Rep. James Comer (R-KY) believes Attorney General Pam Bondi should work to put members of the Biden family behind bars, Breitbart reported. The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform chairman said that he lacks prosecutorial powers that the Department of Justice could use.
Comer made these remarks on the "Alex Marlow Show" podcast on Wednesday. He told the Breitbart editor-in-chief of his wish to bring former President Joe Biden and his allegedly corrupt family members to justice.
"I can’t prosecute. If I could prosecute, there would be Biden family members in prison now. There would be deep state actors in prison now. I can’t prosecute. I can only investigate. But Pam Bondi can prosecute, the Department of Justice can prosecute. So, we want to work with them," Comer said.
Comer has been beating the drum against the Biden family and urged President Donald Trump's Justice Department to dig into the outgoing president's family members. In particular, he wants James Biden, Joe Biden's brother, to answer for allegedly lying to Congress.
In a letter to Bondi on Jan. 17, 2025, Comer urged her to prosecute James Biden, according to the committee's news release. "On December 1, 2024, President Joseph R. Biden Jr. issued a written statement announcing ‘A Full and Unconditional Pardon’ for his son, Robert Hunter Biden," Comer wrote.
He claimed James Biden was "Hunter Biden’s main accomplice in his influence peddling schemes (aside from Joe Biden himself)" and that he was alleged to have "misled Congress regarding Joe Biden’s participation in his family’s influence peddling and deserving of prosecution under federal law." The matter was referred for prosecution by three Congressional committees.
However, Joe Biden's administration refused to act. "Though President Biden’s saccharine (and wholly ironic) rantings of political persecution and weaponized prosecution of Hunter Biden are specious, they are inapplicable to the non-prosecution of his brother, James Biden, who has lied to the United States Congress and has faced no accountability to date," Comer continued.
"I write to encourage the Department under your leadership to hold James Biden accountable for lying to Congress to protect his brother, the soon-to-be-former President Biden. No one should be above the law, regardless of his last name," Comer wrote.
The Associated Press reported that in the final moments of Joe Biden's presidency, he preemptively pardoned his siblings and their spouses as Trump was giving his speech. This unprecedented move included James Biden, and Trump pointed out its absurdity.
"Did you know that Biden, while I was making my speech, pardoned his whole family? The brother — the whole deal was pardoned. Can you imagine that?" Trump said.
However, Reuters noted, this presidential pardon is not absolute and may work against Hunter Biden in the end. The Justice Department and the House of Representatives may still investigate the shady business dealings of the Biden family.
Moreover, Hunter Biden could be forced to testify. If the pardon grants him immunity, he wouldn't be able to plead the Fifth Amendment since nothing he said would be considered incriminating under the pardon.
There is enough evidence that the Biden family's dealings were amiss, to say the least, to continue with this investigation. Comer is right that this should proceed, and Bondi is more than capable of getting the job done.
Vice President J.D. Vance blasted the courts after several blocked President Donald Trump's immigration policies that the American people support, the Daily Wire reported. Vance expressed his outrage about this during an interview with Ross Douthat at the New York Times.
During the 2024 campaign, Trump made it clear that he would crack down on illegal immigration. He has kept that promise from day one of his presidency, including invoking the Alien Enemies Act to deport dangerous illegal immigrant gang members.
However, the courts have attempted to thwart these policies at every turn. Vance spoke at length about this with Douthat on his "Interesting Times" podcast, which was released on Monday.
Vance took exception with the judiciary, mostly for its unwillingness to listen to the will of the people. "You cannot have a country where the American people keep on electing immigration enforcement, and the courts tell the American people they’re not allowed to have what they voted for," Vance told Douthat.
"And that’s where we are right now," the vice president added. Vance promised that they were going to continue to fight, however. "We’re gonna keep working it through the immigration court process, through the Supreme Court as much as possible," Vance said.
"And look, success to me is not so much a number, though obviously I’d love to see the gross majority of the illegal immigrants who came in under Biden deported. That actually is a secondary metric of success," he added, speaking about then-President Joe Biden's lax immigration enforcement.
"Success to me is that we have established a set of rules and principles that the courts are comfortable with, and that we have the infrastructure to do what allows us to deport large numbers of illegal aliens when large numbers of illegal aliens come into the country. That to me is real success," Vance added.
Vance believes the only way to get this done is through cooperation with the courts. However, the administration has met particular resistance with its decision to use the Alien Enemies Act.
Trump has attempted to use the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to swiftly remove illegal immigrants who are gang members from the U.S. As CNN reported, the Supreme Court again blocked its use in a decision Friday.
