{"id":18408,"date":"2025-06-27T06:56:13","date_gmt":"2025-06-27T06:56:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/18408\/"},"modified":"2025-06-27T06:56:13","modified_gmt":"2025-06-27T06:56:13","slug":"defense-presents-closing-argument-in-diddy-trial-find-justice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/18408\/","title":{"rendered":"Defense Presents Closing Argument in Diddy Trial: ‘Find Justice’"},"content":{"rendered":"

The trial of Sean \u201cDiddy\u201d Combs<\/strong><\/a> began in New York City on May 5 following his September 2024 arrest<\/a> on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution.<\/p>\n

The process began with jury selection, which was finalized on May 12 before opening arguments started that same day. Diddy, 55, has pleaded not guilty to all charges and denied the allegations against him.<\/p>\n

The music mogul appeared in court as jury selection started, wearing a sweater over a white collared shirt with gray pants, per the Associated Press<\/a>. (Judge Arun Subramanian<\/strong> previously said that Diddy could wear casual clothing for the duration of the trial rather than his jail uniform.)<\/p>\n

Before voir dire (preliminary juror examinations) began, Diddy turned down a plea deal, which might have shortened his potential prison sentence if he agreed to plead guilty. When the judge asked him on May 1 if he rejected the prosecution\u2019s offer, Diddy replied, \u201cYes, I do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Diddy was arrested last year after numerous accusers came forward with allegations of sexual assault. In November 2023, his ex-girlfriend Cassie<\/strong><\/a> filed a lawsuit against him, alleging that he sexually and physically abused her during their relationship, which lasted off and on from 2007 to 2018. Diddy denied her claims, and the duo settled out of court one day later.<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\t\"Feature
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\t\t\t
\n Related: Cassie Asks Judge to Stop Diddy\u2019s Subpoena Against Her Before Trial<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tCasandra \u201cCassie\u201d Ventura is one step closer to testifying against Sean \u201cDiddy\u201d Combs in his upcoming trial. According to People, Cassie is prepared to testify in the rap mogul\u2019s federal trial that is expected to kick off on May 5. She will also be using her name to do so. Prosecutors stated in a motion [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n

In May 2024, CNN published a surveillance video from 2016 that showed Diddy kicking and grabbing<\/a> Cassie, now 38, in a hotel. The rapper later apologized in an Instagram video, saying, \u201cMy behavior on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. \u201cI was disgusted then when I did it. I\u2019m disgusted now. \u2026 I\u2019m not asking for forgiveness. I\u2019m truly sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

In April, prosecutors filed a motion saying that the person mentioned in the indictment<\/a> under the alias \u201cVictim-1\u201d would be testifying under her own name. Multiple outlets reported at the time that \u201cVictim-1\u201d is Cassie, but she has not publicly confirmed her involvement in the trial.<\/p>\n

Keep scrolling for daily updates from inside the courtroom:<\/p>\n

May 5<\/p>\n

As jury selection began, the judge opened with a joke about Diddy\u2019s numerous nicknames and quipped that the list of potential jurors is as long as the famously extensive Lord of the Rings novels.<\/p>\n

Us Weekly can confirm several potential jurors said they had seen news reports<\/a> about the CNN video that showed Diddy hitting Cassie in 2016 while they were still dating. One woman described a still image from the video as \u201cdamning evidence\u201d and was removed from consideration.<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\t\"Diddy
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\t\t\t
\n Related: Prosecutors Deny Leaking Diddy and Cassie Assault Video in New Court Docs<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tProsecutors in Sean \u201cDiddy\u201d Combs\u2019 ongoing lawsuit have denied intentionally leaking footage of the disgraced rapper physically assaulting his now-ex Cassie in 2016. In court documents filed on Wednesday, October 30, and obtained by Us Weekly, prosecutors opposed Diddy\u2019s requests for a gag order related to the video. \u201cThe Court should deny the Leak Motion [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n

At one point, Diddy also requested a bathroom break, per the AP, telling the judge, \u201cI\u2019m sorry, your honor, I\u2019m a little nervous today.\u201d<\/p>\n

Multiple celebrities were named as people who might be mentioned during the trial, and potential jurors were asked to say whether they were familiar with them. Some of the names mentioned were Michael B. Jordan,<\/strong>\u00a0Mike Myers<\/strong>, Kanye West<\/strong>,\u00a0Kid Cudi<\/strong> and Destiny\u2019s Child singer Michelle Williams<\/strong>, though it was not specified how they could be relevant to the proceedings.<\/p>\n

May 6<\/p>\n

As jury selection continued, the judge revised his line of questioning about celebrities, asking potential jurors whether they \u201cpersonally know\u201d them rather than if they\u2019re just \u201cfamiliar\u201d with their names.<\/p>\n

Throughout the day, the judge expressed \u201cfrustration\u201d over receiving multiple prospective jurors with \u201cclear issues,\u201d leading to the dismissal of various people for a variety of reasons that included Crohn\u2019s disease, hearing problems and one woman who described herself as a \u201cvery sensitive person\u201d who once fainted at a teacher bringing up the topic of oral sex.<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\t\"Every
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\t\t\t
\n Related: Every Celebrity Mentioned During the Diddy Trial: Kanye West and More<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAs the trial of Sean \u201cDiddy\u201d Combs kicked off in New York City, observers were surprised to hear the names of numerous other celebrities mentioned during jury selection and various witness testimonies. When potential jurors were questioned starting May 5, they were asked about their familiarity with stars like Kanye West and former Danity Kane [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n

May 7<\/p>\n

During jury selection, one potential juror explained the concept of doom-scrolling to the judge, who replied, \u201cI don\u2019t really use social media.\u201d<\/p>\n

May 9<\/p>\n

Agnifilo said in court that the defense team plans to say Cassie was abusive toward Diddy during their relationship. \u201cI think we\u2019re probably going to refer to that as domestic violence,\u201d he told the court. The judge then indicated that he would decide on May 12 whether allegations of domestic violence will be admissible during the trial.<\/p>\n

Cassie\u2019s lawyer did not respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n

May 12<\/p>\n

After the jury was finalized, both sides delivered their opening statements, which revealed that allegations by Cassie and an unnamed Jane Doe will be the focus of the case. \u201cThis is Sean Combs,\u201d Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson<\/strong> began. \u201cBut there is another side to him. A side that ran a criminal enterprise \u2026 but he didn\u2019t do it alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

The prosecution alleged that Diddy once \u201cbrutally\u201d beat Cassie after allegedly finding out she\u2019d been seeing another man and threatened her with videos of her having sex with other men. \u201cThat\u2019s not the only time he kidnapped someone,\u201d Johnson continued. \u201cThat\u2019s not the first girlfriend he sexually assaulted.\u201d<\/p>\n

