Suge Knight Speaks Out on Sean 'Diddy' Combs' Sex Trafficking Case, Urges Rival to Take the Stand

NEW YORK, June 2, 2025 — Marion "Suge" Knight, the imprisoned co-founder of Death Row Records, has publicly commented on the ongoing sex trafficking and racketeering trial of his longtime rival, Sean "Diddy" Combs. Speaking to ABC News from a California prison, Knight, a figure long associated with the East Coast-West Coast hip-hop rivalry of the 1990s, offered a perspective on Combs' legal battle, which has gripped the music industry and beyond.

Knight, 60, addressed the case in an interview aired on June 2, 2025, as Combs faces a federal trial in New York City. The hip-hop mogul is charged with racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, stemming from a September 2024 indictment. Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to all charges, with his defense team arguing that any alleged acts were consensual and do not constitute trafficking or racketeering.

In the ABC News interview, Knight reflected on the tensions between himself and Combs, a rivalry that once defined the hip-hop landscape. "Through the course of three weeks of testimony in the trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs, one man has loomed large even as he remains locked up in a prison, more than 2,500 miles away," the report noted, highlighting Knight's unexpected relevance to the proceedings. While Knight did not directly defend Combs' innocence, he urged his former rival to take the stand, suggesting that testifying could "humanize" Combs in the eyes of the jury.

The trial, now in its fourth week at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan U.S. Courthouse in Manhattan, has featured explosive testimony from former employees, including Capricorn Clark, who worked for Knight before joining Combs' team. Clark testified that Combs reacted angrily upon learning of her prior association with Knight, allegedly threatening her life. "He told me he didn’t know that I had anything to do with Suge Knight and, if anything happened, he would have to kill me," Clark stated, according to ABC News. Her account has painted a picture of Combs as controlling and volatile, a narrative prosecutors are using to bolster their case.

Knight's comments come amid a trial that has also name-dropped celebrities like Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and Nas, though none are accused of wrongdoing. The prosecution has presented witnesses, including former assistants and R&B singer Cassie Ventura, who have described alleged abuse, violence, and threats by Combs. Meanwhile, Combs' legal team, led by attorney Teny Geragos, has countered that the relationships and incidents were consensual, denying any criminal enterprise.

Knight, serving a 28-year sentence for voluntary manslaughter since 2018, has resurfaced in headlines as witnesses reference the historic rivalry between his Death Row Records and Combs' Bad Boy Records. Despite their fraught history, Knight's call for Combs to testify adds a layer of complexity to a case already rife with drama. The trial, which began on May 5, 2025, continues to unfold, with potential consequences for Combs including a life sentence if convicted.

thumpmusic.com