Vance believes this is a mistake because legal immigrants are the most invested in rooting out dangerous criminals in the migrant community. "One thing I’d love for the American media to do a little bit more is really go to a migrant community where you have, say, 60% legal immigrants and 40% illegal immigrants," Vance explained.
"The level of chaos, the level of violence, the level of, I think, truly pre-modern brutality that some of these communities have gotten used to — whatever law was written, I think it vests us with the power to take very serious action against this," he explained.
"It’s bad, it’s bad. It’s worse than people appreciate," Vance said. He warned naysayers not to "filter" how they feel about immigration enforcement with the fact that Trump and Vance are the ones who wish to do it.
Americans voted to fix the problems with illegal immigration, and Vance is correct that the courts are working against that end. The good news is that the Trump administration will surely press on until the problem is properly addressed, just as they promised.
Political analyst Nate Silver sees a positive trend in approval ratings for President Donald Trump, Newsweek reported. Silver found that Trump has received a rebound in his numbers after gaining four points since last month.
Silver has a solid reputation for reading the tea leaves in politics. His track record suffered a hiccup when he predicted a close race in 2024 with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, whom he favored.
That prediction was smashed to bits with Trump's runaway victory in both the Electoral College and popular vote. Still, Silver's methods are proven, which makes the good news he's sharing about Trump all the more encouraging.
Trump continues his slow rebound in the Silver Bulletin average. pic.twitter.com/yXfLd1Tanq
— Eli McKown-Dawson (@emckowndawson) May 20, 2025
In Silver's Substack called the Silver Bulletin, the statistician broke down the positive trend. His caveats included how difficult it is to pinpoint Trump's favorability in polls, but noted the upward trend.
In recent polls, Trump is showing a shift back to favorability. "His net approval rating in the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll (-8) is up three points from where it was for the last two weeks (-11)," the post's co-author and fellow Silver Bulletin election analyst Eli McKown-Dawson wrote.
"And his approval rating is holding steady in the YouGov/Economist poll (-9 this week vs. -10 last week). The latest RMG Research poll — admittedly a firm with a strong Republican house effect — has Trump above water with a +4 net approval rating (it was tied in their poll last week)," the analysis went on, noting an across-the-board improvement.
"RMG also shows much higher approval for Trump’s handling of tariffs (net -1) than most other polls. As a result of these polls, Donald Trump’s net approval rating is up to -5.8 in the Silver Bulletin average," the post explained.
"That’s the highest it’s been since April 22nd, and up almost 4 points from Trump’s second term approval low-point on April 29th. Now, this could just be noise driven by a dearth of new polls," McKown-Dawson warned, "or it could be a reversal of the downward trend we’ve seen since the start of Trump’s term. We’ll have to wait for more data to find out," McKown-Dawson concluded.
Trump experienced a dip in his approval ratings after taking office, as is expected for most presidents. However, seeing a rebound son soon could indicate good things to come based on the policies he's feverishly implementing.
For instance, the president's approval numbers have remained positive for most of his second term on the immigration issue, but still dipped slightly. After reaching a second-term low of -2.3% on the issue on April 22, 2025, Trump now enjoys a 3.3% approval in polling averages.
Other issues like trade, the economy, and inflation all experienced a steady decline but have recently rebounded for the president. While implementing tariffs temporarily made his approval dip, other moves promise to help lift his numbers even more.
According to Fox News, Trump's recent trip to the Middle East yielded $2 trillion in investments for the U.S. from the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. There is also talk of a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia that could be forthcoming.
There were so many times when Trump was counted out of the political arena, including his initial approval slippage. However, like he's done for the past 10 years, Trump continues to reemerge triumphant each time he's thought to be finished, and his supporters love him all the more for it.
After reviewing files related to the death of Jeffrey Epstein in 2019 a Manhattan prison, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said he believes Epstein did kill himself as the medical examiner ruled at the time.
“I have reviewed the case. Jeffrey Epstein killed himself. There’s no evidence in the case file indicating otherwise,” Bongino posted on X.
Speculation has raged for years about Epstein's real cause of death. Conspiracy theorists have said almost since it happened that someone killed him to prevent revelations about who participated with him in the sexual abuse and trafficking of young girls at his compound.
It even became an iconic tagline added to the end of a statement whenever anyone wanted to debunk a talking point: "And Epstein didn't kill himself."