Johnson went on to claim that Diddy\u2019s bodyguards and chief of staff \u201ccommitted crimes together, and they covered up those crimes,\u201d adding, \u201cThis case is not about a celebrity\u2019s private sexual choices.\u201d<\/p>\n

She later addressed Diddy\u2019s now-infamous freak offs, claiming they happened as often as once a week \u201cand took place over multiple days at a time.\u201d According to Johnson, Cassie once overdosed at a freak off where a sex worker urinated in her mouth. \u201cShe tried the first freak off because she loved the defendant and wanted to make him happy,\u201d the lawyer continued. Jane Doe, meanwhile, allegedly believed the freak off she attended was a \u201cone-time wild night.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\t\"Cassie
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\n Related: Cassie Will Be Focus of Diddy Trial, Government Says in Opening Statement<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tOpening statements have begun in Sean \u201cDiddy\u201d Combs\u2019 sex trafficking trial, and arguments by both sides revealed that allegations made by Cassie and an unnamed Jane Doe will be the primary focus of the trial. \u201cThis is Sean Combs,\u201d Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson began on Monday, May 12, after the jury was finalized. \u201cBut [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n

After Johnson\u2019s statement, Diddy\u2019s attorney Teny Geragos<\/strong> presented the defense\u2019s opening argument, saying, \u201cSean Combs is a complicated man, but this is not a complicated case.\u201d<\/p>\n

Geragos claimed no witness will be able to back up the government\u2019s racketeering charges because there was no racketeering conspiracy, but she admitted that her client has a history of violence.<\/p>\n

\u201cSean Combs had a temper, and when he took drugs, he would get violent. My client is not proud of that,\u201d she said. \u201cWe take full responsibility that there is domestic violence in this case. Domestic violence is not sex trafficking.\u201d<\/p>\n

She added that the jury will hear about Diddy\u2019s \u201clove of baby oil\u201d before saying, \u201cBut is that a federal crime? No.\u201d<\/p>\n

Geragos also addressed Cassie and Jane Doe\u2019s allegations, claiming, \u201cEvery witness in this case had free choice to make the choices they made.\u201d<\/p>\n

After opening statements, two different witnesses testified. The first, Israel Florez<\/strong>, a former security guard at the InterContinental Hotel in L.A., claimed he is the person who responded to a call<\/a> about the alleged incident between Cassie and Diddy that was captured on surveillance video in 2016 and published by CNN in 2024. Florez testified that he found Diddy in a \u201cdevilish state,\u201d while Cassie allegedly looked \u201cscared.\u201d<\/p>\n

The second witness, Daniel Phillip<\/strong>, claimed he was hired to have sex<\/a> with Cassie on multiple occasions while Diddy watched. Phillip claimed that he was paid anywhere from $700 to $5,000 or $6,000 to be intimate with Cassie while Diddy was present and \u201calways sitting in a corner masturbating.\u201d<\/p>\n

Phillip also claimed that Diddy recorded these alleged sexual encounters on his phone \u201conce or twice\u201d and took a photo of Phillip\u2019s driver\u2019s license. \u201cIt\u2019s just for insurance, just in case,\u201d Phillip alleged Diddy told him, adding, \u201cI understood it to [mean] that he was threatening me.\u201d<\/p>\n

May 13<\/p>\n

The day began with details of the alleged and infamous freak off parties, with the prosecution claiming there would be approximately 10 bottles of baby oil<\/a> used per party and the use of \u201cstrong-smelling\u201d candles. Phillip continued his testimony before Cassie took the stand. The singer began by describing her relationship with Diddy, claiming that it was marked by violence. She alleged that the rapper controlled \u201ca lot\u201d of her life, would videotape her during sexual encounters for \u201cblackmail\u201d and more.<\/p>\n

She discussed in detail the alleged freak offs, which she began attending at age 22, sharing that she would take drugs<\/a> like weed, mushrooms, GHB, ketamine and ecstasy to stay \u201cdisconnected\u201d from the experience. She claimed she was expected to \u201chave freak offs on [my] period,\u201d noting that these parties would make her feel \u201cdirty\u201d but she was glad to make Diddy \u2014 who she claimed was in control and \u201cdirected\u201d the encounters \u2014 happy. She recalled that she \u201cchoked\u201d<\/a> while being urinated on by two male escorts who were allegedly found on Craigslist.<\/p>\n

Cassie also detailed her music career, claiming that she often felt \u201cstifled\u201d by Diddy\u2019s control over her work.<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\t\"Inside
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\n Related: Inside the Courtroom Dynamic Between Diddy, Cassie and Her Husband Alex Fine<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tCassie\u2018s husband, Alex Fine, has been by her side in the courtroom as she testifies against ex-boyfriend Sean \u201cDiddy\u201d Combs. According to The New York Times, Cassie (full name Casandra Ventura) \u201cnever seems to look at\u201d Diddy, 55, while recalling disturbing details about their relationship. Fine, 32, meanwhile, \u201coccasionally turns to look at Combs across [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n

May 14<\/p>\n

The third day of the trial was entirely spent on testimony given by Cassie<\/a>, who was questioned by the prosecution on everything from her relationship with Kid Cudi<\/a> to the defense\u2019s claims that she physically abused Diddy too. While she admitted that she sometimes initiated physical fights with Diddy, she claimed that he was not injured during these incidents, whereas his alleged abuse left visible bruises on her. Throughout her testimony, she also discussed the hotel surveillance footage from 2016 and alleged that Diddy raped her<\/a> near the end of their relationship.<\/p>\n

Near the end of the day, Cassie broke down while discussing the aftermath of her split from Diddy, saying she decided to attend trauma therapy and rehab for opiate addiction<\/a> in 2023 because she \u201cdidn\u2019t want to be alive anymore at that point.\u201d While filming a music video, she recalled having horrible flashbacks and suicidal ideation when she returned home to husband Alex Fine<\/strong>, whom she wed in 2019. \u201cYou can do this without me,\u201d she recalled telling her husband, through tears. \u201cYou don\u2019t need me anymore.\u201d She then tried to walk out the door into traffic, but Fine managed to stop her.<\/p>\n

Cassie also addressed her 2023 settlement with Diddy, saying she was paid $20 million to settle her lawsuit. Before court ended for the day, she estimated she participated in \u201chundreds\u201d of freak offs during her relationship with Diddy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t carry this anymore,\u201d Cassie told the court. \u201cThe shame, the guilt. I was guided to treat people like they were disposable. What\u2019s right is right, what\u2019s wrong is wrong. This is right.\u201d<\/p>\n

