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Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial updates: Combs' ex-assistant 'Mia' to continue testimony next week

The hip-hop mogul is charged with sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.

This story may contain accounts and descriptions of actual or alleged events that some readers may find disturbing.

This is week three of testimony in the trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs.


Sean Combs trial reaches an end with mixed verdict

The highly anticipated trial of hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs has reached an end.

The jury found Sean Combs not guilty of racketeering conspiracy, the most serious charge.

The jury found Combs guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution (in connection with his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura) and guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution (in connection with his ex-girlfriend who testified under the pseudonym "Jane").

He was found not guilty of both charges of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion in connection with Ventura and "Jane."

Combs was accused of being the ringleader of an alleged enterprise that "abused, threatened and coerced women" into prolonged, drug-fueled sexual orgies with male prostitutes, which he called "freak-offs," and then threatened them into silence. Combs has said that all of the sex was consensual and that while his relationships sometimes involved domestic violence, he wasn't engaged in trafficking.

Combs' lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, said Combs was simply part of the swinger lifestyle and that he "vehemently denies the accusations made by the SDNY."


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'Mia' testifies about grueling job responsibilities as Combs' assistant: 'cracking his knuckles' to 'doing his taxes'

The first time "Mia" met Sean Combs he was in his underwear, she testified.

The witness appearing under a pseudonym testified that Combs' vice president of human resources, Vashta Wilson, introduced her and then left the room.

When she landed the job as Combs' personal assistant, Mia testified, “I was so excited and just so excited, so nervous and just really eager.” Her first day working for Combs she didn't sleep, "Mia" told the court.

"Mia" testified that she was sent to conduct an inventory at Combs’ home in Alpine, New Jersey. She told the court that once there, she was summoned to Combs' studio, where she remained until the next afternoon. She then accompanied Combs to his apartment, she testified.

“How often did you go without sleep?” prosecutor Madison Smyser asked.

“All the time,” "Mia" testified, adding that her longest stretch without sleep was five straight days: “There was always a million things going on.”

According to her testimony, "Mia" worked for Combs from 2009 to 2017. Before that, she worked as a personal assistant to Mike Myers; prior to that she worked for another party, she testified.

"Mia" told the court that she kept an apartment in New York City but stayed mainly in Combs’ homes.

“Were you allowed to lock your bedroom door?” Smyser asked.

“No,” "Mia" testified. “Puff said ‘This is my house. No locks, no doors.’’

Smyser asked, “Were you able to leave whenever you wanted?”

“I wasn’t allowed," "Mia" testified in response. "I’d have to ask permission.”

Though Combs had other assistants, some of whom have testified at trial, "Mia" told the court that for a time when she worked for Combs, she was his only assistant.

“How did you feel when you were the only personal assistant?” Smyser asked.

“I didn’t have time to feel, but insane,” "Mia" told the court.

According to her testimony, "Mia" was promoted in 2013 to development director for Combs’ Revolt Films, though she told the court she still had to do “all the insane assistant situation” tasks during that time.

The “assistant situation” included “anticipating his whims, needs and moods,” according to a list of responsibilities the jury was shown. The same document, which referred to Combs as "PD," said “Every single day is different. PD can ask you to do 17,000 things,” which included everything from “cracking his knuckles” to “doing his taxes” to standing next to him for 22 hours a day doing nothing.

According to the list, "Mia" was also advised to “stay in PD eyesight” while on duty, unless he advised otherwise.


Former Combs employee 'Mia' takes witness stand, testifies Combs sexually assaulted her

“Mia,” a former employee of Sean Combs' who is testifying under a pseudonym, took the witness stand.

Clad in a white blouse, long white blazer and khaki pants, "Mia" testified that she worked for Sean Combs first as a personal assistant and then as a director of development and acquisitions for his film business.

“It was chaotic. It was toxic. It could be exciting. The highs were really high and the lows were really, really low,” "Mia" testified.

“What determined what the environment was like on a particular day?” prosecutor Madison Smyser asked.

“Puff’s mood,” "Mia" told the court in response.

"Mia" spoke in a soft, low voice when she told the jury how Combs was allegedly violent with her.

“He’s thrown things at me. He’s thrown me against the wall. He’s thrown me into a pool. He’s thrown a book at my head,” "Mia" told the court. “He has also sexually assaulted me.”

"Mia" began her testimony after stylist Deonte Nash concluded his. The defense showed Nash several text messages in which Combs expressed concern for Cassie Ventura and his desire for Nash to “make sure she is all right.”

In one exchange from 2018, Nash texted Combs that Ventura was “knocked out.” Combs replied, “Damn. Wake her up. I’m concerned.”