But Bongino seemed pretty sure in his declaration, and director Kash Patel agreed. “I’m not asking you to believe me, or not, " Bongino said. "I’m telling you what exists, and what doesn’t. If new evidence surfaces, I’m happy to reevaluate.”
Theories have run rampant about what happened the night of Epstein's death at the Metropolitan Correctional Center after it was discovered that the guards supposed to be monitoring him on suicide watch failed to do their jobs.
Epstein didn't have a cellmate, and the guards were working overtime and lied on their logs about whether they checked on him when they were supposed to. Cameras also malfunctioned that could have caught his actions.
Apparently, Epstein saw their negligence as a chance to end his life, as he had allegedly wanted to do since being put in the prison.
When no one was looking on that night in August 2019, Epstein allegedly took the bed linens and made a noose, from which he hung himself.
It does sound a bit fantastical, but could it have happened that way? Sure.
Some information has come out about some high-profile people who were involved with Epstein, including Prince Andrew and former President Bill Clinton.
Surprisingly, however, no definitive proof that they had sex with minors has caught on so far, and no charges have succeeded against figures like Clinton and the prince.
The whole Epstein mess has mostly stayed in the shadows, shrouded in questions but without too many definitive answers.
Who knows what other political figures may be desperate to keep their involvement with this disgusting human being under wraps, or what lengths they might have gone to in order to do so?
Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama have made headlines in recent months due to persistent rumors about the health of their marriage, but now it is their eldest daughter who is in the news for all the wrong reasons.
As the Daily Caller reports, Malia Obama is now the target of claims from an independent filmmaker who contends that a Nike commercial crafted by the famous former first daughter is suspiciously similar to a piece of her own creation.
At issue are assertions from Natalie Jasmine Harris in which she suggests that Malia Obama lifted notable scenes and stylistic themes from Grace, a short film she released in 2024.
According to Harris, those elements appeared in a Nike ad directed by Ms. Obama, which was released just this month, leading her to cry foul.
Harris took to X to articulate the reasons for her frustration, stating, “My Sundance short film GRACE (shot brilliantly by Tehillah de Castro) was made with deep loved and care. The social cut of the new @Nike commercial directed by Malia Obama (who was also at Sundance my year) feels shockingly similar to my work....”
She went on, “I know art often overlaps, but moments like this hit hard when you've poured your heart into telling stories with care and barely get the recognition you deserve. If brands want a certain look, why not hire from the source instead of for name recognition?”
Harris' specific complaint has to do with a scene in which two Black girls are engaged in a round of pat-a-cake, as the New York Post notes.
Speaking to Business Insider about the comparison, Harris declared, “It's not about the game. It's about the cinematic tools used to depict it.”
The aspiring filmmaker went on to suggest that the camera angles, shot framing, and even the color palettes in the two pieces were startlingly analogous, posting a side-by-side visual comparison and adding, “It's devastating.”
According to Harris, the entire episode points to an industry-wide dilemma, of which young talents such as herself tend to bear the brunt.
“It speaks to a larger issue of brands not supporting independent artists and opting for folks who already have name recognition, which doesn't breed innovative films or original storytelling,” Harris lamented.
Malia Obama, while remaining largely behind-the-scenes as she continues to build a career in the film industry, drew attention last year when she attended the Deauville American Film Festival in France to present her directorial debut The Heart, as People noted at the time.
It was noted at the time that Ms. Obama's film was released under the name “Malia Ann,” a move the budding director made in order to thwart suggestions that her ability to present her work at such a prestigious festival had anything to do with her familial connections.
However, if Harris' claims have any truth to them, it seems as though the nepotism ship, at least in terms of Nike's eagerness to associate with the Obamas, has already sailed.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has suspended his gubernatorial campaign after losing the state Republican Party's endorsement, the Associated Press reported. The Ohio GOP instead picked businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, who was also endorsed by President Donald Trump.
Yost, 68, announced his decision Friday, which came just a week after the party chose the 39-year-old bitcoin billionaire. In an email to supporters, Yost said he would continue to serve Ohioans "perhaps for quite a while yet."
However, it's unclear what he meant, as the Ohio Supreme Court will not be available to Yost due to age limits. Yost said he dropped out when it became "apparent that a steep climb to the nomination for governor has become a vertical cliff," the email said.
"I do not wish to divide my political party or my state with a quixotic battle over the small differences between my vision and that of my opponent. I am simply not that important," Yost added.
Trump has notched another win with the Ohio GOP's decision to pick Ramaswamy. The Buckeye State is fond of Trump and voted for him all three times he ran for president, including 2024 when he beat then-Vice President Kamala Harris by more than 10 points, the Ohio Capital Journal reported.