May 15<\/p>\n

The defense began cross-examining Cassie on her third straight day of testimony<\/a>, asking her questions about her relationship with Diddy as well as their drug use. Attorney Anna Estevao<\/strong>\u2019s line of questioning seemingly attempted to support the defense\u2019s claims that Diddy\u2019s alleged freak offs were part of his \u201cswinger\u201d lifestyle. Estevao also asked Cassie about texts she sent Diddy where she expressed her love for him as well as an apparent enjoyment of freak offs. Asked about a message where she said she liked the parties, Cassie replied, \u201cI would say that loving [freak offs] were just words at that point.\u201d<\/p>\n

Later on in the day, Cassie mentioned her relationship with Cudi as well as a period when she took a break from Diddy in 2015 and began dating Michael B. Jordan<\/a>. She went on to confirm that she continued to participate in freak offs with Diddy while dating Cudi, saying, \u201cIt was a job.\u201d After prompting from Estevao, Cassie also refuted an online rumor that the baby oil used in the freak offs was laced with date-rape drugs.<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\t\"Diddy
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\t\t\t
\n Related: Diddy Judge Chastises Defense for Moving Too Slowly on Cassie Questioning<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThe New York judge presiding over Sean \u201cDiddy\u201d Combs\u2019 trial is asking the defense to speed up their questioning of Cassie Ventura. According to The New York Times, Judge Arun Subramanian asked the defense to finish cross-examination of Cassie, who is eight and a half months pregnant, on Friday, May 16, so that she can [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n

May 16<\/p>\n

After Cassie finished her testimony, the prosecution called two additional witnesses to the stand. The first, Department of Homeland Security Special Agent Yasin Binda<\/strong>, was one of the officers who participated in a raid on Diddy\u2019s hotel room at the Park Hyatt in Manhattan ahead of his September 2024 arrest. Binda said agents found five bottles of baby oil in the bathroom as well as lubricant stored in the bathtub, plus two bottles of lubricant in the nightstand. They also found a Louis Vuitton bag containing ketamine, MDMA and a bottle of medication prescribed to \u201cFrank Black.\u201d<\/p>\n

With less than half an hour left before court was set to adjourn for the day, former Danity Kane member Dawn Richard<\/strong> took the stand<\/a> and testified about an alleged 2009 incident where she witnessed Diddy assault Cassie at his Los Angeles home. \u201cHe came downstairs angry and was saying, \u2018Where the f*** was his eggs\u2019 and he was telling Cassie she never gets anything right and where the f*** was his food,\u201d Richard alleged. \u201cAnd he came over to the skillet with the eggs in it and tried to hit her over the head, and she fell to the ground.\u201d<\/p>\n

Following Richard\u2019s testimony, the defense asked the judge to strike her statements from the record, arguing that it does not support the charge of sex trafficking and was also not mentioned by Cassie herself. The prosecution, meanwhile, argued that Diddy\u2019s alleged abuse created a culture that allowed him to carry out more serious crimes.<\/p>\n

May 19<\/p>\n

Richard continued her testimony<\/a> with further details about the skillet incident, which the judge tentatively ruled was permissible. She claimed she \u201cfrequently\u201d saw Diddy physically abuse Cassie, including on one occasion in 2010 where other celebrities were present and did not intervene.<\/p>\n

Following Richard\u2019s testimony, Cassie\u2019s former friend Kerry Morgan<\/strong> was called to the stand. Cassie previously mentioned Morgan in her own testimony, revealing that the two stopped speaking after Diddy allegedly hit Morgan with a wooden hanger in 2018. Morgan claimed that Diddy hit her<\/a> after flying into a rage over Cassie dating another man, alleging that he hit her so hard she vomited and had a concussion. After the incident, Diddy and Cassie allegedly offered Morgan $30,000 to sign a nondisclosure agreement. She agreed and said she never spoke to Cassie again.<\/p>\n

The final witness of the day was David James<\/strong>, who worked as a personal assistant for Diddy from May 2007 to May 2009. James described an alleged interaction he had with a human resources rep while interviewing at Bad Boy, claiming the woman pointed at a photo of Diddy on the wall and said, \u201cThis is Mr. Combs\u2019 kingdom. We\u2019re all here to serve in it.\u201d James testified that he worked six to seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for a salary of $70,000 per year plus overtime.<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\t\"Cassie
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\t\t\t
\n Related: Cassie Claims Escorts Were Paid Less If They Ejaculated Before Diddy Wanted<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tCassie took the stand New York City\u2019s Daniel Patrick Moynihan U.S. Courthouse during ex-boyfriend Sean \u201cDiddy\u201d Combs\u2019 trial, testifying about their relationship and her allegations against him. The singer, 38, began her testimony on Tuesday, May 13, by describing her relationship with Diddy, 55, claiming that it was marked by violence. \u201cThere were violent arguments [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n

May 20<\/p>\n

The day began with additional testimony from James, who claimed his former boss traveled with a \u201cmedicine bag\u201d that contained around $10,000 in cash and at least 30 different pill bottles, including Viagra, Advil and ecstasy pills shaped like former President Barack Obama<\/strong>\u2019s head. James alleged that sometimes Diddy would have medication prescribed under James\u2019 name without asking permission; he also claimed it was \u201cpart of the job\u201d to deliver drugs to Diddy and his friends.<\/p>\n

James further alleged he would prep Diddy\u2019s hotel rooms, purchasing supplies like medicine, snacks and baby oil. For the former items, he would go through a typical company reimbursement process, but for things like baby oil and lubricant, he would allegedly be paid in cash by Diddy\u2019s security staff.<\/p>\n

At one New Year\u2019s Eve party, James participated in the festivities himself and was apparently caught on camera while high on ecstasy. A few days later, Diddy and James were reviewing the party videos together when Diddy allegedly told him he would \u201ckeep this footage in case I ever need it.\u201d<\/p>\n

James also made claims about work hours at Bad Boy, saying he once worked 21 days without any breaks and alleging that one assistant was hospitalized for dehydration after working for 24 hours straight. He testified that Diddy\u2019s security team used to have a saying, \u201cDo you know what rhymes with tired? Fired.\u201d<\/p>\n

Later in his testimony, James addressed Diddy\u2019s rivalry with Suge Knight<\/strong>, claiming that his boss had three handguns on his lap when he allegedly ordered James and other members of his team to confront Knight. \u201cI was really shook up by it,\u201d James told the court. \u201cMy life was in danger.\u201d<\/p>\n

James further claimed that Diddy once told him to file a police report about his former personal chef Jourdan Atkinson<\/strong> after she and Diddy had a physical altercation. Diddy allegedly told James to say Atkinson hit Diddy first, but James said he didn\u2019t want to make a false report and so drove around for an hour before returning to Diddy\u2019s house and lying to him about filing the report.<\/p>\n

