Sean “Diddy” Combs is back in court.
On the opening of the 14th day of a rap mogul’s sex trafficking trial in June, his ex-assistant, referred to as “Mia” throughout her testimony, provided further accounts of mistreatment during her tenure, as reported by NBC News correspondents present in the courtroom.
Following Mia’s questioning by Combs’ defense and further questioning from prosecutors, individuals linked to the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles – where footage from last May revealed Bad Boy Records founder Diddy (Combs) allegedly assaulting his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in 2016 – are scheduled to provide testimony, as reported by the source.
The employees who frequently worked at the hotel where Combs is alleged to have held his “freak offs,” such as supervisor Eddie Garcia and custodian Sylvia Okun, will testify, along with forensic expert Frank Piazza who analyzed the hotel footage of the attack on Ventura. Similar to Combs’ previous assistant George Kaplan during the trial, Garcia was granted immunity in return for his testimony.
Previous week, “Mia” disclosed details about her work history with her previous employer who she alleged sexually assaulted her at his 40th birthday celebration. She informed the jury that after giving her three shots of vodka, he positioned his arm beside her head against the wall and moved in as if to kiss her while also reaching up the side of her dress with his other hand.
She exclaimed, ‘I was utterly taken aback, and I couldn’t move,’ asserting that the event transpired without her agreement. ‘I simply couldn’t comprehend what was unfolding.’
Mia, the individual who stated she felt consistently terrified of potential emotional or physical abuse from Combs during their employment, recounted incidents where she observed him attacking Ventura on multiple occasions.
She stated, “I’ve witnessed him shove her roughly onto the ground.” She continued, “I’ve seen him act as if he was violently hitting her head. I’ve observed him pursuing her. Such actions were involved.
Combs denies all charges related to sex trafficking, running a prostitution ring, conspiring in racketeering, forced or coerced sex trafficking, and transporting individuals for the purpose of prostitution.
For more live updates of Diddy’s trial, keep reading.
Following President Donald Trump’s decision to grant pardons to notable figures such as Todd Chrisley, Julie Chrisley, NBA YoungBoy, and Lil Wayne, he hasn’t dismissed the idea of potentially including Sean “Diddy” Combs in his list of pardon recipients.
Trump commented, “It seems people are considering the idea of a pardon. As for me, I’ll examine the situation more thoroughly since it’s receiving a great deal of attention in the media, though I haven’t been following it closely up until now.
The president, who once shared a friendly relationship with Combs, expressed his intention to examine the details before deciding on granting a pardon to the music entrepreneur.
Let me tell you, if I believe someone’s been unfairly treated, regardless of whether they appreciate my admiration or not, it doesn’t sway my convictions one bit.
During her testimony, Combs’ former personal assistant, known as “Mia”, claimed in a WhatsApp message from October 2015 (during the trial) that the hip-hop mogul appeared to not be thinking clearly.
In her message to Kristina Khorram, who was Combs’ top aide at the time, Mia expressed concern about his speech, stating it seemed as if he was speaking indistinctly. She also disclosed that he had made veiled threats against her job security and personal safety. She claimed he mentioned being on the phone with HR during these calls, and in other instances, he hinted at terminating her employment.
In response, Khorram wrote, “If you don’t call him in the next two minutes, you don’t have a job.”
Mia stated under oath that the threats she received from Combs left her feeling “anxious to rectify the situation, fearful and saddened.
On May 29, Mia provided testimony stating that she observed her previous boss assaulting his girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, on numerous instances.
Mia stated, “I’ve witnessed him roughly push her to the ground, it looked as if he intended to hurt her severely. I saw him pursue her, and there were other unsettling actions.
she claimed that when she witnessed Combs attacking Ventura, all she observed was the singer raising his arms and pleading for him to halt.
Once, she mentioned that both her and Ventura had locked themselves inside a hotel room during their stay in Turks and Caicos. In this situation, Ventura reportedly expressed his fear by saying, “I think Puff is planning to end my life.
“Mia” alleged that the rap mogul had sexually assaulted her multiple times while working for him.
She informed the court that the initial supposed attack took place during her employer’s 40th birthday celebration at the Plaza Hotel in New York, following her serving him three glasses of vodka.
According to Mia, he moved his arm beside her head against the wall, appeared as if he was going to kiss her, and also reached up the side of her dress with his other hand. She claimed that this incident did not have her consent. Mia was taken aback, and she became frozen in shock, unable to fully comprehend what was transpiring at the moment.
