Diddy’s Lawyer: ‘He Was Just Swapping Partners, Not a Criminal’
Diddy’s defense attorney argued that the rap mogul was simply engaging in a “swinger lifestyle,” not committing sex trafficking as alleged, during a hearing in New York on April 25.
At a federal court hearing in Manhattan, Diddy’s lawyer Marc Agnifilo stated: “There’s a lifestyle called swinging, which he believed was acceptable because it’s fairly common.”
The attorney argued that Diddy (real name Sean Combs) believed having multiple sexual partners or hiring escorts was socially acceptable, and this showed he had no intent to commit a crime.
Rapper Diddy. Photo: Invision
This defense came after Diddy declined a plea deal ahead of his upcoming trial, prosecutors said. The details of the plea agreement were not disclosed in court.
Judge Arun Subramanian ruled that Diddy’s lawyers may present arguments related to his “swinger lifestyle,” but they are not allowed to name other celebrities allegedly involved in prostitution or similar behavior.
The 55-year-old rapper faces charges of sex trafficking and facilitating prostitution. Prosecutors allege the Bad Boy Records founder coerced women into sexual acts during infamous sex parties he hosted.
Several witnesses, including Diddy’s ex-girlfriend, singer Cassie Ventura, are expected to testify over the course of the 8-to-10-week trial, offering detailed accounts of “years of abuse and drug-fueled coerced sex.”
During the Friday hearing, the judge allowed Cassie Ventura to present to the jury a video of Diddy assaulting her in a Los Angeles hotel in 2016. CNN first released the video in May 2024.
Cassie Ventura and Diddy in 2016. Photo: GC
Diddy is currently being held in a Brooklyn jail after being arrested in September 2024. Earlier, federal agents raided his mansions in Los Angeles and Miami, discovering around 1,000 bottles of baby oil, lubricants, drugs, and three firearms. These items were allegedly used in the American rapper’s sex parties.
