Where the sex trafficking trial stands
- Former Danity Kane member Dawn Richard returned to the stand today. She testified last week that she witnessed Sean “Diddy” Combs attack his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura with a skillet filled with eggs. The defense tried to undermine her credibility today by highlighting inconsistencies with her statements and her attempts to continue working with Combs despite the alleged violence she witnessed.
- Ventura's former best friend, Kerry Morgan, also took the stand today. She described multiple instances where she says she saw Combs physically abuse Ventura and a time when she herself was allegedly attacked by Combs. Morgan also testified that Ventura was jealous of Combs' ex-girlfriend Kim Porter and that Combs was jealous of Ventura's relationship with actor Michael B. Jordan.
- Also called to the stand was David James, a former personal assistant to Combs. James began his tearful testimony describing his hiring process, when an executive at Bad Boy Entertainment told him, "This is Mr. Combs' kingdom, and we are all here to serve in it." He also said Ventura told him she couldn't leave Combs because he controlled her career and her money.
- 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.
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Court is adjourned; Combs' former personal assistant to resume tomorrow
Court has adjourned for the day, with David James set to return tomorrow for at least another hour of questioning from the prosecution.
Cassie said Combs controlled her career and paid her allowance, former assistant says
David James recalled the first time he interacted with Cassie Ventura while he was Combs’ personal assistant.
It was in Miami when Combs rented a yacht to try to impress her, James said. When he and Ventura were smoking cigarettes, Ventura told him, “This place is crazy.”
When James asked why she didn’t leave if she thought it was so crazy, Ventura told him she can’t. “He controls my career, pays my allowance, and pays my rent,” she said, according to James’ testimony.
He broke down in tears on the stand again as he described his second interaction with Ventura, when they discussed a track list she picked out and she was "super happy."
James also testified he heard Combs talk about Ventura to a friend during a car trip in L.A., describing her both as his “queen” and as being “very moldable.”
Former assistant says he was told, 'This is Mr. Combs' kingdom and we are all here to serve in it'
David James broke down in tears describing the Bad Boy staff's undying loyalty to the music mogul, who viewed him as a king, the witness said.
James recalled meeting with staffers during the interview process in 2007 and one female executive left a lasting memory.
An overcome James grabbed tissues and testified the executive pointed to a picture of Combs on the wall and said, 'This is Mr. Combs' kingdom and we are all here to serve in it.'"
James testified that Combs was surrounded by security staff who all carried legal weapons. He said the head of security, Uncle Paulie, carried a switchblade.
When asked what security told him about the job, James replied, “To stay in my lane ... I understood it do what I was hired to do and only that job.”
David James, Combs' former personal assistant, called to the stand
Kerry Morgan's time on the witness stand ended after a quick redirect from the prosecution, who just asked her to reiterate what she saw during Combs' assault of Cassie in Jamaica.
The government then called David James, a personal assistant who worked for Combs between 2007 and 2009, to the stand.
James told the court he was testifying because he was subpoenaed twice.
Morgan says Cassie was not supportive after Combs allegedly beat her with a wooden hanger
Kerry Morgan said she hasn't spoken to Cassie Ventura in seven years after Ventura allegedly failed to take her friend's side after an alleged altercation with Combs.
The witness recalled an incident when the three of them were at Ventura's apartment in 2018 when, Morgan claims, Combs grabbed her by the neck and hit her with a wooden hanger.
"The reason I stopped speaking to her was because she was not supportive of me after that incident. I draw my line at physical abuse," Morgan said under cross-examination.
Even though Ventura eventually left Combs, married personal trainer Alex Fine and is about to have their third child together, Morgan said the relationship remains broken. The witness said she received $30,000 to keep quiet.
"She said it was through him, the money wasn’t coming from her. She was the go-between," Morgan said. "I did not demand money from anyone. She offered money to close the case on it so I don't sue anybody or say anything public about it," Morgan said. "All I got was $30,000."
Combs was jealous of Cassie's time with Michael B. Jordan, Morgan says
While Cassie Ventura may have been jealous of Kim Porter, her former friend says that Combs was also jealous of Cassie's time with actor Michael B. Jordan.
Ventura told the court last week that she and Combs had broken up while she was in South Africa for a few weeks filming a movie, and during that time he suspected she was having an affair with Jordan. Kerry Morgan said much of the same under cross-examination today.
"What I remember was that she was speaking to Michael B. Jordan and they hung out together," Morgan said. "And he was jealous of it."
Cassie was jealous of Kim Porter, Morgan says
Cassie Ventura was jealous of Kim Porter, Combs' ex-girlfriend and mother to three of his children, according to Kerry Morgan.
Defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo asked Morgan if Cassie was ever jealous of Porter, who died in 2018.
"I'm sure," Morgan said. "Yes, she was jealous because she could never go to New Year's Eve parties."
Porter was the mother to Combs' children Christian and twin daughters Jessie and D’Lila.
Morgan returns to stand for cross-examination
The prosecution ended its direct questioning of witness Kerry Morgan just moments after she returned to the stand this afternoon.
Combs' defense attorney, Marc Agnifilo, will cross-examine Cassie Ventura's former best friend.
Court is back in session
Both sides have returned from lunch and court is back in session.
Morgan will return to the witness stand, but Judge Arun Subramanian is first listening to arguments for a motion.
Court adjourns for lunch break later than planned
Judge Arun Subramanian adjourned the court for a 30-minute lunch around 12:35 p.m. ET, slightly later than planned.
Subramanian told attorneys that he hoped to adjourn for lunch at noon now that the court will adjourn at 3 p.m. ET every day.
