Where the sex-trafficking trial stands
- Cassie Ventura concluded her second day of cross-examination from Sean "Diddy" Combs' lawyers today.
- Former Danity Kane member Dawn Richard is expected to take the stand this afternoon. Richard sued Combs last year, alleging that he groped, assaulted and imprisoned her, and threatened her life when she tried to intervene in defense of Ventura. Combs' attorney said the mogul was “shocked and disappointed” by Richard’s lawsuit.
- Combs faces five criminal counts: one count of racketeering conspiracy; two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. Combs has vociferously denied the allegations against him.
- This live briefing may include graphic descriptions of sexual violence. For resources on sexual assault, call the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline.
- Sign up for the “Diddy on Trial” newsletter for key developments and analysis; listen to the podcast “Dateline: True Crime Weekly” for daily coverage.
Judge dismisses jurors and tells them to watch sports this weekend
U.S. District Court Judge Arun Subramanian sent jurors home for the weekend, thanking them for their role in preserving democracy and urging them to watch basketball and baseball.
"We know how hard it is for you, your families, for everyone," Subramanian told the panel. "You are the bedrock for democracy. We will keep working over the weekend. Watch the Mets, Yankees, Knicks … see you on Monday."
The judge asked jurors to return to court at 8:30 a.m. on Monday.
Singer testifies she saw Combs attack Ventura with a skillet full of eggs
Dawn Richard, a former member of Danity Kane, an all-girl group Diddy created on MTV “Making the Band”, testified that she saw Sean Combs physically assault Cassie Ventura inside his Los Angeles home in 2009.
“He came downstairs asking where his phone was, and he threw her to the ground,” Richard alleged, adding Combs attempted to strike Ventura with a skillet full of eggs.
Richard, who was later part of a trio with Diddy called “Dirty Money,” said she was at the home recording music when the attack occurred.
“He attempted to kick her, she fell to the ground and went into the fetal position, literally trying to hide her head,” Richard told the court.
Richard said Combs put his arm around Ventura’s neck, dragged her upstairs and then heard glass breaking.
“I was scared for her, I was scared to do anything,” Richard testified.
CORRECTION (May 19, 1:50 p.m. ET): A previous version of this blog misstated Richard’s testimony Friday. She testified that Combs tried to strike Ventura with a skillet, not that he struck Ventura.
Cash, pills and 'mood lighting' found at Combs' hotel room
Lubricants, cash, pills and "mood lighting" were seized by authorities as they arrested Combs at a New York City hotel nearly eight months ago, a federal agent said.
Prosecutors had Homeland Security Investigations special agent Yasin Binda detail the items seized from Combs, who had been in Room 2115 of the Park Hyatt hotel on West 57th Street.
Items taken by agents included plastic bags with Johnson & Johnson Baby Oil and Astroglide, a bottle of the drug Klonopin and $9,000 cash, the agent said.
They also found a lighting device that Binda said: "I would describe it as potentially mood lighting.”
Cassie's attorney said testifying showed her character
Doug Wigdor, Cassie Ventura’s attorney, said she performed well on the witness stand.
“To be able to come into this courtroom and testify for the last week on this very graphic subject is a true testament to her character,” Wigdor said outside the courthouse after Ventura's testimony concluded.
Asked about Ventura’s testimony such as not hating Sean Combs and still having love for him, Wigdor responded, “It’s a complex situation.”
“I think we all know and can appreciate that there are many women, as I’m speaking here today, who are abused by people who they love.”
He added, Ventura and Combs shared a 10-year relationship.
“I think she readily admitted that there were some good times in that relationship,” Wigdor said. “But that doesn’t, that does not permit someone to do the things that she testified to to her and to control her and to subject her to the physical and mental abuse that she suffered.”
Former Danity Kane member Dawn Richard to testify
Dawn Richard, a former member of Danity Kane — the girl group Combs assembled on the MTV reality competition “Making the Band” — is set to testify.
The government says Richard will testify that she observed violence against Cassie Ventura, saw Combs with guns and illicit drugs and that Combs and his associates tried to silence her.
Richard sued Combs last year, alleging that he groped, assaulted and imprisoned her, and threatened her life when she tried to intervene in defense of Ventura.
Cassie Ventura excused from the witness stand
R&B singer Cassie Ventura, the star witness for the prosecution in the federal trial against Sean “Diddy” Combs this week, has ended her dramatic and often emotional testimony, and is now gone from court.
U.S. District Court Judge Arun Subramanian wished Ventura well.
“Have a great weekend,” the judge told eight-month pregnant Ventura before the court entered recess.
Ventura expects $10 million settlement from hotel over beating captured on video
The witness' legal team is still negotiating a settlement with the hotel over the 2016 Los Angeles hotel assault, which was captured by security cameras.
"I do not know the exact number, I think $10 million maybe?" she said under cross-examination.
A deal has not been struck yet, she said, but an eight-digit payout is the expectation.
Ventura was excused from the witness stand moments later.
"Have a great weekend," the judge told Ventura, who is eight months pregnant.
Being with Combs opened all sorts of doors, Ventura says
The defense had Ventura admit there were all kinds of career benefits to being Combs' girlfriend.
Ventura said she attended the Met Gala with Combs, got "a lot of studio time" through the rapper and met many influential entertainers such as Kid Cudi, Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne and Rick Ross.
Combs' attorneys start re-cross examination of Cassie Ventura
During its re-cross examination of Cassie Ventura, the defense is trying to show that being with Combs gave Ventura entry into a world of celebrities and musicians that she otherwise would not have been able to obtain.
His attorney, Anna Estevao, noted that Ventura went to the Met Gala and had unprecedented access to producers because of her relationship with Combs.
"You said it was a world of chaos? Freak offs, drugs and partying? By being with him you could meet other people in the entertainment industry and go to fascinating places," Estevao said.
Combs would become violent if Cassie left 'freak offs' without permission
Cassie Ventura told the jury that Combs would become violent if she attempted to leave a "freak off" without permission.
“He would get violent, it would be horrible,” Ventura alleged in the courtroom.
She also described Combs beating at her at the Intercontinental Hotel.
“During the 'freak off' he hit me in the eye and I left before he said it was over,” Ventura testified. “He followed me to the hallway and he dragged me back, he was wearing a towel and socks.”