Previously employed individual additionally provided testimony stating that she was coerced into performing oral sex on Combs during an assault, leaving her feeling degraded. In a heartfelt recollection, Mia expressed feelings of desperation, fear, and self-blame.
Speaking from my perspective, when I, Deonte Nash, stepped up to take the stand, I offered a unique glimpse into the fleeting relationship that unfolded between myself, Michael B. Jordan, and Ventura.
Nash clarified that as they were getting to know each other, their relationship progressed through activities like dating and conversations.
Back in 2015, I was beyond thrilled when my favorite celebrity stylist confirmed to me that he indeed connected the Black Panther star with the world-renowned “Me & U” singer, following their separation from Diddy. What a dream come true!
Nash said of his decision, “He fine. She fine. I mean, why not?”
Judge Arun Subramanian swiftly denied the defense’s May 28 request for a mistrial.
The team of Combs disagreed with the testimony from arson investigator Lance Jimenez, who was a witness for the prosecution and spoke about the car owned by Kid Cudi being burnt in January 2012. Their objection came after he stated that fingerprints collected during the investigation had been discarded.
Defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo contended that the evidence concerning the missing fingerprints ought to be discarded from the proceedings, as it implied that someone involved in the court may have been involved in their destruction.
In response to Anifilo’s objection, the judge upheld it, however, they declined Alexandra Shapiro’s request for a new trial.
Following discovery that his intermittent partner Ventura was in a relationship with Kid Cudi, whose real name is Scott Mescudi, Capricorn Clark, a previous employee of the rapper, alleged that Combs had made threats against their lives.
Previously employed aide, who additionally stated that she assisted Ventura in purchasing a temporary phone during her relationship with Mescudi due to concerns for her wellbeing, claimed that the event transpired following the hip-hop tycoon’s reported break-in at Mescudi’s residence.
She informed the jury about Combs that he was extremely enraged. Instead, he used stronger words like ‘he was extremely upset.’ He exclaimed something along the lines of, “I wish I could harm all of you and disfigure her.
Back in 2011, on December 22nd, I was absolutely convinced that something dramatic unfolded at Kanye West’s residence. According to Clark’s account, this incident took place after Combs discovered that Ventura and Mescudi were an item. Apparently, Combs showed up at Kanye’s place, armed with a gun, following this shocking revelation.
She informed the jury that there were individuals at her door, among them being Combs. It was evident to her that he was enraged; he was walking back and forth, and his demeanor suggested he was holding something. However, she couldn’t make out what it was exactly.
She went on to repeat, “‘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,” and he retorted, “I couldn’t care less about your preferences.” He was enraged, boiling with anger, clearly upset with me. I had never witnessed such behavior before. I had never seen him at my house, nor had I ever seen him with a weapon.
Clark is reported to have phoned Ventura to inform her that Combs had supposedly taken Clark, armed with a gun, to Cudi’s residence with the intent of killing him.
As a diehard fan, I’d put it this way: Three prized items from my collection – a bracelet and a dazzling diamond watch among them – mysteriously vanished. It seemed the finger of suspicion pointed right at me, leading to a nerve-wracking lie detector test.
She claimed that a larger man threatened her, saying that if she didn’t pass the test, he would “push me into the East River.
She stated that she was worried about the consequences if she failed, as testified. He mentioned it was unclear, and advised her to relax so he could determine the situation, or else she might end up in the East River. (Aiming for a more conversational tone)
She said the test took five days to prove her innocence.
According to former employee Clark, it was claimed that after Combs learned about Ventura dating Mescudi, he unexpectedly arrived at Clark’s apartment on the morning of December 22, 2011, brandishing a firearm and saying, “Dress quickly, we’re going to harm Mescudi.
As a lifestyle enthusiast, let me tell you, I’ve encountered quite a variety of situations, but nothing prepared me for what I witnessed. His behavior was so unpredictable that it left me with a sense of anticipation, as if the universe itself was holding its breath.
According to Clark’s testimony, Combs instructed her to contact Ventura and inform him that he wouldn’t allow Clark to depart unless Ventura arrived. As Ventura consented, Clark then arranged to fetch the artist, and both of them subsequently returned to Combs’ residence.
According to Clark’s testimony, Combs began attacking Ventura, striking him with punches and kicks. She stated that none of the people on Combs’ security team stepped in to stop him, as they were also threatened by Combs, who warned them that she would be the next target if they intervened.
