From Cassie to Mark Geragos: A guide to all the key people involved in the Diddy trial

Today, proceedings continue in Manhattan federal court for the second day of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ high-profile federal sex trafficking trial. 55-year-old Diddy faces a series of serious charges, including sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transporting individuals across state lines for prostitution. The prosecution allege that Combs led a criminal enterprise over the course of two decades, using coercion, abuse, and psychological manipulation to exploit women – including ex girlfriend Cassie Ventura. With lots of names being thrown about on both sides of the trial, here is a guide to all the key people involved in the Diddy trial and the part they play as we watch it unfold.

Diddy

Sean Diddy Combs is a music business entrepreneur and artist – who was instrumental in shaping 90s hip hop and launching the careers of artists like Faith Evans and The Notorious B.I.G. Alongside his ongoing federal trial, Combs is also facing multiple civil lawsuits from dozens of men and women who have accused him of sexual misconduct. Several of the plaintiffs claim they were underage at the time the alleged incidents occurred. Combs has denied all allegations of wrongdoing.

by Matt Baron/Shutterstock

Cassie Ventura

38 year old Cassie is an R&B singer, best known for her hit singles in the mid 00s like Me & U and Long Way 2 Go. She was in a long term relationship with Diddy from 2007 to 2018, and is the star witness in the trail and is whose testimony is of utmost important. She’s known as “Victim 1” in the trial. In 2023, she had the civil lawsuit she filed against Diddy settled out of court, where she alleged rape, physical abuse, and coercion during their relationship.

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Cassie is currently eight months pregnant during the trial, and is expecting the child with her husband Alex Fine.

Kerry Morgan

Kerry Morgan is a former very close friend of Cassie’s – and a major player in the Diddy trial. Court documents describe an incident in which Combs allegedly assaulted Morgan by striking her with a wooden hanger, causing a concussion. Cassie further claims that Diddy later paid Kerry Morgan $50,000 in an attempt to buy her silence. This pay off is said to be instrumental in the end of Cassie and Kerry’s friendship.

Kerry Morgan hasn’t yet testified.

Marc Agnifilo 

Marc Agnifilo is the criminal defence attorney who is leading Diddy’s defence legal team, making him one of the major key people involved in the Diddy trial. He’s best known as the one who last year when Diddy was questioned about why he had over 1000 bottles of baby oil when his home was raided said it was because Combs “buys in bulk”.

by SARAH YENESEL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Teny Geragos

Teny is the founding partner at the law firm with Marc Agnifilo and is the lead defence attorney. He was the guy who made the opening statement in the trial, saying on day one “The evidence is going to show you a very flawed individual. But it will not show you a racketeer, a sex trafficker or somebody transporting for prostitution.”

Mark Geragos

Mark has previously represented Diddy but he’s one of the key people in the trial here because he’s acting as an advisor, rather than actually being in the team. He’s also a co-host on a TMZ podcast and has referred to Diddy as “a friend”. This podcast is important because Judge Arun Subramanian told Geragos off for making a comment about the prosecution on the podcast, and Subramanian says he will be watching the podcast closely because it could harm the case with public commentary.

Xavier Donaldson

The defence attorney who was responsible for cross examining stripper Daniel Phillip.

Assistant US Attorney Emily Johnson

Johnson is acting as lead prosecution in the trial.

Maurene Comey

Comey is the lead attorney for the prosecution, and she’s best known for being the one who helped to secure a conviction for Ghislaine Maxwell on a sex trafficking case.

Diddy’s family

by Andrea Renault/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock

Diddy’s kids who have been present at the trial are all key people, and Diddy has seven children with four different mothers.

• Quincy Taylor Brown, 33 – Adopted son
• Justin Dior Combs, 31– Son with Misa Hylton
• Christian “King” Combs 27– Son with Kim Porter
• Chance Combs, 18 – Daughter with Sarah Chapman
• D’Lila Star and Jessie James Combs, 18 – Twin daughters with Kim Porter
• Love Sean Combs, 2 – Daughter with Dana Tran

Janice Combs, Diddy’s mother, is also present.

Israel Florez and Daniel Phillip

Israel Florez is an LAPD officer who alleges he witnessed Diddy assault Cassie and then claims Diddy attempted to bribe him. Daniel Phillip is a stripper who alleges Diddy paid thousands to engage in the freak offs and engage in sexual acts with Cassie.

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Featured image credit: SARAH YENESEL/EPA-EFE – Matt Baron – Andrea Renault/ZUMA Press Wire – Shutterstock.