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Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial updates: Court is adjourned until Tuesday

PHOTO: Prosecutor Emily Johnson questions rapper Kid Cudi as he testifies at Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, May 22, 2025 in this courtroom sketch.
23:05
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters
Diddy Trial Day 9: Kid Cudi on the witness stand
By Aaron Katersky, Mason Leib
Last Updated: May 29, 2025, 4:05 PM

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

The second week of testimony in the sex trafficking trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs began on Monday.

Key Headlines

  • Court adjourns for the week after HSI agent testifies about computer data extractions
  • Hotel manager's note: Combs 'always spills candle wax on everything'
  • Kid Cudi testified Combs looked 'like a Marvel supervillain' in meeting after car fire
  • Kid Cudi testifies about car being set on fire during his relationship with Cassie Ventura
Here's how the news is developing.

Pinned
Jul 02, 2025 2:50 PM

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."


Pinned
May 20, 2025 4:45 PM

Combs former assistant further testifies about working for him

Combs' former assistant, David James, testified to some of Sean Combs dietary preferences, recalling a time in London where Combs “would not be happy” because the ketchup there was not the same as the brand he preferred.

“Ketchup was a big item he needed for his food,” James told the court.

“Were you aware he put applesauce on cheeseburgers?” defense attorney Marc Agnifilo asked.

“I was not aware of that but I knew he liked applesauce,” James replied.

James purchased these food items through Combs’ company, James testified, but he affirmed on cross-examination that he would use cash to purchase items such as baby oil, personal lubricant and condoms.

James also told the court about what he said were the demanding hours and the sometimes questionable things he did during his employment with Combs. He testified by way of example that he allegedly once purchased an “eight-ball of cocaine” in Saint-Tropez for a Combs associate.

Seven-day workweeks were common, according to James' testimony.

“Something the security detail would tell us: ‘You know what rhymes with tired?’ And the answer is, 'fired,'” James testified. He told the court about one night when Combs allegedly admonished him for driving through a red light.

“I turned around and said ‘I’m f------ tired, man. I’m exhausted,’” James told the court. He testified that Combs did not fire him for the remark.

James also testified about throngs of people in public who wanted to touch Combs or get his autograph.

“Did he tend to be gracious about these things?” Agnifilo asked.

“I don’t think gracious is a word to describe Mr. Combs,” James responded.

James was asked about Combs’ personal chef, a woman named Jourdan Atkinson, who is expected to testify later this week.

James testified that he personally once “got upset, squeezed her wrists and told her to stay in your f------ lane," referring to Atkinson. James testified that the incident was reported and Combs called him into his room to talk about it.

“He asked me what happened, and I told him what happened. And he said, ‘You can’t be putting your hands on women.’ I said, ‘I know sir I f----- up.’ He told me to write her a note and buy her a gift,” James testified, adding. “I rolled up a blunt and gave her a blunt.”

“Did she appreciate it?” Agnifilo asked.

“She did,” James testified.

On re-direct examination, James testified about a time in Alpine, NJ, when, referring to a separate incident in which James said he physically confronted Atkinson, Combs asked James to file a police report saying Jourdan was the aggressor and hit James first.

“Did you file?” prosecutor Christy Slavik asked.

“I didn’t want to make a false police report and lie to the police,” James answered.

The defense asked James about a time when he and a security guard allegedly brought two prostitutes back to Combs’ house when he was not there.

“Security did it all the time,” James testified. “After we had intercourse, she asked me for $200 and I was surprised. I had no idea. I was against paying her." James told the court that the security guard said, "You better pay her because we don’t want any problems at the house.'”

James testified that the woman wanted to shower, to which James said he responded, "If you want to take a shower give me my 200 back.’”

The response elicited laughter in the court. Defense attorney Agnifilo remarked, “You got your money back!”

James' testimony has concluded. Court then took a break.


