Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial updates: Defense closes; deliberations set for Monday

Sean Combs may have threatened to release sex tapes of Cassie Ventura or Jane but there was a "zero, zero, zero" percent chance he actually would have done it, his attorney asserted in the defense closing statement.

"He might have said that from time to time," the attorney, Marc Agnifilo said. "There's no way he's releasing any of these videos."

Agnifilo described what's depicted on the videos as an "escape," not evidence of criminal activity. "The hotel rooms are beautiful. The music is nice," Agnifilo said. "Cassie is eating watermelon."

He told the jury the videos were not as unusual or depraved as the government is suggesting.

"He's not the only man in America making homemade porn. It's a pretty popular thing nowadays," Agnifilo said.

The defense also tried to convince the jury "Jane" was no trafficking victim, asserting "she's agreeing" to the kind of sexual activity with male escorts that Combs desired.

"She regrets it. She resents him for it. That came later," Agnifilo said. "She agreed to it. That's all you need to know, and we can be done with it."

He disagreed with federal prosecutors that Combs used paying her $10,000 monthly rent as leverage to coerce her to participate.

"The house is a gesture of kindness, of decency, of niceness," Agnifilo said.

In their closing arguments on Thursday, prosecutors argued that Combs used methods of coercion, including physical violence and threats on "Jane" and Ventura in order to force them into unwanted sexual activity with male escorts.

Once the defense's closing arguments conclude, prosecutor Maurene Comey will deliver the government’s rebuttal and then the jury will break for the weekend.

The judge decided to charge the jury first thing Monday followed by deliberations.

Cassie Ventura lied about being raped by Sean Combs in 2018 so she would not get caught cheating on her now-husband, the defense argued in its closing argument in hopes of raising doubt about Ventura's credibility.

Ventura previously testified she met Combs for dinner in Malibu and then, back at her house, he raped her on the living room floor.

"Cassie told you his eyes went black. She said no. She cried. But he didn't take no for an answer. He didn't stop," prosecutor Christy Slavik said in the prosecution's closing argument.

"I suggest to you maybe it didn't happen," defense attorney Marc Agnifilo said, suggesting the sexual encounter in question was consensual.

The jury is now taking its lunch break until 1:45 p.m.

Agnifilo said he has about an hour left in his closing argument.

Prosecutor Maurene Comey said her rebuttal would take about an hour and a half. The judge said he still intends to charge the jury today.

The defense summation returned to Cassie Ventura and asked the jury to question whether she was really trafficked because Combs desired watching her have sex with male escorts.

"It's the sex that they are having," Agnifilo said. "They're swingers. This is their lifestyle."

He asked the jury to consider what they are willing to adopt to please their own partners, sexual and otherwise. At one point he said some couples could be close "by drinking lemonade with strawberries" but Combs and Ventura preferred something racier.

"Cassie wanted to do this. This is how they're close," Agnifilo said. "This was her lifestyle choice also."

The defense cast Ventura as a beautiful woman who loved sex, seeking to undermine the government's portrayal of her as a victim of sex trafficking.

"When she wasn't with Sean Combs she was with [actor] Michael B. Jordan. He's the most handsome man in the world. She's not messing around," Agnifilo said. "She's a high level. She has sexual confidence. Good for her. She's not clutching her pearls."

The jury once again saw 2016 hotel security camera footage – though notably the defense did not show the moment Combs assaulted Cassie – as Agnifilo argued the jury could interpret the video differently than prosecutors.

Federal prosecutors argued the video showed Combs dragging Ventura back to a so-called "freak off." Agnifilo said it showed Ventura encouraging Combs to return to the room as he stood in the hall in a towel and socks.

"The room is not a scary place," Agnifilo said.