In a second exchange, from 2019, Combs texted Nash, “How is she? Make sure she’s all right. If she ever needs me make sure you call me.”

Nash also was shown a text exchange with Ventura while she was on vacation with Combs in Mexico following what Nash in his testimony had described as a "freak-off" on New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas. Nash texted Ventura, advising her to enjoy herself.

On re-direct examination, prosecutor Maurene Comey asked Nash, “Why did you always have concerns for Cassie’s safety if she also told you she was happy with Mr. Combs?”

Nash told the court, “Because it could go from happy to chaotic in a split second.”

Addressing the defense's questioning of Nash’s testimony that Ventura told him she did not want to go to hotels for sexual "freak-offs," Comey asked what Nash remembered Combs saying on the night of Ventura’s 29th birthday.

Nash told the court in response Combs allegedly said Ventura was “going to get some d---” and that “she didn’t want to go, she wanted to hang with us.”


Defense questions stylist's testimony and timeline regarding Cassie Ventura's 29th birthday 'freak-off'

Defense attorney Xavier Donaldson questioned stylist Deonte Nash about his account of Cassie Ventura’s 29th birthday, when he previously testified that she confided that “I don't want to go to the hotel and 'freak-off' with him,” referring to Combs.

Nash testified that Combs asked him whether he should surprise Ventura by showing up at the party. Nash told the court he told Combs that he should.

Donaldson said that the invitation came two years after Nash said during his testimony that he witnessed Combs get violent with Ventura.

“Two years later, he asks you if you can come, you tell him to come?” Donaldson asked.

“Correct,” Nash testified.

Donaldson questioned Nash's claim about Ventura telling him that she didn't want to go to the hotel with Combs only after Nash spoke with Ventura, allegedly including about her trial testimony.

“You were helping Cassie out with her styling for her testimony? Donaldson asked. “You wanted to get the right clothing for her pregnancy?”

“Correct,” Nash told the court.

“You talked to her during the trial, correct?” Donaldson asked.

“Correct,” Nash testified.

“You would call her and ask her how she was doing, but not about the case, correct?” asked Donaldson.

“Yes," Nash testified.

Donaldson pointed out that Ventura’s testimony ended on May 16. On May 17, according to Donaldson, Nash met with federal prosecutors.

“May 17 was the first day you told them about 'making me go to a hotel,' correct?” Donaldson asked, referring to Nash's previous testimony about Combs allegedly taking Nash to a hotel where Ventura was.

“I don’t know,” Nash testified.

“The first time you told them about Cassie telling you about him making her go to a hotel was May 17, correct?” Donaldson followed up.

“It may have been something that they asked,” Nash told the court.


Defense questions former Cassie Ventura stylist about Ventura meeting Michael B. Jordan

The continued cross-examination of celebrity stylist Deonte Nash established that he introduced Cassie Ventura to actor Michael B. Jordan.

“You observed Mr. Combs with someone else in Miami?” defense attorney Xavier Donaldson started to ask when Nash interrupted.

“No, no. You’re not putting that on me. That was another stylist,” Nash told the court, adding that a different stylist allegedly observed Combs with another woman and called Ventura to tell her.

“She was mad?” Donaldson asked, referring to Ventura.

“She was pretty angry but not really,” Nash testified.

Donaldson asked whether Nash consoled Ventura by telling her “I can hook you up with Michael B. Jordan.”

“Uh, uh, uh. That’s not how that happened," Nash told the court in response.

Donaldson asked, “You introduced her to Michael B. Jordan?”

Nash testified that he did, adding, “And 'Mia' drove it home by making sure she had the number.”

“'Mia,' being in an employee of Mr. Combs, was participating in breaking up Mr. Combs from Cassie?” Donaldson asked.

“Well, they were broken up,” Nash testified in response.

The defense attorney next asked whether Nash knew Ventura was once in a relationship with Andre Branch, to which Nash responded, “Oh, the cute football player?”

Nash testified that Ventura kept part of her life “secret” from him despite their close relationship, which he told the court endures to this day.

Nash testified Wednesday on direct examination that he heard Combs threaten to release sex tapes of Ventura but testified on cross-examination today that he didn't know if those tapes depicted her with men other than Combs.

“She told you that in 2013?” Donaldson asked.

“Yes,” Nash told the court.

“Between 2008 and 2013 you and Cassie, talking every day about best-friend stuff, she never talked to you about having threesomes with other men?” Donaldson asked.

“No,” Nash testified in response.

“That part of her life she kept secret from you?” Donaldson asked.

“Yes," Nash replied.