The federal sex-trafficking trial of hip-hop mogul Sean Combs (”Diddy”) entered its second day on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, following a dramatic opening on Monday that saw graphic testimony and unsettling allegations at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan U.S. Courthouse in Manhattan. Combs, 55, faces charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution, with a potential life sentence if convicted.
He is called the counterpart of Jeffrey Epstein, but within the entertainment industry.
Monday’s proceedings featured opening statements and the testimony of Daniel Phillip, a male escort whose account was so disturbing that several of Combs’ family members, including three of his daughters, reportedly left the courtroom.
Phillip testified that Combs paid him thousands of dollars to engage in sexual acts with Combs’ then-girlfriend, Casandra Ventura, in 2012.
He claimed Combs recorded at least one encounter and gave specific instructions, including using baby oil during the acts. Phillip further alleged that payment was contingent on his ability to “perform properly,” which sometimes involved participating in prolonged sex parties lasting up to ten hours.
Among the most explosive claims, Phillip stated that Combs paid a hotel $100,000 to suppress a 2016 surveillance video that captured the rapper brutally assaulting Ventura, an incident that has become a focal point of the prosecution’s case. Prosecutors allege Combs used his celebrity status and a loyal inner circle to coerce women into drug-fueled sexual encounters, often recording them for blackmail purposes.
The defence, led by attorney Teny Geragos, countered that Combs’ relationships were consensual, involving “strong, capable” women who were in love with him. Geragos argued that the case is about Combs’ personal sex life, not criminal activity, and described him as a flawed individual but not a racketeer or trafficker.
Diddy oil
Sean Combs is allegedly using a party narcotic called ”Diddy oil”. The content of this oil is still unclear. The content could be Gamma-Butyrolactone (GBL), which metabolises into Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB), a sedative and central nervous system depressant. Another claim is that it is liquid cocaine, trafficked on Combs’ private jet into the US.
Eight-week trial
The trial, expected to last eight weeks, has drawn significant attention. Over 100 people, including journalists, fans, and content creators, lined up outside the courthouse on Monday. Combs’ family, including his mother, Janice Combs, and children, have been present, underscoring the case’s high-profile nature.
As the trial resumed, all eyes were on whether Ventura, a key witness for the prosecution, would take the stand to testify about the alleged abuse and coercion. The outcome of this case could redefine Combs’ legacy, once celebrated as the founder of Bad Boy Records and a cultural icon.
Sources and related
- New York Post: Diddy trial live updates: Sex-trafficking case against Sean Combs kicks off with first witnesses
- CNN: 9 takeaways from Day 1 of testimony in the Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial
- New York Times: Key Moments in the First Day of the Sean Combs Sex-Trafficking Trial
- Movie: Blink Twice, directed and produced by Zoë Kravitz