Sean “Diddy” Combs: Why Judge Denied His Team's Motion for Mistrial

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking trial is continuing on.

On May 28th, as the defense team for the rap mogul sought a mistrial, they claimed that the prosecution had acted improperly during arson investigator Lance Jimenez’s testimony about Kid Cudi’s car going up in flames. However, Judge Arun Subramanian promptly dismissed this request, as reported by NBC News reporters present in the courtroom.

During Jimenez’s testimony about being sent to Scott Mescudi’s (also known as Cudi) residence, where Combs had previously testified about an alleged break-in before his car mysteriously exploded, it was disclosed that fingerprints collected during the investigation of the trespassing incident were subsequently destroyed. (Up until now, Combs has not made any public comments regarding the alleged break-in or the car explosion.)

At first, defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo contended that the evidence regarding the missing fingerprints ought to be discarded since it implied that someone within the court might have been involved in their elimination.

Despite Subramanian concurring with Agnifilo’s objection, defense attorney Alexandra Shapiro felt that the jury might conclude that Combs could be culpable for the absent fingerprints, even though the prosecution did not explicitly charge him with this.

Shapiro argued that once the testimony has been given, it can’t be unsaid or undone; ‘they were attempting to implant the notion that Mr. Combs was accountable for the obliteration of the fingerprints.’

She noted that “the only proper remedy is a mistrial.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik refuted the allegations, labeling the defense’s assertions as “completely unfounded,” while stressing that their inquiries were made in good faith.

She added, “There’s no bias that would necessitate a retrial. Yesterday, as we indicated to the court, the government will gather information about the testing, which encompasses DNA, gas, and fingerprint analysis.

Slavik stressed that the jury should not make any assumptions based on the disappearance of the fingerprints, as this step would address any potential bias in the trial.

In Subramanian’s statement, he mentioned that the judge declined the request for a mistrial. He pointed out that there had been no complaints about the line of questioning until then. Furthermore, he emphasized that the witness did not provide any testimony that was unfair or biased in any manner.

The judge suggested that it made sense for the prosecution to present the fingerprint cards since the defense might bring up the fact that some evidence from the investigation may have been lost or destroyed.

For more bombshells from Diddy’s trial, keep reading.

After it was discovered that Sean “Diddy” Combs’ girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, was in a relationship with Kid Cudi (whose real name is Scott Mescudi), one of Diddy’s former employees, Capricorn Clark, alleged that Combs had threatened to harm them.

Previously employed aide, who additionally stated that she assisted Ventura in purchasing a temporary phone for her association with Mescudi due to concerns about her own security, claimed that the event transpired following the hip-hop tycoon’s alleged break-in at Mescudi’s residence.

She informed the jury that Combs was extremely agitated. She used stronger terms, saying he was deeply frustrated to the point of expressing, “I wish I could harm all of you, and I’d even maim her.

According to Clark’s claim, it was revealed that Ventura and Mescudi were in a relationship, which prompted Combs to go to the residence of the “Pursuit of Happiness” artist, armed with a gun, on December 22, 2011.

She informed the jury that there were individuals, among them Combs, standing at her door. The way he was behaving suggested anger – he was walking back and forth restlessly, and it seemed as though he might have been holding something, although she couldn’t quite make it out clearly.

She went on saying, “‘It’s time to put on some clothes, we’re heading out to confront Mescudi,’ was what he stated. I responded, ‘I don’t feel like going.’ To which he retorted, ‘I couldn’t care less about your preferences.’ He was beyond angry, enraged, infuriated at me. This was something I had never witnessed before. I had never seen him visit my home, nor had I ever seen a weapon in his possession.

Clark is reported to have phoned Ventura to inform her that Combs had supposedly brought Clark armed, with the intent of killing Cudi, to his residence.

Clark stated that following the disappearance of three valuable items such as a bracelet and a diamond watch, along with another piece of jewelry, she was reportedly considered a possible culprit and subsequently underwent a polygraph test.

She claimed that a larger man threatened her, saying if she flunked the exam, “he would push me into the East River.

She admitted that she had been worried about the potential consequences if she failed, as stated during her testimony. He suggested that she needed to relax for him to accurately interpret the situation, stating, “If you don’t calm down, you might end up in the East River.

She said the test took five days to prove her innocence.

Previously employed by Bad Boy, Clark claimed that upon learning Ventura was in a relationship with Mescudi, Combs unexpectedly showed up at Clark’s apartment on the morning of December 22, 2011, brandishing a firearm and said, “Pack your things, we’re going to go confront Mescudi.