After James finished, Cassie\u2019s mother, Regina Ventura<\/strong>, took the stand and claimed<\/a> she once took out a $20,000 home equity loan to pay off Diddy after he threatened to release sexually explicit videos of Cassie. She said he returned the money after four or five days.<\/p>\n

The prosecution then called Sharay Hayes<\/strong>, a male escort who claimed<\/a> he was hired by Diddy and Cassie for up to a dozen freak offs dating back to 2012. He alleged that the events could last for multiple days and would usually start around 2 or 3 a.m.<\/p>\n

The day ended with testimony from DHS Special Agent Gerard Gannon<\/strong>, who was in charge of \u201coverall planning\u201d for the March 2024 raid of Diddy\u2019s home on Miami Beach\u2019s Star Island. Gannon noted that between 80 and 90 officers participated in the raid because of the size of the property. His team found sex toys, lingerie and bottles of baby oil and lubricant as well as parts of AR-15 rifles with defaced serial numbers.<\/p>\n

Us confirmed that Cudi has been called to testify against Diddy later in the week following Cassie\u2019s past testimony about their romance.<\/p>\n

May 21<\/p>\n

Gannon resumed his testimony with further description of the items found in Diddy\u2019s home, displaying a pair of red platform heels found in the mogul\u2019s closet. He noted that agents found more than a dozen other pairs of platform heels in the closet. Investigators also discovered a Gucci bag \u2014 with traces of ketamine and cocaine on it \u2014 that contained a small bag of cocaine, a bag of pink MDMA tablets and another bag of orange MDMA tablets with the Tesla logo stamped on them. Prosecutors showed the jury photographs from the raid that showed boxes full of baby oil and lubricant in closets, and Gannon displayed two evidence bags containing 31 bottles of baby oil and lubricant. (He said those were not all the bottles found on the estate.) Investigators also found a .45-caliber handgun and several rounds in a suitcase.<\/p>\n

The second witness of the day was Dawn Hughes<\/strong>, a forensic psychologist who will serve as a \u201cblind expert\u201d on the topic of why people stay in abusive relationships. Speaking about Cassie\u2019s testimony where she admitted she used drugs to \u201cdissociate\u201d while dating Diddy, Hughes told the court that it\u2019s common for people in abusive relationships to use substances to cope with anxiety and trauma. She also said that an abuser\u2019s \u201cwealth, access and privilege\u201d can affect if and when a victim decides to come forward. \u201cFear is a very debilitating emotion,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The day finished with testimony from George Kaplan<\/strong>, a former executive assistant of Diddy\u2019s who worked for him from late 2013 to late 2015. Kaplan claimed that Diddy threatened to fire him at least monthly, the first time during his first week on the job when Kaplan brought him two half-gallon bottles of water instead of the gallon bottle he requested. He went on to claim that part of his job was setting up hotel rooms for freak offs, alleging that he would also clean them afterward. Part of the set-up allegedly entailed couriering drugs that Diddy asked for. Kaplan also claimed he picked up MDMA for his boss.<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\t\"Diddy
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\n Related: A Complete Timeline of Allegations in the Diddy Trial: Freak Offs and More<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tSince the trial of Sean \u201cDiddy\u201d Combs kicked off at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan U.S. Courthouse in New York City on May 5, numerous witnesses have taken the stand to testify about their alleged interactions with the rapper. Diddy was arrested in September 2024 and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n

May 22<\/p>\n

The day began with more testimony by Kaplan, who claimed that he rode on a plane with Diddy and Cassie and witnessed the rapper get violent with his then-girlfriend in the latter half of 2015. \u201cIsn\u2019t anybody seeing this?\u201d Cassie allegedly screamed. According to Kaplan, no one responded to her.<\/p>\n

Kaplan detailed a second alleged 2015 incident where Diddy called him on his home intercom to come to the bedroom, where Cassie was crying on the bed with her face bruised. Diddy allegedly asked Kaplan to pick up \u201canti-swelling\u201d medication. He went on to claim he quit working for Diddy after he saw him throw apples, either real or decorative, at a woman named Gina.<\/p>\n

The second witness of the day, Kid Cudi, testified about an alleged break-in<\/a> at his house, which he claimed occurred after Diddy found out Cassie and Cudi started a relationship. He also addressed Cassie\u2019s previous allegation that Diddy blew up Cudi\u2019s car in January 2012, alleging that he believed Diddy was \u201clying\u201d when he said he didn\u2019t know about the incident.<\/p>\n

Cudi was followed by Mylah Morales<\/strong>, Cassie\u2019s longtime friend and makeup artist, who claimed Diddy \u201calways made sure [Cassie\u2019s] look was perfect.\u201d In 2010, Morales alleged she saw Diddy storm into a hotel suite looking for Cassie, who was in the bedroom. After Diddy left the bedroom, Cassie allegedly had a swollen lip and black eye. Morales said Cassie stayed at her house for a few days after that. \u201cI feared for my life,\u201d she claimed.<\/p>\n

The prosecution\u2019s fourth witness, Fr\u00e9d\u00e9ric Zemmour<\/strong>, is the general manager of L\u2019Ermitage hotel in Beverly Hills and testified that Diddy was flagged<\/a> for making a mess of rooms he rented. \u201cALWAYS spills candle wax on everything and uses excessive amounts of oil,\u201d read the internal note. \u201cLikes the room HOT! Please set thermostat to 75 degrees.\u201d<\/p>\n

The day ended with testimony from DHS Special Agent Joshua Croft<\/strong>, who spoke about his expertise in extracting files from electronic devices. He said he extracted data from multiple devices for this case, including three laptops.<\/p>\n

May 27<\/p>\n

Diddy\u2019s former assistant Capricorn Clark<\/strong>, who worked for him from 2004 to 2012, testified for the entire day, sharing her version of the story Kid Cudi told about an alleged break-in at his home in December 2011. Clark alleged that Diddy kidnapped her<\/a> and forced her to come with him to Cudi\u2019s house, where she stayed in the car but called Cassie and Cudi to tell them what was happening.<\/p>\n

Clark further claimed that Diddy was often violent with his employees, alleging that he threw phones at security staff and a barber when he was upset. She also alleged that he once shoved her in 2006 while she was staying with him in Miami Beach. Clark went on to allege that Diddy once threatened to kill her when he found out she\u2019d previously worked for his rival Knight. Later, when he believed she\u2019d stolen from Jacob Arabo<\/strong> (a.k.a. Jacob the Jeweler), she was allegedly forced to undergo five days of lie detector tests.<\/p>\n

May 28<\/p>\n

The day began with testimony from a Los Angeles police officer, Christopher Ignacio<\/strong>, who responded to the report of an alleged break-in at Cudi\u2019s home in 2011. He claimed he saw a black Escalade drive away from the house. When the LAPD ran the plates on the vehicle, the department determined it was registered with Bad Boy.<\/p>\n