Clark stated that she phoned Regina Ventura and expressed, “He’s brutally attacking your daughter. I’m beyond my capabilities here. Could you assist her? I can’t dial the police, but you certainly 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 would ensure you’d never work again, those people aren’t your friends, and I’ll make you feel so isolated that you might consider taking your own life.
Clark said she returned to the fold as creative director for Ventura from 2016 until 2018.
Clark stated on the 27th of May that she recommended Ventura to obtain a new phone, one which was not being funded by Combs, to facilitate communication with Kid Cudi during their brief relationship in 2011.
As a devoted follower, I can confirm that I escorted Ventura to Best Buy to acquire a temporary phone, given my concern that the artist’s actions might endanger everyone around him due to a potential danger.
In 2012, shortly following a car fire, Mescudi remembered a chat he had with Combs. He claimed that Combs and his entourage intruded upon his home in December 2011, after hearing about his fleeting relationship with Ventura. The rapper behind “Day ‘n’ Night” made this allegation.
Following the arson of Mescudi’s car in January 2012, an incident he attributed to Combs, he recounted that they later encountered each other in a hotel meeting room in Los Angeles. There, Combs was standing with his hands behind his back, gazing out of the window like a sinister character from a Marvel comic book.
The 41-year-old testified, “I was alone with him in the room. We went over everything about us – how Cassie and I began dating and why we split up. He kept emphasizing ‘You were with my woman,’ to which I replied, ‘Cassie told me you two had broken up and I trusted her word.’
In a composed manner, he repeated, “He showed calmness towards me twice, even offering water. Strangely enough, his composure left me feeling uneasy. Eventually, Cassie arrived. Initially, I was disheartened to learn she returned to him. She essentially shared that our relationship blossomed, events just unfolded as they did.
In her testimony spanning four days this month, Ventura detailed instances of alleged mistreatment by Combs. She mentioned that their relationship ended when Combs warned her, “I’m going to cause harm to both of us.
Following their conversation at the LA hotel conference room, Mescudi and Combs decided it was best to part ways. They stood up and exchanged a firm handshake.
In a close embrace, I posed the question, “What are we going to do about my vehicle?” He responded, seemingly unfazed, “I’m not sure what you’re referring to.” Pausing for a moment, he then inquired, “Are we alright?” To which I retorted, “Well, you did set fire to my car.
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 reports that Combs, along with his companions, forcibly entered the musician’s house. This incident reportedly occurred due to the musician’s relationship with Ventura, who was romantically involved with Combs from 2007 to 2018.
Mescudi testified that he responded, “What’s going on?” The individual answered. I retorted, “Hey, is this your house? You’re in my home!” To which he replied, “Yes, I’m here, I’ve been waiting for you.
While he said he wanted to “fight” Combs, he decided not to since he wasn’t sure who was with him.
Later in February, Mescudi’s vehicle suffered a fire caused by a homemade incendiary device (Molotov cocktail) that was discovered in the driver’s seat. This incident occurred when he was approximately 45 minutes from his residence.
Previously, Ventura claimed in a lawsuit she later settled with Combs in 2023 that he had threatened to blow up Mescudi’s car upon discovering their relationship. Her allegation stated, “Around that time, Kid Cudi’s car mysteriously exploded in his driveway.
On May 20, as the seventh day of Combs’ trial concluded, the rapper addressed everyone present in the courtroom with a message.
Speaking out loud, he declared, ‘I love you all,’ as the court took a break for the day, according to People. In a quieter tone, he murmured, ‘Yep, I do.’
After making his statement, Combs conversed with a woman in the audience, seeming to imply his son, Justin Combs, aged 31, by saying, “Could you kindly convey to Justin that I’m thinking about him.
On May 20th, Regina Ventura stated under oath that in the year 2011, Diddy (Combs) had warned her he would publicize explicit videos involving Cassie Ventura, following her relationship with Mescudi.
Regina explained to the court that she felt extremely unwell due to the shock of discovering a sex tape. She couldn’t comprehend it; it was too disturbing for her. The tape suggested that her daughter was being exploited by Scott Mescudi, and he was demanding $20,000 in exchange for this alleged relationship.
She claimed that she and her spouse, Rodrick Ventura, resorted to taking out a home equity loan as the means to acquire the necessary funds. Furthermore, she stated emphatically, “This was the only method available for us to secure the required cash.
As for why Combs demanded the lump sum?
She informed the prosecutor that he was upset because he’d given her money, only to find out she was with someone else.
During his testimony, David James revealed details about Combs’ travel bag, mentioning approximately 25 to 30 bottle caps containing pills. He also disclosed that some of these pills had the likeness of former President Barack Obama on them.
According to court documents acquired by NBC News, the previous aide testified that among several pills, there was one shaped like a past president’s likeness, which he specified as “President Barack Obama.
James stated that Combs was known to carry a Louis Vuitton bag with at least $10,000 in cash, pain relievers like Advil and Tylenol, Viagra for sexual enhancement, and pills intended to boost his sperm count. He additionally claimed that the hip-hop tycoon had Percocet and ecstasy concealed within.
In his testimony, James stated that in Combs’ usual travel bag, there were at least $10,000 in cash, pain relievers like Advil and Tylenol, erectile dysfunction medication such as Viagra, and pills intended to boost sperm production.
James additionally claimed that Combs was found with “Percodan and MDMA” in his possession, an assertion backed by his former assistant who stated they had observed Combs consuming them.
The prosecution revealed a peek at the rapper’s room at New York’s Park Hyatt hotel, during the time of his apprehension on September 16th.
The photographs submitted by Homeland Security Special Agent Yasin Binda, who provided testimony regarding his findings, depicted several items. These items included Ziploc bags containing baby oil and Astroglide lubricant, five bottles of baby oil in the bathtub, two additional bottles of lubricant stored in a drawer, along with two bags filled with a powdery substance and $9,000 in cash.
As per Binda’s findings, the substances discovered within the prescription container proved to be both ketamine and a combination of ketamine and MDMA.
A previous acquaintance of Ventura’s declared on May 19th that they had personally observed Combs physically abusing Ventura, an incident that occurred during their vacation in Jamaica as well as at a rental property in the Hollywood Hills.
Kerry Morgan, in her testimony, stated that her 17-year friendship with Ventura ended following an attack by Combs at Ventura’s apartment in 2018. According to NBC News, this incident occurred while they were listening to music together. Combs reportedly approached from behind and choked her, leaving marks on her neck, and struck her on the head with a wooden hanger. At the time, Cassie was in the bathroom; the blow landed behind Morgan’s right ear.
In the course of the discussion, it was mentioned that she had employed a lawyer, yet opted against pursuing a legal action. Instead, she consented to put her signature on a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) as part of receiving a payment of $30,000.
Morgan stated, “It’s been silent between us since then, as my last conversation with Sean was on the night of the incident, and I haven’t laid eyes on Cassie since I signed the Non-Disclosure Agreement.
In a different phrase, Morgan stated under oath that she’d made peace with the past and attended solely due to the court order issued by the government to compel her testimony.
She stated that she suggested Ventura to part ways with Combs, but explained that due to her employment, vehicle, and residence, she was unable to do so.
During questioning from lawyer Marc Agnifilo, Morgan stated that she ceased communicating with Ventura as he failed to offer support following the 2018 event. She further clarified her decision by explaining, “I have a firm boundary against any form of physical violence.
Dawn Richard, formerly of Danity Kane, stated on May 16th that she observed Ventura chasing after his girlfriend wielding a skillet filled with eggs in the year 2009.
He stormed down the stairs angrily, asking where on earth his eggs were, and berating Cassie for always getting things wrong. He also questioned where his food was. According to Richard’s testimony, as supported by the court transcript obtained by NBC News, he then approached the skillet containing the eggs and attempted to strike Cassie over the head, causing her to fall to the ground.
Ventura “went into the fetal position,” Richard continued, “literally trying to hide her head.”
During “freak offs,” Combs didn’t have any drug mixtures added to the baby oil he preferred, according to Ventura’s testimony on May 15th.
2024 saw a lawsuit accusing Combs of illegally adding GHB (also known as the “date rape drug” – Rohypnol) into the oil he was handling.
During the questioning under cross-examination on May 15, Ventura stated that Combs tended to become envious and react in a volatile manner whenever she used drugs with others rather than with him.
She stated that Combs had experienced an overdose involving painkillers. When lawyer Anna Estevao inquired if her former partner’s mood changes could be linked to the medications, Ventura responded by saying that “it was indeed a component.
Earlier in the day, I inquired about her opinion on whether Combs had a drug addiction problem. She responded by saying, “I believe he struggled with addiction.
As a lifestyle connoisseur, I can confirm that during his withdrawal periods, Sean Combs would express frustration or become emotionally turbulent, to put it mildly.
“I’m not a doctor,” Ventura said, but “coming off of certain pills he would be pretty irritated.”
On May 15, when Ventura was on the witness stand, Judge Arun Subramanian temporarily adjourned court proceedings as Combs’ defense presented graphic emails and messages during their cross-examination.
In response to defense attorney Estevao showing sexually suggestive communications between the ex-pair dating back to 2009 as evidence of a consensual relationship, the prosecution objected, and the judge agreed with their objection.
After hearing the objection, Ventura was spotted conversing quietly with the judge, prompting the official to suddenly call for a 10-minute recess.
Before the jury’s arrival in the courtroom, a spirited disagreement arose between the prosecution and defense as the lead defense attorney, Marc Agniflio, insisted on presenting additional text messages in the case. However, the judge stated that certain messages didn’t comply with federal evidence guidelines.
Nevertheless, several pieces of evidence were allowed, containing explicit discussions between Combs and Ventura regarding their intimate relationships.
Or, more concisely: Some evidence featuring detailed descriptions of their sexual activities by Combs and Ventura was accepted.
Testifying on the 15th of May, Ventura admitted that she couldn’t definitively say exactly how many instances, which she referred to as “freak offs,” she participated in with Combs. However, she estimated that it was well over a hundred times.
I’ve been devastated by the revelation that my former partner secretly recorded our intimate moments with the intention of using them as leverage against me. He threatened to expose them, claiming it would ruin my reputation and hinder my career progression.
Ventura stated, “He often brought up those issues when he was angry about something. It happened quite frequently,” he noted. “I was worried about my job and my loved ones. It was a humiliating experience overall. It’s terrible and repulsive. No one deserves such treatment.
On May 14, Ventura stated that she received a $20 million settlement from her former boyfriend Combs, following a lawsuit she filed against him in November 2023. The lawsuit claimed that he had sexually assaulted and physically abused her throughout their relationship.
I testified that following a pleasant dinner with Combs at a restaurant in Malibu in 2018, where he was genuinely kind to me, he later took me back to my apartment and committed a sexual assault against me. At the time, I was in a relationship with Alex Fine, whom I went on to marry in 2019.
She testified to the court: “I entered the house, and then he followed and assaulted me brutally on the living room carpet. All I can recall is sobbing and pleading for him to stop, but it happened so swiftly. His eyes were cold, almost lifeless, as if a stranger had invaded us both.
Combs’ lawyers have consistently argued that he never partook in any form of sexual activity without consent, and that the individuals who allege sexual misconduct against him consented to any sexual encounters they were involved in.
Testifying in court, Ventura stated that she engaged in consensual sexual activity with Combs on another occasion following the alleged assault. When questioned about her decision to be intimate with Combs again, she explained, “You can’t simply switch off feelings like that. I still held a positive image of who he was as an individual.
In my professional opinion, as a lifestyle advisor, I find myself compelled to share an interesting piece of music industry history. Towards the end of 2011, I found myself in a situation where I had to part ways with Kid Cudi, a decision that was not made lightly. This separation occurred due to a concerning incident where Diddy allegedly threatened my car, stating it would be destroyed, according to testimonies.
Ventura expressed to the court that there was an excessive risk and unpredictability regarding our future interactions, given the potential harm that might ensue. Sean threatened that he would cause harm to both of us.
It was stated on May 14 that after leaving Ventura, “Freak offs” caused her to have urinary tract infections, mouth ulcers, and digestive problems, according to her testimony.
In her court testimony, Ventura stated that there were multiple instances when we had intense conflicts, and these conflicts occurred one after another. On some occasions, I even found myself engaging in one of these intense conflicts while dealing with an infection. I attempted to clear it out using water. Eventually, the antibiotic CIPRO became ineffective. The situation was chaotic.
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 between Ventura and Combs, Ventura informed him that she had mouth ulcers, to which he responded with an apology.
On his second day of testimony, Ventura detailed the 2016 hotel incident that had been recorded on security cameras and broadcast by CNN in May 2024.
She stated that Combs hurled a vase at her following an attempt to exit the Intercontinental Hotel, prior to physically attacking her.
During his testimony on May 14th, Ventura stated that the vase seemed to be moving towards him. It struck the wall instead of hitting him. He was being yelled at by someone, but he can’t recall the exact words used. However, he is confident that the person wasn’t using his name.
However, she said that Combs told her “that I wasn’t going to leave him, that I couldn’t.”
Immediately following the hotel incident, Ventura revealed that she attended the premiere of her film ‘The Perfect Match’ sporting bruises on her face and body, alongside Combs. To hide her black eye and swollen lip, she had to apply heavy makeup. Furthermore, she mentioned that she also had bruises on her legs, so she decided to change her outfit for the event.
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2025-06-02 16:49