Clark expressed that he had never witnessed something similar before. His instincts about the person’s behavior suggested an air of unpredictability.

According to Clark’s statement, Combs instructed her to contact Ventura and inform him that Combs wouldn’t allow Clark to depart unless Ventura arrived. As Ventura consented, Clark went to fetch the performer, and they both returned to Combs’ residence together.

According to Clark’s testimony, Combs began attacking Ventura by both hitting and kicking him. She added that none of the people on Combs’ security team stepped in, and she didn’t either because Combs warned her he would target her next.

Clark stated that she spoke with Regina Ventura, Ventura’s mother, and said, “He is brutally attacking your daughter. I’m in way too deep. Please provide assistance. She needs help, and I can’t contact the police, but you can.

In 2012, she was dismissed due to her failure to disclose information about Ventura and Kid Cudi. During court proceedings, Clark stated this, adding that “I will ensure you’ll never work again, no one is truly your friend, and I will drive you to suicide.

Clark said she returned to the fold as creative director for Ventura from 2016 until 2018.

On the 27th of May, Clark stated that she suggested Ventura switch phones – preferably one not being covered by Combs – as a means to converse with Kid Cudi during their brief romance in 2011.

Thus, Clark stated that they bought a temporary phone at Best Buy because they were worried that the singer might endanger everyone due to his erratic behavior.

In 2012, shortly after a car fire, Mescudi remembered discussing an incident with Combs. He claimed that Combs and his crew had burglarized his home in December 2011, following news of his short-lived relationship with Ventura. The rapper famous for “Day ‘n’ Night” made this allegation.

Following a car arson incident in January 2012 that Mescudi attributed to Combs, he described an encounter they had in a hotel meeting room in Los Angeles. According to him, Combs was standing by a window, keeping his hands behind his back, much like a Marvel supervillain would do.

He stated that only he and I were in the room, sharing our conversation about our relationship history with Cassie. He emphasized his viewpoint that I had been with his girlfriend, to which I responded by explaining that Cassie had told me they were no longer together, and I trusted her word.

He remained composed and gave me water on two occasions, which left me feeling uneasy. It seemed strange to me that he stayed so tranquil. Eventually, Cassie arrived. I was disheartened to discover that she had returned to him. Essentially, she told me that we fell in love, events just transpired as they did.

In the course of her four-day testimony this month, where Ventura detailed the claimed mistreatment by Combs, she stated that she ended her relationship with Mescudi following Combs’ warning: “I will harm us both.

Following their discussion at the Los Angeles hotel conference room, before matters escalated, they stood up and exchanged a handshake.

Mescudi mentioned that during our close embrace, he asked, ‘What’s the plan for my vehicle?’ To which he responded, ‘I’m not aware of what you’re referring to.’ Pausing, he then inquired, ‘Are we okay?’ Mescudi retorted, ‘Well, you set my car on fire.’

Mescudi shared insight into two incidents, which he blames Combs for, during his testimony.

In December 2011, the musician known as “The Pursuit of Happiness” claimed that he received a call from Combs, following allegations that Combs, along with some associates, forced their way into his home. This incident occurred after it was reported that the musician had been in a relationship with Ventura, who was on-again off-again dating Combs between 2007 and 2018.

Mescudi testified that he asked, “What’s going on?” To which the individual replied, “I’m here, I’ve been waiting for you in your home.

While he said he wanted to “fight” Combs, he decided not to since he wasn’t sure who was with him.

In February, Mescudi’s car was set ablaze by a Molotov cocktail that was discovered in the driver’s seat, approximately 45 minutes before he arrived home.

In the settled 2023 lawsuit she filed against Combs, Ventura claimed that he had threatened to destroy Mescudi’s car upon discovering their relationship. According to her complaint, “At around this time, a car belonging to Kid Cudi mysteriously exploded in his driveway.

On the seventh day of Combs’ trial, wrapping up on May 20th, the rapper addressed everyone present in the courtroom with a statement.

As the court ended for the day, he declared, ‘I love you all,’ according to People. In a quiet whisper, he followed up with, ‘Yep, I do.’

After making his statement, Combs addressed a lady in the audience, mentioning someone who seemed to be his son Justin Combs, 31 years old, saying “Could you kindly convey my thoughts to Justin?

On the 20th of May, Regina Ventura stated under oath that Diddy (Combs) had warned her back in 2011 that he would make explicit videos public involving his daughter Cassie Ventura, following her relationship with Mescudi.

Regina confided in the court, ‘I felt ill, both physically and emotionally. The discovery of the sex tape left me bewildered. It seemed he intended to harm my child. The demand for $20,000 was his price for the fact that she was involved with Scott Mescudi.’