Los Angeles firefighter Lance Jimenez<\/strong> later testified about responding<\/a> to the report of Cudi\u2019s car explosion in early 2012. According to Jimenez, the homemade explosive device used to set fire to the Porsche might have caused more damage if it had been made using a cloth that wasn\u2019t as flimsy as the \u201cdesigner-type\u201d handkerchief used. Jimenez\u2019s testimony inspired the defense to ask for a mistrial because he claimed some evidence from the bombing was destroyed, which he said was unusual. The defense claimed Jimenez was insinuating that Diddy ordered the evidence be destroyed and said that would be too prejudicial even if that portion of the testimony was struck, but the judge denied the mistrial request.<\/p>\n

The day ended with testimony from Deonte Nash<\/strong>, who worked as a stylist for Cassie and Diddy, and claimed he saw the mogul call Cassie a bitch \u201cquite a bit.\u201d Nash further alleged that Diddy would threaten to \u201cbeat her ass\u201d and not release Cassie\u2019s music. On one instance, Nash claimed, Diddy grabbed him by the jacket and lifted him up because of a disagreement about how Cassie was wearing her hair at a party.<\/p>\n

May 29<\/p>\n

Nash\u2019s testimony continued with cross-examination, where the defense presented texts between the stylist and Diddy. In one from 2019, Nash wrote, \u201cI love you brother. If you need anything I gotchu.\u201d<\/p>\n

The next witness of the day was a woman using the pseudonym \u201cMia<\/strong>,\u201d who was referred to as \u201cVictim-4\u201d in the indictment. Mia claimed that Diddy<\/a> was violent with her multiple times while she worked for him as a personal assistant. \u201cHe\u2019s thrown things at me, thrown me against a wall, thrown me in a pool, threw an ice bucket on my head,\u201d she alleged.<\/p>\n

Mia also testified about Diddy\u2019s alleged violence toward Cassie, telling the court that she once saw him \u201ccrack her head open.\u201d She further alleged that Diddy once made her take ketamine against her will, saying, \u201cI didn\u2019t feel like I had a choice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Later in the day, Mia claimed that Diddy sexually assaulted her multiple times<\/a> while she worked for him. Discussing why she didn\u2019t report the alleged assaults, she said she was afraid of being \u201cpunished.\u201d She said she decided to testify now because she felt a \u201cmoral obligation\u201d to make sure \u201cthis doesn\u2019t happen\u201d again. \u201cIt\u2019s the worst and most shameful thing that\u2019s ever happened to me,\u201d she told the prosecution.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"Diddy
\n\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t
\n Related: Diddy\u2019s Ex-Assistant Mia Settled With Him for $400K After Quitting<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThe woman known as \u201cMia,\u201d who worked as a personal assistant for Sean \u201cDiddy\u201d Combs, continued her testimony about the mogul in court on Friday, May 30. Mia, who is using a pseudonym to protect her privacy, claimed on Friday that she settled with Diddy, 55, for $400,000 when she quit working for him in [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n

May 30<\/p>\n

The defense cross-examined Mia and tried to push back on the idea that her relationship with Diddy was entirely bad, showing the jury text messages and social media posts where she was supportive of her former boss. When asked about the discrepancy between her testimony and those messages, Mia said, \u201cThe highs were high, the lows were low.\u201d<\/p>\n

In one text message, Mia said he was going to kill herself when her time working for Diddy was coming to an end. \u201cThis was the only world I knew,\u201d Mia told the court, explaining the text. As for how she could be both supportive of Diddy and afraid of him at once, Mia said, \u201cAs low as he would make me, he would do the opposite as well. \u2026 It\u2019s called psychological abuse.\u201d<\/p>\n

June 2<\/p>\n

The cross-examination of the witness known as Mia continued for nearly the entire day, with defense attorney Brian Steel<\/strong> questioning her about why she never recorded any footage of Diddy allegedly harassing her despite filming so much for social media. \u201cThat would\u2019ve been a huge breach of trust, loyalty and confidentiality,\u201d she explained, adding that she didn\u2019t have time to write down her claims about working with the rapper. After Steel asked whether she was lying about what happened with Diddy, Mia replied, \u201cI have never lied in this courtroom, and I will never lie in this courtroom. Everything I have said is true.\u201d<\/p>\n

When further pressed about why she waited so long to speak out about Diddy\u2019s alleged abuse, Mia said it was because \u201cI was terrified and I was brainwashed.\u201d She said she finally felt more comfortable discussing what allegedly happened after Cassie\u2019s lawsuit, explaining, \u201cIt\u2019s been a long process, and I\u2019m still untangling things.\u201d<\/p>\n

The prosecution went on to accuse Steel of harassing Mia, claiming he \u201crepeatedly\u201d yelled at her while she was on the stand. Judge Subramanian did not agree with the yelling characterization but said sometimes Steel\u2019s \u201ctone\u201d was \u201con the line.\u201d<\/p>\n

During redirect questioning, prosecutor Maurene Comey<\/strong> again asked Mia why she never reported Diddy\u2019s alleged sexual assaults. \u201cHuman resources only punished me unjustly. \u2026 They wouldn\u2019t have believed me and I would\u2019ve been fired immediately,\u201d she told the court. \u201cI\u2019d be wiped out, abused, fired and somehow looking like a crazy person that looks like I\u2019m making everything up.\u201d<\/p>\n

The day ended with the brief introduction of Sylvia Oken<\/strong>, a Beverly Hills Hotel employee who was asked to explain certain room charges to the jury. During one 2014 stay, Diddy was charged an extra $300 for cleaning drapes \u201csoiled beyond what is normal.\u201d The following year, he was charged $500 for \u201coil damage\u201d that was \u201cbeyond the scope\u201d of traditional cleaning.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"Sean
\n\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t
\n Related: Diddy Was Planning Social Media Campaign to \u2018Change the Narrative\u2018<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tSean \u201cDiddy\u201d Combs was allegedly planning a social media campaign amid his legal woes. On Tuesday, June 3, the prosecution claimed that \u201cthe government is considering admitting\u201d certain jail tapes from last fall after the defense\u2019s long slew of social media presentations during the cross-examination of his ex-assistant \u201cMia.\u201d According to the prosecution, that footage [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n

June 3<\/p>\n

A female heckler was removed from the New York City courtroom where Diddy\u2019s ongoing sex trial is taking place. Judge Subramanian ordered the unnamed individual to be escorted out after she dropped several profanities during day 15 of the court proceedings.<\/p>\n

\u201cDiddy, these motherf***ers are laughing at you,\u201d she shouted in the courtroom before being escorted out.<\/p>\n

She reportedly<\/a> added, \u201cYou\u2019re laughing at a Black man\u2019s legacy\u201d and \u201cpull your gun out, ninja, I dare you.\u201d<\/p>\n

