The fourth week of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking trial featured the second testimony of two ex-girlfriends, key witnesses in the government’s quest to prove allegations of sex trafficking and conspiracy against hip-hop moguls.
Combs, founder of Bad Boy Records, pleaded not guilty to a trial that resumes Monday.
Here are some key moments from last week:
Hotel workers say Combs searched for a video of Cassie Beating
Fearing career ruin, Combs delivered $100,000 in cash to the security guard for a hotel in Los Angeles in return for his assurance that he was given the sole security footage of the 2016 attack on his then-girlfriend Cassandra “Cathy” Ventura.
Eddie Garcia, 33, recounted how the deal turned out, saying he was the first to fast talk, studs, “very nervous” comb on the phone, kicking Kathy out of the hotel’s elevator bank and dragging him into the hallway, “this could ruin him.”
A few days later, Garcia said he was a nervous person when Garcia was greeted by a smiling comb that called him “Eddie, my angel” before turning over the USB drive containing security footage. He then said Combs had him sign a private agreement, promising that it was the only copy of the video and that Garcia would never talk about it.
Combs then placed his bodyguard by his side and gave it a stack of cash from the brown bag to a rectangular money counter machine, supplying it until it reached $100,000, Garcia said. He said he pocketed $30,000, giving his boss $50,000 and another hotel guard $20,000. Garcia testified under immunity.
Records of the hotel’s attack on Cathy aired on CNN last year and were shown repeatedly during trial as he managed to show it to his wife, along with security footage and a clip of security tape recorded by security guards on his personal phone.
Judge threatens comb with expulsion of trial
After prosecutors complained that “nodded furiously” and that combs “nodded furiously” on Thursday as lawyers cross-examining witnesses, Judge Arun Subramanian said he “nodded furiously, watching the ju judge” and that he did the same while the lawyer and judge were discussing the sidebar.
US lawyer Aide Molen Comey said prosecutors were concerned as the gesture ended up “testing by nodding positively” while the lawyer asked questions.
During lunchtime, defense attorney Mark Agnifilo promised that it never happens again after the judge told him “it’s absolutely unacceptable.”
The judge said, “If it happens again, if it never happens, you will hear an application from the government to give medical instructions to a ju judge you don’t want. Or I will consider taking further action.
Mia says she was “brainwashed” to send a loving text after the rape
A former Combs personal assistant who testified under the pseudonym “Mia” told the ju umpire that although the attacks were “random, sporadic, oddly spaced” each thought it was the last, the attacks were “random, sporadic, oddly spaced” but that Combs had sexually assaulted multiple times over her eight-year career.
She says he first abused her and raped her in a guest room in his Los Angeles house before forcing her to kiss her at his 40th birthday party.
During cross-examination, defense attorney Brian Steele proposed submitting cash on “#MeToo Money Grab against Sean Combs.”
Steele confronted her with an affectionate text that sent Combs long after the employment ended, and asked her how she could tell him in the 2019 textbook.
“I was still brainwashed,” explained Mia.
President Donald Trump was asked Friday if he thinks he’s forgiven Sean “Diddy” Combs, who is currently fighting five detectives. Two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion. and two transports to engage in prostitution.
The defense is successful with Cathy’s friend’s question
The defense had one of the trial’s most successful moments when attorney Nicole Westmoreland questioned the credibility of the graphic designer, who said it hanged from the balcony of a 17th floor apartment in Los Angeles.
Bryana “Bana” Bongolan, a friend of Cathy, who is suing Combs, took images of a softball-sized welt phone on her feet, which she said occurred when Combs hugged her balcony for 10-15 seconds and threw it into the furniture.
After being shown to the ju apprentice, Westmoreland showed the ju apprentice’s mobile phone metadata, revealing that he was photographed during his tour in September 2016, revealing that he was staying at a hotel in Manhattan.
“Do you agree that one person cannot be in two places at the same time?” Westmoreland asked.
“Like a theory,” replied Bongolan.
“Don’t you really understand?” Westmoreland asked.
“It’s difficult to answer that,” she said.
Bongolan then couldn’t remember the exact date, but stated that there was no doubt that the balcony episode had happened.
On Saturday, defense attorneys sent a letter to the judge requesting a false hearing, and prosecutors said they “know or should have known” that Bongolan was lying about him hanging on the balcony.
Mistory requests are rarely accepted. Previous requests for misconduct from the defense counsel were immediately rejected by the judge.
The woman recalls her three years of sex performance as Combs’ girlfriend
The woman testifying under the pseudonym “Jane” fought with tears and sobs, recounting her frequent sexual performances that she took part with male sex workers, and kept the relationship alive for three years until her September arrest.
Jane’s testimony is likely to last deep into next week, but in many ways it is identical to Cathy’s testimony over the four days of the first week of trial. Jane said she didn’t want to have sex with other men but did it to please the comb because she loved him.
Kathy explained that she has the sexual performance of hundreds of drug fuels known as “freak-offs.” There, she had sex with a male sex worker at once, whilst Combs was watching, sometimes instructing activities and happy to do so.
Jane explained that she had roughly the same experiences from 2021 until last August, but she called them “hotel nights.” She said her relationship with Combs began with a romance but later relied on sexual performance.
The defense argues that Jane and Combs are only engaged in consensual sex, and that Jane’s protest against Comb in text messages was facilitated by je.
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