Diddy defense claims he was unfairly targeted, while prosecution says rapper thought ‘he was untouchable’
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ defense attorney delivered closing arguments as the 7th week of rapper’s sex trafficking and racketeering trial came to a close
By Lauryn Overhultz , Maria Paronich Fox News
Prosecutors accused Diddy of running a ‘criminal enterprise’
Fox News correspondent Alexis McAdams discusses closing arguments in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ sex trafficking and racketeering trial on ‘America Reports.’
Sean “Diddy” Combs’ defense team gave closing arguments Friday as the seventh week of the rapper’s sex trafficking and racketeering trial came to a close.
As Diddy’s defense attorney, Marc Agnifilo, ended his closing argument, he pointed the jury to the quality of the evidence shown by the prosecution. “That matters,” he explained.
“I think the evidence shows that the government targets Sean Combs,” he added. Agnifilo also said, “The Cassie lawsuit comes out and these guys went and wanted to make a case because it’s Sean Combs.”
The prosecution objected to the targeting argument and Judge Arun Subramanian agreed to instruct the jury to disregard it.
DIDDY BLOWS KISS TO FAMILY AFTER PROSECUTION PROMISES TO PUT A STOP TO HIS ALLEGED CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR
Sean “Diddy” Combs sits in court during closing arguments in his sex trafficking and racketeering case. (Jane Rosenberg)
Agnifilo ended his closing arguments by insisting that Diddy is innocent. He noted that it takes courage for a juror to acquit. “Return him to his family who have been waiting for him.”
During the prosecution’s rebuttal, Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey said that Diddy thought “he was untouchable.”
“For 20 years, the defendant got away with his crimes… that ends in this courtroom…the defendant is not a God,” she said. Comey ended by telling the jury, “It is time to hold him accountable. Find him guilty.”
At the start of the defense’s closing argument, Diddy’s attorney accused the prosecution of bringing a “fake trial” against the “Last Night” rapper as the government went after his “private sex life.”
Diddy’s defense claimed none of the prosecution witnesses testified to engaging in racketeering. Agnifilo pointed out the disgraced music mogul’s former employees all described working for him as hard, but also said it was like “going to Harvard Business School.”
“That’s the fake trial I’m talking about,” Agnifilo told the jurors, claiming the prosecution failed to prove the government’s theory of racketeering.
Diddy’s defense began closing arguments Friday. (Jane Rosenberg)
Agnifilo then brought up the raids on Diddy’s homes, pointing out the seizure of Astroglide and baby oil. There was nothing about the rapper’s businesses to make this a criminal case, the defense attorney stated.
“Where is the crime scene? The crime scene is your private sex life,” Agnifilo said.
According to Diddy’s defense, this case was about money. He noted the investigation into Diddy came about after his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, sued the rapper for $30 million. Agnifilo claimed Cassie wouldn’t have sued if Diddy didn’t have millions. “We’re here because of money,” he stated to the jury.
Agnifilo claimed what happened between Diddy and Cassie was domestic violence, not sex trafficking. “Owning the domestic violence, we own it,” he said in court. “That’s not charged.” According to the defense attorney, Diddy did not do the things he’s charged with. The rapper didn’t commit racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking, Agnifilo argued. He also claimed the disgraced music mogul didn’t obstruct justice or commit bribery.
Sean “Diddy” Combs spoke with his lawyers on the 17th day of testimony in his federal trial. (Jane Rosenberg)
Ahead of closing arguments, Diddy walked into the courtroom wearing a beige sweater. He gave a small wave, did a thumbs ups and made a heart motion with his hands. The rapper then hugged Agnifilo, before sitting down.
There was a short delay in the start of court due to a transportation issue with one juror. While waiting for the jury, Diddy made a prayer gesture with his hands. A few of his lawyers made the gesture back to him.
WATCH: PROSECUTORS ACCUSE DIDDY OF RUNNING A ‘CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE’
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For their closing arguments, Diddy’s defense team allegedly planned to invoke the Iran conflict during closing arguments, according to TMZ. The government seemingly objected to this strategy after court Tuesday.