The outburst slightly delayed the proceedings before Eddy Garcia<\/strong> \u2014 a former security worker at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles \u2014 took the stand.<\/p>\n

Garcia alleged that Diddy paid him $100,000<\/a> for what he believed was the only copy of the 2016 surveillance footage that showed him assaulting Cassie. According to Garcia, $50,000 of the payment was for his supervisor, who allegedly approved the sale of the footage to Diddy, while the other half was to be split between Garcia and another security guard. Garcia said he kept $30,000 and used that money to purchase a used car.<\/p>\n

After Garcia, the government called Derek Ferguson<\/strong>, who formerly worked as the chief financial officer for Bad Boy. Ferguson said he worked for the company from 1998 to 2017 and sometimes reported directly to Diddy. According to Ferguson, both he and Diddy had \u201csignature authority\u201d at Bad Boy. He claimed execs used American Express cards for expenses but said Bad Boy relied on cash as well, which many bodyguards carried on them in case Diddy needed it.<\/p>\n

During cross-examination, Ferguson, who has a master\u2019s degree from Harvard Business School, explained why he wanted to work for Diddy. \u201cFirst and foremost, for me coming from the Bronx, I felt like we needed more companies that really would hire people from the communities that I grew up in,\u201d he told the court. \u201cWhat I observed with Bad Boy and Sean Combs was a company that really gave a lot of young executives a lot of opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n

June 4<\/p>\n

The day began with testimony from video forensics expert Frank Piazza<\/strong>, who confirmed that the 2016 surveillance footage showing Diddy assaulting Cassie was unaltered. He was followed by Bryana \u201cBana\u201d Bongolan<\/strong><\/a>, a friend of Cassie\u2019s who claimed that Diddy dangled her over a 17-floor balcony in 2016. (Bongolan filed her own $10 million lawsuit against Diddy last year, and he denied her allegations.)<\/p>\n

Bongolan claimed that she was staying at Cassie\u2019s L.A. apartment with her then-girlfriend when Diddy began banging on the door. She told her girlfriend to hide, after which Diddy allegedly entered the residence and grabbed Bongolan from behind before dangling her over the balcony railing. Bongolan told the court that this incident left her \u201cparanoia\u201d and \u201cnight terrors.\u201d<\/p>\n

During cross-examination, the defense attempted to point out inconsistencies in Bongolan\u2019s story and noted that she\u2019d been in touch with Cassie when the singer filed her lawsuit against Diddy in 2023. Bongolan said Cassie asked to use her name in the suit, but she told her friend no. In response to multiple questions, Bongolan replied, \u201cI don\u2019t remember.\u201d<\/p>\n

June 5<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of Diddy\u2019s ex-girlfriends \u2014 who was referred to as \u201cJane\u201d \u2014 testified that the pair would allegedly go through an excessive amount of baby oil during hotel nights together.<\/p>\n

Jane testified that the pair used \u201ctwo dozen or more\u201d bottles of baby oil during freak offs. After May 2021, Jane alleged that when she saw Diddy, 90 percent of the time she had sex with other men.<\/p>\n

At one point in their relationship, Jane alleged that Diddy offered to \u201cmake a love contract\u201d and pay her $10,000 a month for rent.<\/p>\n

Earlier in the day, Judge Subramanian shared a warning that Diddy could be removed<\/a> from the courtroom after allegedly making faces at the jury.<\/p>\n

He reminded the defense during a break in court that \u201cthere\u2019d be no interaction with the jury whatsoever, otherwise I will remove your client from the courtroom.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was very clear there should be no facial expressions to the jury and I could not have been clearer,\u201d Subramanian added, noting that \u201cthere was a line of questioning where your client was nodding vigorously and looking at the jury. There should be no efforts to have any interactions with this jury.\u201d<\/p>\n

Diddy\u2019s defense attorney assured the judge that it wasn\u2019t \u201cgoing to happen again.\u201d<\/p>\n

June 6<\/p>\n

Jane Doe\u2019s testimony continued with graphic accounts of her relationship with Diddy. For the first time, the jury heard an audio recording<\/a> of an alleged freak off that involved Jane, Diddy and a male escort. The clip seemingly captured a moment when Jane asked to use a condom and Diddy allegedly denied her request.<\/p>\n

Jane went on to allege that freak offs sometimes lasted so long she would need to take ecstasy to stay awake, adding that she cried in front of Diddy on at least two occasions because she wanted to stop. She further claimed that the rapper filmed freak offs \u201calmost every single time\u201d using his phone. \u201cHe wouldn\u2019t say anything,\u201d she alleged. \u201cHe would just take it out and start recording.\u201d<\/p>\n

Later in the day, Jane told the court that she developed frequent UTIs and yeast infections during her relationship with Diddy, saying they happened \u201calmost every week.\u201d Jane added that she didn\u2019t tell Diddy about the infections at the time because she \u201cdidn\u2019t want to indicate any negativity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jane\u2019s lawyer also alerted the judge that various social media accounts and news outlets are attempting to reveal Jane\u2019s identity, explaining that her attorneys will be reaching out to those parties for \u201cpurposes of future enforcement.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before court came to an end for the week, Jane said she once promised Diddy an \u201call-star night\u201d for him, which entailed inviting the top three or four guys over for one evening. When she suggested the occasion, Jane said she was \u201chigh.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jane also alleged that she and Diddy would have \u201cmovie nights\u201d when there weren\u2019t male entertainers present. Instead, they would watch porn and freak off tapes.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"Is
\n\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t
\n Related: Is There Enough Evidence to Convict Diddy? Why Legal Experts Aren\u2019t Sure<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tOver the course of four weeks, witnesses for the prosecution in the trial against Sean \u201cDiddy\u201d Combs have painted a picture of a monster \u2014 an abusive figure fixated on power and control, willing to do whatever it takes to bend victims to his will. His ex Casandra \u201cCassie\u201d Ventura, then eight months pregnant, tearfully [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n

June 9<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of Diddy\u2019s ex-girlfriends \u2014 referred to only as Jane Doe during court proceedings \u2014 continued her testimony as week four of the trial began.<\/p>\n

The unidentified woman claimed she purchased Diddy<\/a> a mobile TV so that he could watch porn during his alleged freak offs.<\/p>\n

Later, Jane testified that one of Diddy\u2019s three sons was the first to tell him that hotel security footage showing the rapper assaulting Cassie had leaked to the press. She claimed family and friends later came together to help the disgraced rapper craft an apology post regarding the video.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hit rock bottom. But I make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable,\u201d Diddy said via Instagram<\/a> in May 2024, shortly after CNN published the damning footage of Diddy pushing, kicking and dragging Cassie in a hotel hallway. \u201cI take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I\u2019m disgusted. I was disgusted then when I did it. I\u2019m disgusted now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jane claimed she last participated in a so-called freak off in August 2024. It ended up being the last time she said she saw Diddy. (She was planning to visit him the following month, but the trip was canceled as a result of his New York City arrest.)<\/p>\n

