Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial updates: 'Jane' testifies on 'hotel nights' with Combs: 'Lonely and sad'

During cross-examination, defense attorney Brian Steel attempted to argue that "Mia" timed her disclosure of alleged sexual assaults on her by Sean Combs with the civil lawsuit filed against Combs by his former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura.

Steel questioned why "Mia," the former Combs assistant testifying under a pseudonym, did not tell federal prosecutors about her claim that Sean Combs allegedly sexually assaulted her until June 2024, six months after "Mia" began meeting with them and seven months after Ventura’s civil lawsuit was filed.

“Do you remember the first time you ever made a claim Mr. Combs ever sexually assaulted you was on June 18, 2024?” Steel asked.

“I don’t remember the dates but I do remember that horrible conversation,” "Mia" testified.

“That is seven months after Ms. Ventura’s lawsuit went viral,” Steel said.

The jury did not hear that "Mia" is represented by Shawn Crowley and Michael Ferrara, two lawyers who represented E. Jean Carroll during her lawsuits against President Donald Trump.

Steel also questioned "Mia’s" prior testimony that she escaped Combs with Ventura in Turks and Caicos by paddle-boarding out to sea. Steel asked whether there were any text messages, emails or photographs referring to the alleged event. "Mia" testified that there were not.

“Was that just made up by you?” Steel asked.

“No,” Mia testified.

Steel’s next question earned a sustained objection: “How is it that all these events have no photograph or text message or email from you?”

Steel also earned a sustained objection when he asked "Mia" whether she hired a lawyer in 2024 because she wanted to join what he called the “#MeToo money grab against Mr. Combs.”

Steel asked if "Mia" met with federal prosecutors 27 times in advance of her testimony. She told the court that she did not recall a specific number but knew that it was “quite a bit.”

The court then took a lunch break. Cross-examination will continue after lunch.

"Mia," the former Sean Combs assistant testifying under a pseudonym, has endured a “humiliating” cross-examination that borders on harassment and embarrassment and could have a detrimental effect on witnesses in other cases, a federal prosecutor said Monday outside the jury’s presence.

“We are crossing the threshold into harassing and unduly embarrassing,” prosecutor Maurene Comey said.

Comey accused defense attorney Brian Steel of yelling at "Mia," using a sarcastic tone and being argumentative.

“Eyes are on this trial. Victims in other cases are going to see how victims are treated,” Comey said. “Our concern is that if this victim is not protected from further harassment it will deter other victims in other cases.”

Judge Arun Subramanian responded that he heard no yelling and saw no improper treatment from the defense but he did caution Steel regarding the form of his questions.

For years after her employment at Sean Combs' company Bad Boy ended in 2018, his former assistant, testifying under the pseudonym "Mia," sent text messages to Combs that expressed love and admiration.

“Everything is positive and loving from you to Mr. Combs. Would you agree with that?” defense attorney Brian Steel asked after showing the jury pages of texts.

“Yes, of course,” "Mia" testified.

"Mia" continued to message Combs through the end of 2022, the defense showed the court.

“Hey. Saw our doc on Netflix top 10. Congrats I miss you,” one text from July 2022 read.

Combs responded, “Love, love, love, love.” "Mia" wrote back, “And I love, love, love you.”

Just after Christmas 2022, Mia texted Combs, “Happy Holidays. I hope it’s filled with love and happiness. Tell your fam and crew I love them.”

Steel asked, “Years later, you’re still communicating with Mr. Combs, true?”

“True," "Mia" told the court in response.

Steel followed up, “You hold your position, 'Mia,' that you were scared to see Mr. Combs?”

“True,” "Mia" testified. “I was scared of him when he was scary.”

Steel played a short video of "Mia" wishing Combs a happy 44th birthday in 2013. She is seen applying lip gloss and then saying, appearing bubbly and upbeat, “Puff Daddy, the living legend himself!”

"Mia's" video message continued: “Thank you for being one of the biggest inspirations in my life.”

The defense showed the court a message from Jan. 15, 2019, in which "Mia," a former Sean Combs assistant who is testifying under a pseudonym, texted Combs to tell him about her having a “nightmare” about being trapped in an elevator with R&B singer R. Kelly and how, she dreamt, Combs came to her rescue.

“The person who sexually assaulted you, came to your rescue, correct?” defense attorney Brian Steel asked, referring to "Mia's" previous testimony about Combs allegedly sexually assaulting her.

“Yes,” "Mia" testified in response.

“You had to tell him that, that he’s your actual savior?” Steel asked.

“Yes,” "Mia" told the court.

The following March, "Mia" texted Combs the message “Sending all the love in the world” with a heart emoji, the defense showed the court.

“You’re not under the grip of Mr. Combs at that time,” Steel asserted.

"Mia" disagreed, telling the court, “No, I still was psychologically.” She also testified that the timing of the message in question coincided with the recent passing of Kim Porter, the late mother of four of Combs' children.

"Mia" also testified that part of her job was to carry around a small camera to record Combs.

“Do you have any recording of Mr. Combs berating you?” Steel asked.

“No, I would not have been allowed to record that,” Mia testified.

“Because it’s not true, is it 'Mia?'” Steel asked. “Your statements that you were the victim at the hands of Mr. Combs of brutality isn’t true?”

Mia responded to the court, “Everything I’ve said in this courtroom is true.”

In August, 2020, more than three years after her separation from Bad Boy Records and Combs' employment, "Mia" texted to Combs, “Life is f------ insane and supposedly it all happens for a reason in order to elevate us in our human experience, but it’s rough.” Her message concluded, “I love you with all of my heart and I’m here for you forever.”

When questioned by the defense about the message, "Mia" told the jury that she had been “brainwashed” by Combs.

“Brainwashed meant I was in an environment where the highs were really high and the lows were really low and it created a huge confusion in trusting my instincts," "Mia" testified. "I was punished whenever Puff would be violent and I would react, confusing me and making me think I did something wrong. Nobody around batted an eye. He was still praised by everyone around him and the public."

"Mia's" testimony continued: "Again, I felt like I had done something, betrayed him in some way. I felt horrible about it, like I had done something wrong. I was always constantly seeking his approval. He was my authority figure. My only authority figure."

“When did the moral obligation come to your mind that you need to say this information that you are putting forth that Mr. Combs violated you in a sexual manner and other ways?” Steel asked.

“When I started witnessing him being held accountable for his actions,” "Mia" told the court. “It began when it all came out in the media and he was being held responsible.”