In fact, Ohio Republican Party Chairman Alex M. Triantafilou credited Trump's endorsement with the decision to back Ramaswamy. "The Ohio Republican Party wishes to thank Attorney General Dave Yost for his dedicated work on behalf of Ohioans," the statement began.
"Attorney General Yost has served our state with distinction. One week ago today, the Ohio Republican Party joined President Trump in proudly and overwhelmingly endorsing Vivek Ramaswamy for Governor of Ohio," Triantafilou wrote.
"Vivek's energy and commitment to Ohio offer a compelling path forward, and he presents our future. It's onward to victory in 2026," the chairman concluded.
Statement from Chairman Alex M. Triantafilou on Attorney General Yost’s decision to suspend his campaign. @ChairmanAlex pic.twitter.com/yJweZQBg95
— Ohio Republican Party (@ohiogop) May 16, 2025
Ramaswamy graciously accepted Yost's decision to step down. "Congratulations to Dave on running a thoughtful campaign. He has served Ohio with great dedication, and I am confident he will continue to play an important role in shaping the future of our state and our nation," Ramaswamy said in a statement.
However, some were not as convinced that this was a positive move. Appalachian businesswoman Heather Hill, who was similarly passed over in the primary in favor of Ramaswamy, said it was a "blatant disregard for our rights to select our next governor" to play favorites.
“My heart goes out to the Republican candidates who feel forced to drop out of the race due to the RNC/GOP’s unfair bias towards one candidate. I want to reassure Ohioans that I will not give up," Hill said in a statement at the time.
"I will fight tirelessly every day to ensure my name is heard and that I prioritize the best interests of all Ohioans," she added. The race is by no means locked up either in the primary or the general election, but Ramaswamy has the best kind of momentum.
Trump is a very influential figure in the Republican Party, whether those in his own party like it or not. The people of Ohio have spoken on their choice for president and may carry that loyalty to their choice for Ohio governor, and that's a big win for Trump.
Tiffany Trump, the youngest daughter of President Donald Trump, gave birth to a baby boy on Thursday, the UK Daily Mail reported. The president became a grandfather for the 11th time as the family welcomed Alexander Trump Boulos.
As announced in a post to social media, Alexander was born at 4:44 a.m. on Thursday. This is the first child for Tiffany Trump, 31, and husband Michael Boulos, 27.
"Welcome to the world our sweet baby boy, Alexander Trump Boulos. We love you beyond words! Thank you for coming into our lives! 5.15.2025," Tiffany Trump captioned the baby's photo in a post to X, formerly Twitter, on his birthday.
Welcome to the world our sweet baby boy, Alexander Trump Boulos. We love you beyond words! Thank you for coming into our lives! 5.15.2025 🩵👶🏻🩵 pic.twitter.com/tYSgZDGivr
— Tiffany Ariana Trump (@TiffanyATrump) May 15, 2025
Marla Maples, Tiffany Trump's mother and Donald Trump's second ex-wife, was elated for her only daughter. "No greater joy in the world," Maples reacted to her daughter's social media post.
"Michael and Tiffany this Gran Mar Mar loves you all so much!! You rocked it, my girl," Maples wrote.
Her father was also happy for the new grandchild, so much so that he had accidentally spilled the beans about her pregnancy last year. Tiffany Trump confirmed the pregnancy in December after her father let it slip publicly.
The Trump siblings also celebrated the new baby in the family. Just last month, Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump's other daughter he shared with the late Ivana Trump, threw a lavish baby shower for her half sister.
It was Peter Rabbit themed after Beatrix Potter's famous children's book series, and Ivanka Trump shared photos with a sweet caption. "'Tiff, you're going to be the most wonderful mama. Your baby boy is already so loved - and so lucky to have you! Love you!"
Donald Trump is a blessed man with five grandchildren through his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr. He has another two through his next eldest son, Eric Trump, and three through his eldest daughter, Ivanka Trump.
His youngest son, Barron Trump, whom Donald Trump shares with first lady Melania Trump, is just 18 and recently finished up his first year at New York University. Tiffany Trump was the latest to add another in-law to the family after her Mar-a-Lago wedding in November 2022.
It's clear that the Trump family is a tight-knit clan as Donald Trump's grown children have worked for him and helped him throughout his first presidential campaign. In July 2024, Donald Trump's granddaughter, Kai Trump, became the first of the next generation to do so.