Before her testimony came to an end, Jane was asked how she felt about Diddy today. \u201cI just pray for his continued healing,\u201d she said before cross-examination began. \u201cI just pray that he finds peace.\u201d<\/p>\n

June 10<\/p>\n

Days after lawyers for Diddy alleged that prosecutors presented false testimony and asked the judge to throw out the trial, Subramanian denied the defense\u2019s motion<\/a> for a mistrial.<\/p>\n

Jane Doe then began the cross-examination portion of her testimony, with the unidentified woman claiming that Diddy\u2019s offers of \u201clove and affection\u201d were the only reason she \u201cendured these nights\u201d of alleged abuse. She also claimed that Dateline is one of his favorite shows and that the pair sent each other sermons and gospel music.<\/p>\n

She claimed that Diddy wired her $150,000 throughout the course of their relationship. After a 2023 trip to Turks and Caicos, Combs reflected on the vacation in an alleged voicemail played in court. \u201cYou are the crack pipe, that\u2019s my name for you, \u2018Crack Pipe,\u2019\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Defense lawyer Teny Geragos insinuated that Jane was having sex consensually with other men and accepting designer bags. When asked whether she got a handbag, the witness replied, \u201cNo, I got trauma.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"Diddy
\n\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t
\n Related: Jane Doe Claims She and Diddy Role-Played as NBA Stars in Freak Offs<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tSean \u201cDiddy\u201d Combs allegedly role-played as NBA superstars during freak offs, his ex-girlfriend, identified as Jane Doe, testified on Tuesday, June 10, as part of Diddy\u2019s sex trafficking trial. Doe claimed that Diddy, 55, would role-play as Michael Jordan during some of his alleged freak offs, with Doe playing Kobe Bryant and a male escort, [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n

June 11<\/p>\n

Jane Doe\u2019s cross-examination continued with the defense showing texts between her and Diddy. She testified about some of the particulars of alleged freak offs, saying she didn\u2019t like escorts showing up in \u201cregular shorts\u201d so she bought them matching ones. She also claimed she purchased Rhino erection pills, commonly sold at gas stations, for freak offs so she wouldn\u2019t have to spend as much time prepping the men.<\/p>\n

Jane also offered further details about the transactional nature of her relationship with Diddy, saying she was \u201cgoing along with something I really didn\u2019t feel like I could say no to.\u201d After the jury was dismissed for the day, the prosecution said they expect they will rest their case next week.<\/p>\n

June 12<\/p>\n

The fifth and final day of Jane Doe\u2019s testimony wrapped up with more details about her relationship with Diddy. During cross-examination, the jury saw more text messages between Jane and her ex, and the defense\u2019s mention of an unidentified \u201can icon in the music industry\u201d became a hot topic. The defense questioned Jane about a night in January 2024 when she allegedly found herself in a Las Vegas hotel room with the unidentified rapper, a male escort and a group of other people. According to Jane, the Vegas trip was to celebrate the mystery rapper\u2019s wife or girlfriend. The judge said the defense, which is using the trip as evidence that Diddy was simply a swinger, could not name the musician.<\/p>\n

During redirect examination, Jane said she would fake orgasms during freak offs in order to make them better. \u201cI was putting on a show,\u201d she told the court before noting that she doesn\u2019t remember every hotel night. \u201cI wish I could forget them,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

June 13<\/p>\n

The day began with testimony from Homeland Security Special Agent Andre LaMon<\/strong>, who spoke about the government\u2019s March 2024 raid of Diddy\u2019s Los Angeles residence. LaMon testified that agents found 200 bottles of baby oil and 900 bottles of Astroglide lubricant as well as six envelopes labeled with the letter \u201cK,\u201d which the prosecution said tested positive for ketamine. LaMon also told the court that agents found long guns, AR-15-style weapons, Smith & Wesson rifles, a Ruger rifle and a Glock pistol at Diddy\u2019s home as well as 59 rounds of green tip ammunition, which he said is meant to penetrate body armor. During cross-examination, LaMon said the Diddy raid marked the first time he\u2019d ever found large amounts of lubricant during one of his investigations.<\/p>\n

Outside the courthouse, there was a brief stir when Kanye West arrived<\/a> in an all-white outfit, seemingly to watch the day\u2019s proceedings. He observed in an overflow room for about 10 minutes before leaving.<\/p>\n

The second witness of the day was Jonathan Perez<\/strong>, who worked as an assistant for Diddy between 2021 and 2024 while he was dating Jane Doe. Perez claimed that part of his job entailed setting up freak offs, which he knew as \u201cking nights.\u201d After the parties, Perez allegedly arranged massages and IV drips for Diddy and his guests. At one point, Perez claimed he found a sex tape showing Jane having intercourse with another man while Diddy watched on a company iPad.<\/p>\n

During cross-examination, Perez said he never saw firearms in Diddy\u2019s bathrooms, bedrooms or on his person. He also claimed that Jane Doe seemed to be a willing participant in planning and executing king nights.<\/p>\n

The day ended with the judge and both sides discussing the possible dismissal of a juror who may live in New Jersey. Subramanian said he wants to dismiss the juror, but the defense argued that removing the juror, who is Black, would decrease the diversity of the jury. The judge ultimately said he would keep considering the issue over the weekend before dismissing the juror.<\/p>\n

June 16<\/p>\n

The judge officially dismissed the aforementioned juror on June 16. The juror will be replaced by an alternate.<\/p>\n

Week six of the trial began with prosecutors calling U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office paralegal Ananya Sankar<\/strong> to the stand. Serving as a summary witness, Sankar reviewed messages from the phone of Diddy\u2019s former chief of staff, Kristina Khorram<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In a 2018 text from Cassie, she said she \u201ccan\u2019t do the violence \u2026 kick me out of my house stuff anymore. I just can\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2023 text messages, Jane Doe told Khorram there would be \u201cno more hotel nights\u201d and she was done with \u201chard partying.\u201d Jane also shared with Khorram that Diddy was allegedly threatening to expose sex tapes where she\u2019s \u201cheavily drugged\u201d and \u201cdoing things for him.\u201d<\/p>\n

After Cassie\u2019s lawsuit was filed, Diddy tried to reach \u201cMia\u201d and said he needed to \u201cclear up a few things,\u201d per NBC<\/a>. Other text messages alleged that Khorram was worried about a 2016 report of him and Cassie breaking up, but the outlet reported she was relieved by what was published.<\/p>\n

