Sean "Diddy" Combs used "violence and fear" to lead a criminal enterprise that helped him subject two of his former girlfriends to sex trafficking, a U.S. prosecutor said in her closing argument at the music mogul's trial.

New York

Sean 'Diddy' Combs is facing serious charges in a U.S. court, where prosecutors allege he used violence and intimidation to run a criminal enterprise that enabled the sex trafficking of two former girlfriends. During closing arguments, the prosecution highlighted testimony about drug-fueled parties and coercion, as well as messages from an alleged victim expressing fear of losing financial support if she did not comply.

Combs' defense team maintains that the sexual acts were consensual and denies any conspiracy, arguing that employees were unaware of any wrongdoing and that drugs were for personal use. The jury is set to deliberate on whether Combs' actions constituted criminal conduct or merely poor personal behavior, with a conviction carrying a minimum 15-year prison sentence.

'Diddy' used violence to traffic women, prosecutor says as trial closes

The family of music mogul Sean Diddy Combs exited the courthouse Thursday to the sound of jeers from onlookers. Prosecutors had just made closing arguments, saying Combs used violence and fear to lead a criminal enterprise, which helped him subject two of his former girlfriends to sex trafficking. If convicted on all counts of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution, the Bad Boy Records founder faces a minimum 15-year prison term and could be sentenced to life behind bars. On Thursday, Prosecutor Kristi Slavik said Combs used power, violence and fear to get what he wanted. Over six weeks of testimony, Combs' former girlfriends testified that they took part in days-long drug-fueled sex parties with male sex workers, called freak-offs, while Combs watched, masturbated and sometimes filmed. Slavik brought jurors' attention to text messages they had seen, where an alleged sex-abuse victim said she felt obligated to take part in the performances out of concern Combs would stop paying her rent. She also said in order to convict Combs, jurors need only to find that one of the dozens of freak-offs was the result of Combs' coercion. Defense lawyers have argued Combs had no way of knowing that his former girlfriends were not participating willingly and say the sex acts were consensual. The defense is expected to make their own closing arguments Friday. Former federal prosecutor Robert Mintz says the jury will need to consider if employees were pressured to conceal Combs' behavior. The question really for jurors is whether or not they believe this was just bad personal conduct by Mr. Combs or whether he really used his business as an enterprise by giving people money, by paying them to remain silent, by threatening them if they spoke publicly about this in order to further his criminal acts. And that's going to be a tough challenge and jurors are going to have to sort that out. Combs' lawyers have argued there was no conspiracy in part because his employees were not aware of anything improper about the sexual performances. They also argued that any drugs they procured for their boss were for his personal use. Combs, a rapper and entrepreneur known for turning artists like Notorious B.I.G. and Usher into stars, has been held in federal lockup in Brooklyn since his September 2024 arrests. The jury is expected to start deliberations either late on Friday or on Monday.

Russia pummeled Kyiv with the largest drone attack of the war, injuring at least 23 people and damaging buildings across the capital only hours after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Russia's Vladimir Putin, officials said.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

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Jerusalem

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Indonesian rescuers on Thursday (July 3) temporarily halted a search for 30 people still missing after a ferry carrying 65 people sank near the island of Bali with the loss of six lives, the national search and rescue agency said.

Gilimanuk

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CBS News political contributor Caroline Polisi joins "CBS Mornings" to break down the jury's verdict in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal trial and the judge's decision to deny bail for the music mogul ahead of his sentencing.

Manhattan

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Madrid

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Tehran

Iran Strikes

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Days before his 90th birthday, the Dalai Lama announced the Gaden Phodrang Trust, a non-profit he founded, will have the sole authority to recognize his future reincarnation, but China insists it will choose the successor of the Tibetan spiritual leader.

Lhasa

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Sean (Diddy) Combs was found guilty on prostitution-related charges, but was acquitted on more serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking giving him a maximum sentence of 20 years. But the courtroom victory was subdued following a judge’s ruling to deny him bail.

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Bryan Kohberger changed his plea to guilty Wednesday for the 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students. CBS News national correspondent Carter Evans has more on the case.

Boise

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The Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down a state abortion law that was adopted in 1849 in a 4-3 landmark decision. CBS News' Shanelle Kaul reports.

Madison

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Everglades

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Jurors in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal criminal trial said they have reached a verdict on four of the five counts, but they cannot reach a verdict on Count 1, which is racketeering conspiracy. The judge has instructed the jury to keep deliberating. Deliberations will resume Wednesday (July 2).

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Former criminology graduate student Bryan Kohberger has agreed to plead guilty to killing four Idaho college students in 2022, a move that would spare him the death penalty under a deal with prosecutors, ABC News reported on Monday (June 30).

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Thailand's Constitutional Court on Tuesday suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from duty pending a case seeking her dismissal, adding to mounting pressure on a government fighting for survival on multiple fronts.

Bangkok

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Israeli strikes killed at least 60 people across Gaza on June 30 in some of the heaviest attacks in weeks as Israeli officials were due in Washington for a new ceasefire push by U.S. President Donald Trump.