She claimed that she and her spouse, Rodrick Ventura, had borrowed against their home’s equity as a means of acquiring the necessary funds. She further explained that this was the sole method they had available to obtain the required cash.

As for why Combs demanded the lump sum?

She informed the prosecution that he was feeling upset, as he had given her money but she had been with someone else instead.

During his testimony, David James disclosed details about Combs’ luggage, revealing approximately 25 to 30 bottle caps containing pills. Among these, he mentioned finding some bottles bearing the likeness of former President Barack Obama.

In the court records obtained by NBC News, it was stated that the former assistant testified about different pills, and among them, one had the shape of a previous president, specifically President Obama.

James mentioned that Combs was known to carry a Louis Vuitton bag containing at least $10,000 in cash, pain relievers like Advil and Tylenol, Viagra, and pills to boost sperm production, along with Percocet and ecstasy. He claimed this was the case for the rap tycoon.

During his testimony, James explained to the jury that among the usual contents of Combs’ travel bag were at least ten thousand dollars in cash, pain relievers like Advil and Tylenol, erectile dysfunction medication like Viagra, and pills meant to boost sperm production.

In addition, James claimed that Combs possessed both Percocet and ecstasy in his belongings. According to his former assistant, this is what James observed Combs doing with these substances.

The prosecution provided a peek at the rapper’s room, located at New York’s Park Hyatt hotel, during the period of his arrest on September 16th.

The images, captured by Homeland Security’s Special Agent Yasin Binda, who provided testimony on the findings, depicted baby oil and Astroglide lubricant contained within Ziploc bags, five bottles of baby oil in a bathtub, two additional bottles of lubricant stored in a drawer, as well as two packets of a powdery substance and $9,000 in cash.

As stated by Binda, the substances discovered within two bags hidden inside a prescription container were confirmed to be both ketamine and a combination of ketamine and MDMA.

A close acquaintance of Ventura’s declared on May 19th that they personally observed Combs physically abusing Ventura, first during their vacation in Jamaica and later at a home he was leasing in the Hollywood Hills.

As a devoted friend of Ventura for over seventeen years, I can attest that our bond was severed following an incident involving Combs at his apartment in 2018. On that fateful day, I found myself in his presence, peacefully enjoying some music, when he suddenly approached me from behind, choked me, leaving noticeable finger marks on my neck, and struck me in the head with a wooden hanger. At the time, Cassie was in the bathroom. The blow landed at the back of my right ear. (According to NBC News)

In the course of events, she retained a lawyer, yet chose not to initiate a legal action, instead opting to put her signature on a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) as part of receiving a sum of $30,000.

According to Morgan’s testimony, it has been silent between us since then. The last conversation I had with Sean was on the night of the incident, and the last time I encountered Cassie was when I put my signature on the Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA).

Furthermore, during her testimony, Morgan mentioned that she had already moved forward with her life but agreed to appear due to a compulsory summons by the government.

In my commitment to providing guidance, I urged Ventura to part ways with Combs. However, due to her professional obligations, her vehicle, and her residence, she informed me that she was unable to do so at the time.

During questioning from lawyer Marc Agnifilo, Morgan stated that she no longer communicated with Ventura as he didn’t offer support following the 2018 event. She further clarified that she has a firm stance against any form of physical violence.

Dawn Richard, a former member of Danity Kane, testified on May 16th that she observed the individual (Ventura) chasing after his then-girlfriend with a skillet filled with eggs in 2009.

He stormed down the stairs, swearing about his missing eggs and accusing Cassie of always getting things wrong. He also questioned where his food was, according to Richard’s testimony as recorded by NBC News. He then approached the skillet containing the eggs and attempted to strike Cassie on the head, causing her to fall to the floor.

Ventura “went into the fetal position,” Richard continued, “literally trying to hide her head.”

During “freak offs,” Combs’ preferred baby oil was never laced with any drugs, as Ventura stated on May 15th.

In October 2024, a lawsuit was brought forth accusing Combs of adding the substance known as GHB, similar to Rohypnol, frequently called a ‘date rape drug’, into the oil.

During the questioning under cross-examination on May 15th, Ventura stated that Combs often became upset and displayed an intense response when she used drugs with others rather than with him.

She mentioned that Combs had previously overdosed on painkillers. When defense attorney Anna Estevao inquired whether her former partner’s mood changes could be linked to medication, Ventura responded affirmatively, stating, “That was indeed a factor.

