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 residence.
Combs, 55, has pleaded not responsible to intercourse trafficking and racketeering costs 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 heart of the federal case is Combs’ notorious “freak-offs,” which allegedly concerned degrading acts that have been usually recorded with out consent. Prosecutors declare he lined up his crimes via a well-paid community that resorted to bribery, kidnapping and arson.
Right here’s a recap of what occurred throughout the trial this previous week:
Diddy’s ex-aide takes the stand
Capricorn Clark, via tears, testified on Tuesday about alleged situations of kidnappings, blackmail and threats that she that was subjected to throughout 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 discovered 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” in the dark 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 residence.
“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 one in all 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. (Photograph by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
Failed mistrial bid
Lance Jimenez, an arson investigator with the L.A. Fireplace 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 automobile 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 injury may have been considerably worse had the bottle shattered as supposed. As an alternative, it remained intact, forcing the flames to flicker out fairly than unfold.
Jimenez on Wednesday additionally alleged that proof, particularly fingerprint playing cards, linked to the arson investigation have been destroyed in 2012 by “somebody in the LAPD.” It prompted Diddy’s authorized crew 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 by some means 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 in opposition to 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 pals.
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 courtroom, Tuesday, Might 13, 2025, in New York. (Elizabeth Williams through AP)
In a single incident, on Ventura’s twenty ninth birthday, Nash mentioned Diddy abruptly ended his then-girlfriend’s karaoke get together as a result of he needed to have interaction in one in all his marathon intercourse romps.
“I don’t want to freak-off,” she allegedly instructed Nash, however admitted she gave in as a result of Combs had threatened to damage her status and launch the intercourse tapes if she didn’t comply together with his calls for.
The stylist mentioned it was one in all 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” remembers 2009 rape, different situations of abuse
An ex-assistant who used the pseudonym Mia mentioned Combs sexually assaulted her at his fortieth celebration at The Plaza lodge in Manhattan in 2009, after which raped her at his L.A. residence shortly thereafter. He additionally allegedly compelled her to carry out oral intercourse at one other one in all 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. (Photograph by Jemal Countess/Getty Photographs for Unhealthy Boy Leisure)
In search of to forged doubt on Mia’s accounts throughout cross examination on Friday, Combs’ protection crew 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 sophisticated.
“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 lady, utilizing the pseudonym Jane, who was additionally allegedly coerced into the freak-offs and filmed in opposition to her will.
Initially Revealed: Might 30, 2025 at 6:34 PM EDT
