Foxx likened themselves to a modern version of the original Rat Pack due to their camaraderie and prominence in Hollywood’s social scene. Masterson and Valderrama, co-stars with Kutcher on That ’70s Show, also attended events with the group, such as Combs’ White Parties. By 2025, these friendships have largely dissolved. Kutcher has distanced himself from Combs amid the trial’s scrutiny, focusing on his nonprofit work with Thorn. Foxx and Valderrama have no reported involvement in the case and continue their respective careers in film and television.
Current Status
As of May 13, 2025, at 10:48 a.m. EDT, the trial is in its second day, with Ventura’s testimony expected to be a focal point. The motion to seal the “freak-off” videos remains pending, with Judge Subramanian weighing public access against victim protection. The prosecution aims to establish Combs’ pattern of coercive control, while the defense portrays Ventura as a consensual partner. The trial, expected to last eight to ten weeks, continues to attract significant media and public attention. Combs remains detained without bail since his arrest in September 2024.
Sources
This article is based on verified public records, court documents, and news reports, including trial coverage from The New York Times and The Washington Post. The Hollywood friendships context draws from documented social connections, such as the 2003 New York Times article. All information is presented factually, with no speculative claims included.