“Given that the attorneys who will be giving summations won’t be here tomorrow, I wanted to put something on the record that I hope will not be necessary, but my hope is that we don’t have to object during defense summation,” Comey said. “I really don’t want to do that. So I just wanted to put on the record that we think it would be objectionable and crossing a line for any summation to bring up politics or current events or the propriety of this prosecution and the use of government resources. I would hope that Mr. Agnifilo would not cross over those lines, but I just wanted to say that if he did, I would object in the middle of his summation and ask the Court to instruct the jury to disregard any comments like that. So I just wanted to state that in advance of summations and the hope that it’s not necessary.”
A sketch portrays Sean “Diddy” Combs in court on June 26. (Jane Rosenberg)
The prosecution noted this issue had been brought up in one of the government’s motions in limine.
“I believe at that time there was an agreement by the defense not to engage in any of that type of argument,” Judge Arun Subramanian said. “But, Mr. Agnifilo, anything to worry about here?”
“Nothing to worry about, Judge,” Agnifilo responded.
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WATCH: DIDDY TRIAL JURORS HAVE ‘EXTREMELY DIFFICULT’ DECISION AHEAD, EXPERT SAYS
Prosecutors gave closing arguments Thursday.
The government explained how the trial testimony proved each charge against Diddy – two counts of sex trafficking, racketeering and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution – over the course of roughly four hours.
The government emphasized in their argument that Diddy ran the alleged criminal enterprise with full control. The prosecution pointed out that the jury heard testimony, saw texts, viewed bank records and heard audio showing the “Last Night” rapper committing crime after crime for decades. According to the prosecution, the government showed Diddy didn’t take no for an answer. Up until today, Diddy was able to get away with crime because of money and power, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Slavik said. “That stops now.”
Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested in September 2024 and charged with racketeering, sex trafficking plus transportation to engage in prostitution. (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Alan Eccles appeared as a legal “expert” on TV about trusts while facing charges for child abuse.
Disgraced lawyer talks about trusts on TV days after guilty plea for child abuse
In a shocking twist that has shaken trust in the profession, Alan Eccles, a 44-year-old Scottish lawyer, appeared on television as a legal “expert” despite having already been charged with child sex offences.
Eccles pleaded guilty to engaging in disturbing online conversations about child sexual abuse and sharing indecent images of children. He received a sentence of 300 hours of community service, was placed under a community payback order, and will wear an electronic tag for eight months. He is also registered as a sex offender for the next three years. Despite the seriousness of his offences, he avoided prison.
Yet, only weeks after his confession, Eccles appeared on a TV programme discussing the closure of a Scottish law firm and offered his insight as an authority on setting up trusts. Many viewers were unaware of his conviction at the time.
And the controversy did not end there. Days after entering his guilty plea, Eccles attended a community meeting in Glasgow with former clients of the collapsed McClure solicitors firm and several Members of Parliament. No one at the meeting disclosed his criminal convictions, and attendees only discovered them the next day when someone conducted a quick online search.
Former clients and campaigners, such as Mike Pilbeam, were horrified. Pilbeam recounted how initial sympathy for Eccles evaporated instantly once people learned of his crimes.
Eccles had handled more than 100 cases linked to the fallout from McClure’s collapse, helping individuals with family trusts and inheritance. At the TV appearance, he spoke extensively about supporting those affected by extortionate legal fees and hidden trusts. It was during this appearance that he was introduced as a specialist in trust arrangements, entirely overlooking his recent guilty plea.
Furthermore, Eccles had previously worked with children’s charities and the Scottish Youth Parliament during a period when the organisation faced criticism for mishandled sexual harassment complaints. While the Youth Parliament later stated that Eccles played no role in those investigations, his affiliation with youth-related work has intensified public outrage.
Professional bodies have been quick to respond. Eccles’s profiles have been removed from both the Law Society of Scotland and LinkedIn, signalling that disciplinary action is under consideration, potentially leading to his removal from the register of practising solicitors.
Critics, legal professionals, and victims’ groups have seized on this case as emblematic of a profession that sometimes shields its own. A member of the campaign group affected by McClure’s described Eccles’s continued visibility as “indicative of a legal elite that thinks it is untouchable.”
As the legal fallout continues, this case has reinforced the urgent need for reform in oversight and public-facing conduct. Eccles now awaits sentencing, scheduled for next month, and the fallout from his appearance in the public eye continues to roil the legal community and the trust of those he was meant to serve.
