Sean Combs now awaits trial in Brooklyn's infamous Metropolitan Detention Center. In May, his highly publicized case is scheduled to go to trial. What do we know about the charges Diddy faces, the case prosecutors plan to present, and how his legal team might try to get him acquitted? Host and attorney Brian Buckmire breaks down the legal issues of Diddy's upcoming trial with Aaron Katersky, Sean Combs now awaits trial in Brooklyn's infamous Metropolitan Detention Center. In May, his highly publicized case is scheduled to go to trial. What do we know about the charges Diddy faces, the case prosecutors plan to present, and how his legal team might try to get him acquitted? Host and attorney Brian Buckmire breaks down the legal issues of Diddy's upcoming trial with Aaron Katersky, Chief Investigative Correspondent for ABC News.
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35:23
Downfall
As the wave of civil lawsuits against Diddy continues to grow, in March of 2024, federal agents raid two of his properties in connection to a human trafficking investigation. Just a couple months later, an old video of Diddy beating, kicking and dragging his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in the hallway of a hotel surfaces, with devastating consequences. He publicly apologizes for his behavior and says he went to therapy. By September 2024, he’s arrested and indicted on federal charges of racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He pleads not guilty to all charges.
If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual assault, please call the National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE or go to rainn.org.
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51:34
Before and After
Soon after Cassie and Diddy end their relationship, Diddy rebrands himself again, as Sean “Love” Combs. He's on his way to becoming hip hop’s third billionaire, wins lifetime achievement awards and gets the key to New York City. But in 2023, Cassie files a 35-page lawsuit against him, alleging he physically and sexually abused her. Her suit is settled quickly and quietly, but it's just the beginning of Diddy's legal issues. In the weeks and months following Cassie's suit, he's hit with dozens more lawsuits from people alleging he abused them too. Combs denies abusing anyone.
If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual assault, please call the National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE or go to rainn.org.
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36:49
Me & U
Diddy signs a young singer with a hit single who’s on the fast track to fame. Cassie Ventura reportedly agrees to a 10 album deal. They become romantically involved and Cassie’s career flatlines, leaving fans wondering why she only released one studio album. We chart their decade-long relationship -- from the glamorous red carpet appearances to allegations of hidden abuse.
A warning that this episode includes discussion of sexual violence and abuse. If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, please call the domestic violence hotline at: 1-800-942-6906 or go to https://www.thehotline.org.
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55:08
Invincible
We chart Diddy’s rise from musician to mogul, from the center of hip-hop to the center of American culture. But that rise wasn’t always a smooth ascent. Along the way, he had moments of alleged violence and brushes with the law. Were these lapses in judgment or serious red flags that signaled a darker side to his success?
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For decades, Sean "Diddy" Combs was among the most influential entertainers and entrepreneurs in hip-hop. But Diddy’s star began to implode when a video came out showing the music mogul assaulting his then-girlfriend. There had long been whispers about Diddy's aggression. But critics say his influence and relevance kept the rumors quiet. Until now. A raft of new lawsuits detail shocking allegations of sexual abuse and manipulation orchestrated in so-called "freak offs" -- sex parties Diddy allegedly ordered, videotaped and controlled. Diddy now faces federal charges that include sex trafficking. He has denied all wrongdoing and said all encounters were consensual. A new podcast from 20/20 and ABC Audio traces how whispers of abuse came to light and led to Diddy’s downfall. ABC News legal contributor Brian Buckmire takes listeners inside the rise and fall of Diddy, the allegations and his defense in a six-part weekly narrative series launching March 25, and returning with twice weekly real-time updates once the trial slated for May gets underway.
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