Earlier in the day, she was asked if Combs had a history of being a drug addict. She responded, “I’d describe him as someone who struggled with addiction.

Her response affirmed that Combs indeed showed signs of anger or volatility during his withdrawal period.

“I’m not a doctor,” Ventura said, but “coming off of certain pills he would be pretty irritated.”

During Ventura’s testimony on May 15th, Judge Arun Subramanian temporarily halted the proceedings as Combs’ defense presented graphic emails and messages during their cross-examination.

As a lifestyle advisor, I find myself frequently observing court proceedings and interpreting legal jargon for easier understanding. In this case, defense counsel Estevao displayed the sexually explicit messages exchanged between the former couple from 2009 to support their claim that their relationship was consensual. However, the prosecution objected to these messages being admitted as evidence, and the judge agreed with the objection, ruling them inadmissible.

After hearing the objection, Ventura appeared to be having a quiet conversation with the judge, which led the official to suddenly announce a 10-minute recess.

Before the jury’s arrival, a passionate disagreement unfolded between the prosecution and defense, with the lead defense lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, advocating for additional text messages to be presented in court. However, the judge pointed out that some of these messages breached federal evidence guidelines.

On the other hand, several pieces of evidence were allowed, where Combs and Ventura openly discussed their intimate sexual experiences in explicit terms.

Testifying on the 15th of May, Ventura admitted that she couldn’t specify exactly how many instances, but referred to them as “freak offs,” she had engaged in with Combs. However, she estimated it to be around hundreds.

She claimed that her former partner secretly recorded their intimate acts with the intention of using them for blackmail. She asserted that he threatened to disclose these recordings, which could potentially damage her professional reputation.

Whenever I found myself in distress, he would bring up those issues. It seemed like a regular occurrence, but it was never easy to handle. The situation was deeply concerning for both my professional and personal life. It felt humiliating and disgraceful, a terrible and distasteful experience no one deserves.

On May 14th, Ventura testified that she received a $20 million settlement from her former boyfriend, Combs, following a lawsuit she filed against him in November 2023. The lawsuit alleged that he had sexually assaulted and physically abused her throughout their relationship.

In her testimony, Ventura stated that she dined with Combs at a restaurant in Malibu during 2018 and found him very pleasant. Later that night, instead of leaving her, he went to her apartment and allegedly sexually assaulted her. It’s worth noting that she was already in a relationship with Alex Fine, whom she later married in the year 2019.

She testified, “I entered the house, then he followed and violently assaulted me on the living room carpet. I recall only sobbing and pleading for him to stop, but it all happened incredibly quickly. His eyes were cold, not his usual self; it was as if a stranger had stolen a part of me.

Comb’s legal team has consistently asserted that no non-consensual sexual acts occurred, and that the individuals accusing him of sexual misconduct willingly took part in any sexual activities they were involved with.

Testifying under oath, Ventura admitted to having consensual relations with Combs on another occasion following the alleged attack. When questioned about her decision to engage in intimacy with Combs again, she explained, “You can’t simply switch off emotions like that. I still held a positive view of who he was as an individual.

At the close of 2011, Ventura ended her relationship with Mescudi, claiming in court that Combs had threatened to destroy Mescudi’s vehicle by saying, “Your car will be explosively damaged.

Ventura stated in court that there was too much risk and unpredictability about the consequences if they kept meeting up, given the situation. Sean expressed his intent to cause harm to both parties.

Departures from Ventura were associated with urinary tract infections, mouth ulcers, and digestive problems, as she testified on May 14.

During her testimony, Ventura stated that there were several instances where we had ‘intense confrontations’ and these incidents were happening one after another. On some occasions, I even found myself in such a confrontation while dealing with an infection. I attempted to wash it away with water. Eventually, the antibiotic CIPRO became ineffective. It was a chaotic situation.

She continued, “It was really painful for a long time. I can’t believe I actually dealt with that.”

In one of the texts presented in court, Ventura informed Combs that she had developed ulcers on her tongue. His response was, “I apologize.

On his second day of testifying, Ventura described the 2016 hotel incident captured on security cameras and broadcast by CNN in May 2024.

She stated that Combs hurled a vase towards her following his attempt to exit the Intercontinental Hotel before engaging in a physical altercation with her.

Ventura stated that on May 14, the vase seemed to approach him. It struck the wall instead of him, and he didn’t get hurt. He was shouting at him, it appears he was throwing it at him. I can’t recall his exact words, but I’m certain he wasn’t using my name.

However, she said that Combs told her “that I wasn’t going to leave him, that I couldn’t.”