May 29, 2025 4:05 PM

Court adjourns for the week after HSI agent testifies about computer data extractions

Testimony concluded for the week with an agent from Homeland Security Investigations who conducted data extraction from three laptop computers that belonged to Cassie Ventura.

One of the laptops allegedly included a user profile for Frank Black, an alias used by Sean Combs.

Court is now adjourned until Tuesday.

“Do not talk to anyone about the case,” Judge Arun Subramanian instructed the juror before dismissing them, telling them instead to “watch the Knicks avenge their Game One loss.”

Subramanian also told the jury that the trial is “right on schedule.”

When court resumes on Tuesday, federal prosecutors said they plan to call Combs’ former assistant, Capricorn Clark, as well as representatives from the Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles Fire Department.

“I think we are right on time,” prosecutor Maureen Comey said of the pace of testimony, telling the jury the government’s case would take about six weeks total to present. “I would think that we should be able to wrap this up before the Fourth of July,” Comey said.

The defense asked Judge Subramanian to allow Combs to have additional access to videoconferencing from jail. Subramanian said he has had no luck with the Bureau of Prisons. Prosecutors said they would call and ask on the judge’s behalf.

Absent videoconferencing time, the defense sought additional phone time, saying Combs is “out of minutes.”


May 22, 2025 6:35 PM

Hotel manager's note: Combs 'always spills candle wax on everything'

The general manager of the L’Ermitage Beverly Hills hotel showed the jury a reservations log with entries that indicated Sean Combs had stayed at the hotel several times.

The log included several of the aliases that previous witnesses have testified Combs used, including Frank Black and Frank White.

The general hotel manager, Frederic Zemmour, said guest profiles include notes. Combs’ guest profile note, which was shown to the jury, included the following: “Always spills candle wax on everything and uses excessive amounts of oil, place room out of order upon departure for deep cleaning.”

The note also instructed reservation takers to authorize an extra $1,000 to cover room damages when Combs stayed at the hotel.

Housekeeping was instructed to put fruit and chocolate in Combs’ room and keep the thermostat at 75 degrees, according to Zemmour's testimony, and to spray air freshener outside any room in which Combs stayed.


May 22, 2025 7:50 PM

Makeup artist testifies she allegedly found Cassie Ventura with 'swollen eye,' 'busted lip'

Makeup artist Mylah Morales testified that it was Grammy weekend 2010 when she returned to the Beverly Hills Hotel after a night out with Cassie Ventura.

According to her testimony, Morales fell asleep on the couch but “woke up to a little bit of commotion.” Morales told the court that Ventura walked in and headed into the bedroom and Sean Combs entered a moment later.

“Where the f--- is she?” Morales testified an angry Combs asked.

Morales told the court that Combs walked into the bedroom and shut the door. Morales testified that she then heard “yelling and screaming” before Combs allegedly opened the bedroom door and stormed out of the suite.

“I was just frantic and I didn’t know what to do,” Morales testified. “She had a swollen eye and busted lip and knots on her head,” referring to Ventura.

Morales, who testified that she first met Ventura when she was 16 years old, told the court that she took Ventura to her house, where she stayed a few days to recover.

“My friend, who’s a doctor, a medical doctor, I asked him to come the next day to make sure she didn’t have a concussion,” Morales testified. Morales told the court that the doctor suggested Ventura be taken to the emergency room but “it was her wishes not to go to the ER.”

Asked why Morales did not insist that Ventura go, Morales replied, “We were very afraid.” She testified they were “afraid of Sean."

“I feared for my life,” Morales told the court.

Morales and Ventura never again spoke about the alleged incident at the Beverly Hills Hotel, according to Morales' testimony



May 22, 2025 6:16 PM

Kid Cudi concludes testimony: 'I knew Sean Combs was violent'

On cross-examination, Scott Mescudi testified that Cassie Ventura told him about alleged physical abuse she said she suffered at the hands of Sean Combs but that she did not mention sexual abuse.

