Federal Trial Begins Against Diddy Over Assault, Trafficking Allegations

The highly anticipated federal trial of music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs began in Manhattan, with opening arguments focusing on serious charges including sex trafficking by force, racketeering, and transportation for prostitution. Prosecutors intend to present bombshell evidence including multiple video perspectives of a 2016 hotel incident showing Combs physically assaulting his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, who is expected to testify against him. Defense attorneys argue that the relationship was mutually violent and aim to discredit the accusers, accusing prosecutors of criminalizing Combs' consensual "Freak off" parties and challenging the authenticity of the video evidence. The trial's jury selection faced controversy with allegations of racial bias, which the judge denied, and jurors were cautioned to consider only the evidence presented in court. In addition to Cassie's testimony, more than 20 witnesses are expected to be called as the prosecution seeks to demonstrate a pattern of coercion and abuse tied to Combs' lifestyle. The case has drawn intense media scrutiny due to the celebrity status involved and the gravity of the criminal charges, with potential life imprisonment at stake.