"To me, he’s just a normal grandpa. He gives us candy and soda when our parents aren’t looking. He always wants to know how we’re doing in school," Kai Trump said at the Republican National Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, about her grandfather, USA Today reported.
It's always a precious miracle when a family adds a new baby, especially for a proud grandparent like Donald Trump. Unlike his predecessor, Donald Trump is a wonderful grandfather who dotes on and acknowledges all of his grandchildren.
President Donald Trump has successfully brokered an "economic exchange" deal with Qatar worth $1.2 trillion, Breitbart reported. Trump signed several agreements in Doha with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Wednesday.
The two nations have had a fraught relationship, including during Trump's first term. However, Trump was ready to make a deal this week during a Middle East trip that also included a stop in Saudi Arabia.
The White House touted the recent agreement in a post to X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday. "THE TRUMP EFFECT. $1,200,000,000,000. President Donald J. Trump Secures Historic $1.2 Trillion Economic Commitment in Qatar," the post said with an accompanying photo of the historic signing.
THE TRUMP EFFECT💰
$1,200,000,000,000President Donald J. Trump Secures Historic $1.2 Trillion Economic Commitment in Qatar pic.twitter.com/VBjQzrUyF5
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 14, 2025
The agreement includes a boon for several American companies totaling at least $243.5 billion. It includes a contract for Qatar Airways to purchase "210 American-made Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 777X aircraft powered by GE Aerospace engines" from Boeing and GE Aerospace, totaling $96 billion.
Not only is this a good deal, but it's also record-breaking for the Chicago-based aircraft manufacturer. "This is Boeing’s largest-ever widebody order and largest-ever 787 order," the White House noted.
"This historic agreement will support 154,000 U.S. jobs annually, totaling over 1 million jobs in the United States during the course of production and delivery of this deal," the White House explained. The agreement also included $97 billion to the Virginia-based Parsons Corporation, a defense, intelligence, and engineering firm.
In a joint venture with Al Rabban Capital and Quantinuum, they have agreed "to invest up to $1 billion in state-of-the-art quantum technologies and workforce development in the United States." In addition, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed onto a joint defense agreement.
Qatar will purchase $1 billion in anti-drone technology from Raytheon and another $2 billion for General Atomics' MQ-9B "remotely operated aircraft." Despite the good news, not everyone was happy with all of the winning.
Trump is unique among modern American leaders in that he seems eager to make deals rather than drop bombs. Just this week, Trump brokered a $142 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia.
Still, even some in his own party are upset with how he's handled relations with Qatar in light of its previous friendliness to terrorists. "Qatar is not, in my opinion, a great ally," Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) said Tuesday to reporters, according to Fox News.
"I mean, they support Hamas. So what I'm worried about is the safety of the president," Scott added.
Despite Scott's concerns, the nation has become more friendly to the U.S. and its allies in recent years. In fact, Qatar has attempted to negotiate a peace deal and hostage exchange in the war between Israel and Hamas.
Trump is a gifted businessman and is applying those skills to furthering America's interests. This new deal with Qatar represents another profound move towards friendly relations through an innovative strategy, regardless of what critics say.
A grand jury handed down an indictment Tuesday against a federal judge who helped an illegal immigrant evade capture by U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement Officials, Breitbart reported. Milwaukee Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan is facing significant fines and prison time for her antics.
Dugan was arrested last month after "concealing" Flores-Ruiz from ICE agents. According to Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, Flores-Ruiz "has a laundry list of violent criminal charges including strangulation and suffocation, battery, and domestic abuse."
The grand jury found Dugan was "obstructing a U.S. agency" when she ushered Eduardo Flores-Ruiz away from ICE officials. The defense team for the judge said Dugan will "enter a plea" during her May 15 hearing.
BREAKING: Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan indicted by a grand jury for helping an illegal escape ICE pic.twitter.com/X6xMWeW7Gy
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) May 13, 2025
If convicted, Dugan could spend up to six years behind bars and pay as much as $350,000 in fines. This all stems from her decision to sneak Flores-Ruiz and his defense attorney out of the courthouse through a back jury door late last month, the Associated Press reported.
Dugan was tipped off that ICE agents were on their way, so she hurried the criminal illegal alien and his lawyer out of the door "only deputies, juries, court staff, and in-custody defendants being escorted by deputies used the back jury door," the affidavit said. "Defense attorneys and defendants who were not in custody never used the jury door," it added.
The 30-year-old who was being charged with three counts of misdemeanor domestic battery was captured by agents outside the courthouse. Just 30 minutes later, FBI Director Kash Patel announced Dugan's arrest in a post to X, formerly Twitter, the Washington Examiner reported.
