Morning Note

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal sex-trafficking trial’s opening arguments and witness testimonies began on Monday, featuring male escort Daniel Phillip taking the stand and telling tales grotesque enough to prompt Diddy’s family to leave the courtroom. 

Phillip said the rapper paid him thousands of dollars to have sex with his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, whom a hotel security camera famously caught Diddy beating the living daylights out of in 2016. He also said that Combs recorded at least one of the sexual encounters.

Other allegations include Combs paying the aforementioned hotel $100,000 to keep the assault video under wraps, gruesome details of the beatings, and Phillip claiming he would only receive pay if he could “perform properly,” sometimes meaning engaging in sex parties for up to ten hours.

The trial resumes today. Diddy faces life in prison if convicted.

Read more of the allegations’ details and see images from the trial here.