The jury also saw text messages of Diddy and Cassie arranging an alleged freak off at a hotel.<\/p>\n

June 17<\/p>\n

DeLeassa Penland<\/strong>, a special agent for the U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office in the Southern District of New York, continued her testimony as a summary witness, presenting records and timelines relating to Cassie and Diddy\u2019s relationship. According to one text message, the former couple planned to have an alleged freak off one day before Diddy was caught on camera physically assaulting Cassie at the InterContinental Hotel. During cross-examination, the defense tried to show that Cassie had more agency during her interactions with Diddy than she previously claimed while testifying in court.<\/p>\n

While the prosecution previously said they may rest their case on June 18, Comey said it\u2019s now likely they won\u2019t rest until June 20, as Penland\u2019s testimony took longer than expected. After the prosecution rests, the defense will call its own witnesses, though the number of people testifying will likely be less than those called by the prosecution.<\/p>\n

The judge also considered the possibility of removing a second juror after one member of the panel was removed on June 16. Because the situation was discussed behind closed doors, it\u2019s not yet clear what issue there is with the second juror.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"Diddy-GettyImages-1397441349\"
\n\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t
\n Related: Diddy\u2018s Ex-Publicist Speaks Out Amid Trial: \u2018I Didn\u2018t See a Monster\u2018 <\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tSean \u201cDiddy\u201d Combs\u2019 former publicist has broken his silence amid the music mogul\u2019s sex trafficking trial. \u201cI learned to look away. Looking away is part of the job. You compartmentalize [and] you rationalize,\u201d Rob Shuter wrote in an essay for The Hollywood Reporter published Wednesday, June 18. \u201cYou focus on the next campaign, the next [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n

June 20<\/p>\n

Following a two-day break for a sick juror and the Juneteenth holiday, court resumed with testimony from Brendan Paul<\/strong>, a former assistant for Diddy who worked for him from late 2022 to March 2024. Paul claimed that he had to purchase thousands of dollars<\/a> worth of drugs for his ex-boss, including marijuana, cocaine, pink cocaine, ketamine and ecstasy. At one point, Paul was arrested for cocaine possession, which he claimed happened because he accidentally had some of Diddy\u2019s drugs in his bag. During cross-examination, the defense noted that no one asked Paul to carry the cocaine on that occasion.<\/p>\n

After Paul finished his testimony, his lawyer Brian Bieber<\/strong> issued a statement saying that it should clarify Paul was \u201cnever a \u2018drug mule\u2019 for Diddy or anyone else.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bieber continued, \u201cHe was subpoenaed to come to court and tell the truth, which he did \u2014 word for word. Now that Brendan has finally had the opportunity to tell the full story about his employment, we are hopeful that the last 15 months of defamatory statements about him will cease,\u201d<\/p>\n

The second witness of the day was Joseph Cerciello<\/strong>, a special agent for Homeland Security Investigations. Cerciello spoke about documents related to a Diddy hotel stay in January 2023.<\/p>\n

June 23<\/p>\n

The prosecution neared the end of its case with additional testimony from Cerciello, who explained various text messages and videos to the jury. This included having the jury watch videos from freak offs that were not visible to the courtroom, with Cerciello emphasizing that the events \u201clasted for many hours.\u201d At one point, the jury heard a voice note from Diddy to Khorram where he lamented that he was out of baby oil, saying, \u201cI thought I put 20 bottles in this motherf***er.\u201d<\/p>\n

During cross-examination, the defense showed text messages from Jane Doe that were meant to emphasize her willing participation in the freak offs. While the defense noted they need at least another hour to finish their cross-examination of Cerciello, the judge expects that the jury could begin deliberations as early as June 27.<\/p>\n

June 24\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

The prosecution rested its case against Diddy, signaling the end of the trial is getting closer.<\/p>\n

Before the defense also decided to rest, Diddy delivered a message<\/a> to the judge when confirming he would not be testifying. \u201cI wanted to tell you thank you,\u201d the disgraced mogul told Subramanian. \u201cYou\u2019re doing an awesome job.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Sean John founder also confirmed that he had \u201cthoroughly\u201d spoken to his lawyers about his decision not to testify<\/a> on his own behalf.<\/p>\n

June 26<\/p>\n

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik<\/strong> delivered the government\u2019s closing argument and began by explaining how the testimony the jury heard relates to the specific charges. Slavik claimed that drug distribution is one the more \u201cstraightforward\u201d crimes Diddy is accused of that supports the racketeering charge. She also referenced the numerous former employees who testified, saying, \u201cThe defendant\u2019s assistants and staff facilitated the Combs enterprise.\u201d According to Slavik, these \u201cyoung and eager foot soldiers\u201d weren\u2019t aware of every crime they were allegedly committing.<\/p>\n

Later in her argument, Slavik mentioned the multiple kidnapping claims that were discussed during testimony as well as the alleged firebombing of Kid Cudi\u2019s car. Referencing the alleged bribe Diddy and his team offered guard at the InterContinental hotel, Slavik said, \u201cThis is the perfect illustration of the Combs enterprise at work.\u201d<\/p>\n

While speaking about the sex trafficking charge, Slavik emphasized that the jury needs to only find one example of a freak off where coercion took place in order to find Diddy guilty. She further argued that Cassie and other women\u2019s participation in the freak offs was forced labor. \u201cThis was not for Cassie\u2019s pleasure. This was work,\u201d Slavik said, referring to Cassie\u2019s claim that she continued participating in freak offs while battling UTIs.<\/p>\n

\t\tThank You!<\/p>\n

You have successfully subscribed.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s time to hold him accountable,\u201d Slavik concluded. \u201cTo find justice. To find the defendant guilty.\u201d<\/p>\n

The defense will present its closing argument on Friday, June 27.<\/p>\n

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline<\/a> at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline<\/a> at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support. If you or someone you know is a human trafficking victim, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline<\/a> at 1-888-373-7888. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The trial of Sean \u201cDiddy\u201d Combs began in New York City on May 5 following his September 2024…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":18409,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5122],"tags":[5229,172,17542,171,975,405,403,50,5226,5225,5228,5227,10637,67,586,132,5230,68,2969],"class_list":{"0":"post-18408","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-york","8":"tag-america","9":"tag-celebrity-news","10":"tag-celebrity-scandals","11":"tag-entertainment","12":"tag-music","13":"tag-new-york","14":"tag-new-york-city","15":"tag-news","16":"tag-newyork","17":"tag-newyorkcity","18":"tag-ny","19":"tag-nyc","20":"tag-scandals","21":"tag-united-states","22":"tag-united-states-of-america","23":"tag-unitedstates","24":"tag-unitedstatesofamerica","25":"tag-us","26":"tag-usa"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/114754026578443827","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18408","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18408"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18408\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18409"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18408"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18408"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18408"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}