"Just NOW, the FBI arrested Judge Hannah Dugan out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin on charges of obstruction — after evidence of Judge Dugan obstructing an immigration arrest operation last week. We believe Judge Dugan intentionally misdirected federal agents away from the subject to be arrested in her courthouse, Eduardo Flores Ruiz, allowing the subject — an illegal alien — to evade arrest," Patel wrote.
"Thankfully our agents chased down the perp on foot and he’s been in custody since, but the Judge’s obstruction created increased danger to the public. We will have more to share soon. Excellent work," Patel concluded. The post was briefly taken down for an unknown reason.
According to Fox News, Dugan has maintained that she's done nothing wrong. "As she said after her unnecessary arrest, Judge Dugan asserts her innocence and looks forward to being vindicated in court," her attorney said following the indictment.
However, others celebrated Dugan's indictment, like Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, who stated she was "grateful" for the grand jury's decision. "She will be held accountable for that," Noem told Jesse Watters Tuesday.
"That was a great decision, coming forward, to recognize that nobody can facilitate breaking the law. We shouldn’t be able to allow that in this country, and we need to make sure that even judges are held accountable for their actions," Noem added.
Attorney General Pam Bondi similarly chided Dugan for her actions. "You cannot obstruct a criminal case. And really, shame on her. It was a domestic violence case of all cases, and she's protecting a criminal defendant over victims of crime," Bondi said.
Dugan thought she was above the law and could do whatever she felt necessary to shield an alleged criminal. Now she is facing charges for those actions, and justice will be served in the courts after all.
Federal prosecutors reminded jurors that the case against Sean "Diddy" Combs was "not about a private celebrity's sexual preferences" but rather about his "coercive and criminal" behavior, Breitbart reported. The sex trafficking trial began on Monday and could take as long as 10 weeks to decide.
Opening arguments painted a picture of a depraved individual whose fame and money allowed for the worst alleged abuses. Some of the alleged crimes occurred at so-called "freak-outs," which were days-long parties filled with sex and drugs.
Some have alleged abuse, violence, and coercion amid the fetid festivities. "He was… a cultural icon, a businessman, larger than life — but there was another side to him, a side that ran a criminal enterprise," prosecutor Emily Johnson said.
A jury of eight men and four women will hear the details of the case over the course of the trial. While cameras were not permitted in the courtroom, media coverage during this sensational trial reveals dreadful details.
The nature of Diddy's case includes sordid details about the music mogul's decadent lifestyle and its darker side. The prosecution has instructed jurors not to be dazzled by celebrity in this case but to focus on what constitutes a crime.
"He was… a cultural icon, a businessman, larger than life — but there was another side to him, a side that ran a criminal enterprise," prosecutor Emily Johnson told the courtroom. Johnson shared that Combs allegedly "brutally" beat ex-girlfriend Cassandra "Casssie" Ventura.
The prosecutor also alleged that Combs threatened to use videotapes of Ventura performing sex acts during one of his parties as a means to control her. Johnson noted that Combs was known for this sort of behavior with his lovers.
The prosecution painted Combs as a violent individual who was used to getting his own way through threats. "Let me be clear… this case is not about a celebrity’s private sexual preferences," Johnson said.
"It’s coercive and criminal," Johnson went on. With so much stacked against him, Combs' team will mount a defense that acknowledges his poor behavior while explaining away anything alleged to be criminal.
Teny Geragos, an attorney for Combs' defense, said that the "case is about love, jealousy and infidelity and money." Geragos tried to make it seem like the alleged victims were nothing more than jilted lovers.
She said the women who would testify against Combs are "capable, strong, adult women," perhaps attempting to make it seem impossible for them to have been victimized by the likes of Combs. As for ex-girlfriend Ventura, Geragos said theirs was a "toxic relationship between two people who loved each other," she claimed.
"Being a willing participant in your own sex life is not sex trafficking," Geragos said. She added that while the defense would not deny there was domestic violence, it's not one of the charges the jury will be asked to deliberate.
Ventura testified on Tuesday about the violent encounter that went viral last year after surveillance video surfaced. "I chose to leave. I got out and Sean followed me into the hallway, and grabbed me, shoved me to the ground, kicked me, and dragged me back to the room and took my stuff," Ventura explained, according to NBC News.
The trial ahead promises many more horrifying and disgusting details of alleged crimes. Combs will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars if convicted, but he is still innocent until proven guilty.