Defense attorney Brian Steel said both Mescudi and Combs were “played” by the same woman.

“The person who played you, the person who played Sean was Ms. Ventura. True?” Steel asked.

“Yeah,” Mescudi replied.

At the conclusion of cross-examination, Steel thanked Mescudi, who responded, “Yeah, no problem.”

On re-direct examination, Mescudi testified that Ventura told him that Combs “would hit her, sometimes kick her.”

Mescudi told the court that he and Ventura broke up because “things were getting out of hand” and that he felt concerned for his safety and her safety.

“I knew Sean Combs was violent,” Mescudi testified, prompting an objection and a sidebar.

During the SoHo House social club meeting in 2012, when, according to Mescudi's earlier testimony, Combs claimed not to know what Mescudi was talking about regarding the firebombing of his car, Mescudi told the jury that he thought Combs “was lying.”

Kid Cudi’s testimony has concluded. The court is in lunch break.


May 20, 2025 4:45 PM

Combs former assistant further testifies about working for him

Combs' former assistant, David James, testified to some of Sean Combs dietary preferences, recalling a time in London where Combs “would not be happy” because the ketchup there was not the same as the brand he preferred.

“Ketchup was a big item he needed for his food,” James told the court.

“Were you aware he put applesauce on cheeseburgers?” defense attorney Marc Agnifilo asked.

“I was not aware of that but I knew he liked applesauce,” James replied.

James purchased these food items through Combs’ company, James testified, but he affirmed on cross-examination that he would use cash to purchase items such as baby oil, personal lubricant and condoms.

James also told the court about what he said were the demanding hours and the sometimes questionable things he did during his employment with Combs. He testified by way of example that he allegedly once purchased an “eight-ball of cocaine” in Saint-Tropez for a Combs associate.

Seven-day workweeks were common, according to James' testimony.

“Something the security detail would tell us: ‘You know what rhymes with tired?’ And the answer is, 'fired,'” James testified. He told the court about one night when Combs allegedly admonished him for driving through a red light.

“I turned around and said ‘I’m f------ tired, man. I’m exhausted,’” James told the court. He testified that Combs did not fire him for the remark.

James also testified about throngs of people in public who wanted to touch Combs or get his autograph.

“Did he tend to be gracious about these things?” Agnifilo asked.

“I don’t think gracious is a word to describe Mr. Combs,” James responded.

James was asked about Combs’ personal chef, a woman named Jourdan Atkinson, who is expected to testify later this week.

James testified that he personally once “got upset, squeezed her wrists and told her to stay in your f------ lane," referring to Atkinson. James testified that the incident was reported and Combs called him into his room to talk about it.

“He asked me what happened, and I told him what happened. And he said, ‘You can’t be putting your hands on women.’ I said, ‘I know sir I f----- up.’ He told me to write her a note and buy her a gift,” James testified, adding. “I rolled up a blunt and gave her a blunt.”

“Did she appreciate it?” Agnifilo asked.

“She did,” James testified.

On re-direct examination, James testified about a time in Alpine, NJ, when, referring to a separate incident in which James said he physically confronted Atkinson, Combs asked James to file a police report saying Jourdan was the aggressor and hit James first.

“Did you file?” prosecutor Christy Slavik asked.

“I didn’t want to make a false police report and lie to the police,” James answered.

The defense asked James about a time when he and a security guard allegedly brought two prostitutes back to Combs’ house when he was not there.

“Security did it all the time,” James testified. “After we had intercourse, she asked me for $200 and I was surprised. I had no idea. I was against paying her." James told the court that the security guard said, "You better pay her because we don’t want any problems at the house.'”

James testified that the woman wanted to shower, to which James said he responded, "If you want to take a shower give me my 200 back.’”

The response elicited laughter in the court. Defense attorney Agnifilo remarked, “You got your money back!”

James' testimony has concluded. Court then took a break.


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