Following the hotel incident, Ventura mentioned that she had to attend the debut of her movie “The Perfect Match” sporting bruises on her face and body together with Combs. To mask her black eye and swollen lip, she needed to wear heavy makeup. Additionally, she stated that she had multiple bruises on her legs, so she altered her attire for the event.

On May 13, the singer declared under oath that Sean Combs assaulted her in a Los Angeles hotel hallway back in March 2016, as he was enraged over her leaving a “freak off.” (The footage of this incident, captured by hotel surveillance cameras, was later published by CNN in 2024. However, the defense’s attempt to keep this video out of court evidence was unsuccessful.)

As a lifestyle advisor, I decided it was time for me to depart. Upon exiting, Sean pursued me down the corridor, forcefully grasping me, pushing me to the floor, kicking me, and dragging me back into the room where he also took my belongings.

She initially didn’t wish to take part, but she had a film premiere scheduled in a few days, and she wanted to keep Combs content. So, she stated, “If I could appease him by performing exceptionally well,” Ventura said, “then my event would proceed without a hitch.

After receiving a black eye from him, she expressed that all she could focus on was escaping the situation safely. With her upcoming event, she didn’t want to ruin it. Upon being shoved to the ground in the hallway by him, Ventura explained, she remained there because “she didn’t wish for him to inflict any further harm than he already had.

Testified Ventura, she consumed alcohol and ecstasy during her initial sexual encounter with an escort in the presence of Combs. To endure their encounters, which she referred to as “freak offs”, she admitted to using marijuana, ketamine, mushrooms, or whatever drug was popular at that time.

“I couldn’t imagine myself doing any of that without having some sort of buffer,” she said.

At times, she’d be so overwhelmed that she’d “vomit in disgust” during an intense argument, Ventura explained, and Combs would urge me to carry on despite this.

However, his response to her issues was rather indifferent.

In a bizarre incident, following an altercation, it was testified that baby oil would cover the entire hotel room. Moreover, if Combs had ordered someone to wet the bed, there could potentially be urine stains on the bedsheets. Also, if she was on her period at the time, Ventura suggested there might also be blood spots on the sheets and furniture.

According to Ventura, the experience left her feeling deeply embarrassed. She described it as revolting and overwhelming. She struggled, wanting to escape the situation but found herself trapped and unable to do so.

According to Ventura, he found it appealing, which led to the event taking place. When Emily A. Johnson, the prosecutor, asked her why she didn’t resist Combs’ instructions in these instances, she explained that she believed it was clear that she did not wish to comply with them.

On May 13, Ventura stated that Combs instructed her and other individuals involved in the “freak off” activity to apply baby oil onto their bodies.

She stated in court that Sean desired it to be hot and gleaming. To achieve this, we would apply it every five minutes.

At the Montage Beverly Hills, during a surprising incident, Ventura recounts that Combs suggested she enter an inflatable pool filled with baby oil, all while she was dressed.

She wasn’t keen on it, but if it was something Combs really wanted to occur, then that was what would transpire, she explained. “We employed a total of ten standard-sized bottles of baby oil,” she added.

On May 13th, Ventura disclosed to prosecutors that during the initial year of her ten-year liaison with Combs, he suggested incorporating voyeurism into their intimate activities. This started when she arranged for an escort and set up a situation so that she could perform for Combs, who would observe her with another person.

In the end, she found herself engaging in extended sexual shows, referred to as “freak offs” by Combs, and these events ranged from 36 hours to four days. Essentially, this activity turned into her occupation.

She remembered, “At first, Sean arranged everything, including making the necessary arrangements within the hotel room and more. Later on, I took care of it.

Ventura said that her “stomach churned” when he first proposed the experience.

She admitted that she didn’t initially understand why it would arouse him, but she took on the task nevertheless. She felt bewildered, anxious, yet deeply loved him and wished to bring joy into his life. It wasn’t something she enjoyed or desired to do frequently, especially given its increased frequency, but her love for him overruled those feelings.

She admitted, “At some point, I felt I didn’t have much of a choice.”

In their on-and-off relationship from 2007 to 2018, Ventura stated that Combs often displayed violent behavior towards her.

She informed the jury that their disputes were indeed fierce, often escalating into acts of violence such as striking her, pushing her down, dragging her, and kicking her.

In my experience, I’ve found myself sporting quite a few telltale signs of an active lifestyle. From noticeable knots on my forehead to the occasional black and red eyes, and even bruises that cover various parts of my body, these are all badges of honor I wear proudly.

2025-05-28 21:49

Sean “Diddy” Combs: Why Judge Denied His Team’s Motion for Mistrial

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