Johnny Depp’s Lawyer Weighs In: Breaking Down the Most Damning Evidence Against P. Diddy at Midpoint of Federal Trial

As Sean “P. Diddy” Combs’ high-profile federal trial hits its midpoint, the evidence presented by federal prosecutors is painting a harrowing picture of alleged abuse, coercion, and criminal enterprise. With five federal charges—including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution—Combs, who pleads not guilty, faces a barrage of testimony, physical evidence, and digital records. To assess the strength of the case, Law & Crime’s Sierra Gillespie sat down with Ben Chew, the renowned trial lawyer who represented Johnny Depp in his blockbuster defamation trial.

Physical Evidence: The Baby Oil and Lube

Federal raids on Diddy’s homes yielded a trove of items: over a thousand bottles of baby oil and lube, along with sex toys. Jurors have seen photos of the haul, which corroborate testimony from alleged victim Cassie Ventura and others. Cassie described the baby oil as central to the so-called “freakoffs”—group sexual encounters allegedly orchestrated by Diddy. She detailed how participants would cover themselves in oil, with the substance ending up “all over the walls, the door handles, the bed, the sheets.” Testimony from male dancer Shereé Hayes (aka “The Punisher”) reinforced these claims, describing the oil as a staple of the encounters.

Chew, however, was skeptical about the legal value of this evidence. “It’s not illegal to have lube and sex toys,” he noted. “I’ve never seen a thousand bottles of baby oil altogether, but I don’t know how it necessarily relates [to sex trafficking].” He suggested the government’s focus on these items might be more about creating a salacious narrative than proving criminal elements.

The Intercontinental Hotel Video: Abuse on Tape

💬 Other people who read this also checked out 👀👇

Diddy Trial AI: Cassie Ventura Gives Shocking Testimony in Rapper’s Trial — Part Three

P. Diddy Allegedly Plotted to Murder Kid Cudi After Kidnapping Aide: ‘We’re Going To Kill Cudi’

1 MINUTE AGO: All the Celebs Named in Diddy’s Trial So Far, This Is HUGE…

P. Diddy on Trial: 9 Bombshell Moments That Could Lock Up Rapper for Life

A turning point in the trial was the introduction of surveillance footage from the Intercontinental Hotel in Los Angeles, showing Diddy physically assaulting Cassie. Even Diddy’s defense team conceded the violence, calling it “indefensible” and “dehumanizing”—but argued it was evidence of domestic violence, not sex trafficking.

Chew agreed that while the footage is damning, it may not directly prove racketeering or sex trafficking. “I think it establishes for the jury that this is a bad guy… It sets the factual predicate that this is a person who has the character who might engage in sex trafficking.” He also pointed out that the video, combined with testimony from hotel employee Eddie Garcia—who admitted selling the tape to Diddy’s team for $100,000 in cash—helps support the racketeering charge by showing efforts to cover up the crime.

Cassie’s Testimony: Threats, Coercion, and Revenge Porn

Cassie’s multi-day testimony was a centerpiece of the prosecution. She described not only the physical abuse but also the psychological threats Diddy allegedly wielded, including the threat to release sex tapes of their encounters if she did not comply with his demands. Her mother, Regina Ventura, corroborated these claims, reading an email in court where Cassie said the family would have to pay Diddy $20,000 to keep the videos private.

Other witnesses, including Don Rashard (formerly of Danity Kane) and Cassie’s friend Carrie Morgan, described witnessing violent outbursts by Diddy. Morgan recounted seeing Diddy push Cassie to the ground so hard she hit her head and lay motionless.

The Kid Cudi Incident: Arson as Intimidation

Another dramatic piece of evidence involved rapper Kid Cudi, who testified that after becoming involved with Cassie, his car was destroyed by a Molotov cocktail. Photos of the burned vehicle were shown in court, and Cudi described a chilling meeting with Diddy, who denied involvement but later apologized. Chew observed that this incident, though not a charged crime, contributes to the “bad guy” narrative and supports the prosecution’s theory of an ongoing criminal enterprise.

Multiple Accusers and Bribery Allegations

The prosecution’s case is bolstered by multiple accusers, including Mia, a former assistant who testified to both physical and sexual abuse. Mia described being pressured to sign a non-disclosure agreement with a $1 million penalty for breach after Diddy’s team paid $100,000 for the Intercontinental tape. Chew noted that the ready availability of NDAs suggests a systemic effort to silence witnesses, further supporting the racketeering charge.

Defense Strategy and the Jury’s Perception

Chew critiqued the defense’s cross-examination tactics, especially their aggressive approach with accusers like Mia and Cassie. “If there’s more than one [accuser], you’ve got to try a different tack,” he said, warning that attacking credible witnesses could backfire with the jury. He suggested the defense could instead focus on inconsistencies and the lack of direct evidence tying Diddy to sex trafficking or racketeering.

Will Diddy Testify?

A key question looms: Will Diddy take the stand in his own defense? Chew noted that while conventional wisdom advises against it, Diddy’s charisma and desire to control his narrative could push him to testify. “He just needs one juror,” Chew said, suggesting that a contrite, emotional appearance could sway at least part of the jury, especially if Diddy accepts responsibility for domestic abuse but denies criminal enterprise.

Looking Ahead

With the prosecution expected to rest soon, all eyes are on what Diddy’s high-powered defense team will bring to the courtroom. Chew predicts the defense will argue that the government overcharged the case, turning a domestic violence incident into a racketeering prosecution without sufficient evidence of a broader conspiracy.

As the trial continues, the coming weeks will determine whether the jury sees Diddy as a victim of overzealous prosecution—or as the ringleader of a criminal enterprise whose wealth and power enabled years of abuse.

Play video: