Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal intercourse trafficking trial wrapped its third week on Friday, following a failed mistrial bid and extra testimony detailing the rapper’s alleged abuse, together with that of a former assistant who accused him of raping her at his Los Angeles dwelling.
Combs, 55, has pleaded not responsible to intercourse trafficking and racketeering expenses stemming from allegations that he used his fame — whereas additionally counting on concern and violence — to coerce girls into having intercourse with male escorts whereas subjecting them to ongoing bodily and psychological abuse.
On the middle of the federal case is Combs’ notorious “freak-offs,” which allegedly concerned degrading acts that had been typically recorded with out consent. Prosecutors declare he lined up his crimes by a well-paid community that resorted to bribery, kidnapping and arson.
Right here’s a recap of what occurred through the trial this previous week:
Diddy’s ex-aide takes the stand
Capricorn Clark, by tears, testified on Tuesday about alleged cases of kidnappings, blackmail and threats that she that was subjected to through the 14 years she labored on and off for Combs. She particularly recalled how Diddy flew right into a rage one night time in December 2011, after he realized R&B singer Cassie Ventura, his on-and-off girlfriend on the time, was in a relationship with fellow rapper Child Cudi.
Clark claimed an armed Combs “kidnapped her” at nighttime to assist him “kill Cudi,” describing how the rapper ordered her to dress regardless of her protests, then compelled her into an Escalade pushed by a safety guard, who in flip took them to Cudi’s dwelling.
“I’d never seen anything like it,” she mentioned of his rage.
Clark grew more and more emotional as she described how the rap mogul busted into Cudi’s residence and her subsequent efforts to warn Ventura.
When Ventura returned to Combs’ Los Angeles mansion the next day, Clark mentioned he instantly started kicking” her with “100% full force, in her legs to begin with.”
It was certainly one of a number of disturbing acts of abuse she witnessed the rapper inflict on Ventura. She mentioned she later known as Ventura’s mom, telling her Combs had been “beating the s–t” out of her daughter. She added: “I can’t call the police but you can.”
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Capricorn Clark, left, and Cassie Ventura are pictured in 2017. (Picture by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
Failed mistrial bid
Lance Jimenez, an arson investigator with the L.A. Hearth Division, recalled for jurors an investigation right into a 2012 explosion that noticed Cudi’s Porsche burst into flames. He mentioned a subsequent search of the car turned up a Molotov cocktail, usual out of a 40-ounce bottle of Previous English malt liquor and a designer handkerchief.
“In my opinion, it was targeted,” Jimenez mentioned of the hearth, including that the harm might have been considerably worse had the bottle shattered as supposed. As an alternative, it remained intact, forcing the flames to flicker out moderately than unfold.
Jimenez on Wednesday additionally alleged that proof, particularly fingerprint playing cards, linked to the arson investigation had been destroyed in 2012 by “somebody in the LAPD.” It prompted Diddy’s authorized group to name for a mistrial, a request that was shortly denied by Choose Arun Subramanian. The protection argued the prosecution’s line of questioning and Jimenez’s solutions unfairly implied Combs was in some way concerned within the destruction of proof.
Subramanian disagreed, concluding “there was absolutely no testimony from the witness that was prejudicial in any way, shape or form.”
Division of Justice; Getty
A Porche (left) belonging to Child Cudi (proper) is pictured after it was hit with a Molotov cocktail.
(Division of Justice; Getty)
Child Cudi testified final week that he believed Diddy was the one behind the Porsche hearth. Federal prosecutors additionally contended Combs was accountable and included the incident amongst a number of acts of alleged wrongdoing supporting the racketeering cost towards him
Cassie’s stylist sheds further gentle on abuse
Deonte Nash was employed by Combs as an intern in 2008 after responding to an advert he discovered on Craigslist. He went on function Ventura’s stylist from 2009 to 2018, throughout which era he mentioned they turned shut associates.
On Wednesday, Nash corroborated Ventura’s devastating testimony from the beginning of Diddy’s trial, however famous that he didn’t “hate” Combs, regardless of the violence he witnessed.
Cassie Ventura wipes tears from her eye whereas testifying in Manhattan federal court docket, Tuesday, Could 13, 2025, in New York. (Elizabeth Williams by way of AP)
In a single incident, on Ventura’s twenty ninth birthday, Nash mentioned Diddy abruptly ended his then-girlfriend’s karaoke celebration as a result of he needed to have interaction in certainly one of his marathon intercourse romps.
“I don’t want to freak-off,” she allegedly advised Nash, however admitted she gave in as a result of Combs had threatened to damage her fame and launch the intercourse tapes if she didn’t comply together with his calls for.
The stylist mentioned it was certainly one of a number of conversations he had with Ventura throughout which she mentioned she was being compelled to take part within the freak-offs.
Ex-assistant “Mia” recollects 2009 rape, different cases of abuse
An ex-assistant who used the pseudonym Mia mentioned Combs sexually assaulted her at his fortieth birthday celebration at The Plaza lodge in Manhattan in 2009, after which raped her at his L.A. dwelling shortly thereafter. He additionally allegedly compelled her to carry out oral intercourse at one other certainly one of his California properties, and focused her on different events that she mentioned she struggled to recall.
Sean “Diddy” Combs takes the stage throughout his fortieth birthday celebration at The Plaza Resort on Nov. 20, 2009 in New York Metropolis. (Picture by Jemal Countess/Getty Pictures for Unhealthy Boy Leisure)
Looking for to solid doubt on Mia’s accounts throughout cross examination on Friday, Combs’ protection group pulled up a number of social media posts through which she had heaped reward on the rapper. Mia mentioned the social media web site was a spot to make it seem as if her life was excellent, even when that was removed from the reality.
When requested why she continued to work for Diddy if she feared for her security any time he was upset, as she claimed on the stand, she mentioned the dynamic was difficult.
“He was vulnerable with me quite a bit, so I would feel responsible for helping him, and then I would feel bad for him,” she defined. “I mean, I can describe it, but I’m not a psychologist or a therapist.”
Because the trial continues, the jury is anticipated to listen to testimony from a 3rd girl, utilizing the pseudonym Jane, who was additionally allegedly coerced into the freak-offs and filmed towards her will.
Initially Printed: Could 30, 2025 at 6:34 PM EDT
