The intercourse trafficking and racketeering trial of fallen rap-world mega-player Sean “Diddy” Combs entered its fifth week and second month in downtown Manhattan federal courtroom on Monday, as one of many ex-mogul’s protection attorneys hammered Combs’ former assistant about their working and private relationship, suggesting her actions don’t match with the allegations of horrific abuse she has made towards him from the witness stand.
The previous assistant, who’s utilizing the pseudonym “Mia” whereas she testifies at Combs’ trial, spent the final of her three days on the stand on Monday, along with her cross-examination taking on the vast majority of her time in courtroom as star protection lawyer Brian Metal repeatedly questioned her actions and phrases, significantly in social media posts that praised or had been optimistic towards Combs within the years throughout and after “Mia” says she was being abused, manipulated, threatened and sexually assaulted by him whereas employed by his firm.
Combs, 55, has pleaded not responsible to an indictment alleging he abused “Mia”; Cassie Ventura, his longtime girlfriend; and others. If convicted, he might face 15 years to life in jail.
Metal’s powerful questioning of “Mia” grew intense sufficient on Monday for prosecutor Maureen Comey to interject. The U.S. lawyer instructed Choose Arun Subramanian that she believed Metal was seeking to humiliate “Mia” whereas she instructed her model of occasions on the witness stand. Metal’s sarcastic remarks and ideas that the previous assistant is mendacity to the courtroom bordered on harassment, Comey argued; Subramanian disagreed with this suggestion however did concede that Metal’s questions had develop into argumentative and cumulative. He allowed Metal to proceed, assuring Comey that he’d be looking out for abusive conduct.
Metal repeatedly questioned Mia’s recollections of abuse and sexual assaults she says she suffered at Combs’ fingers, asking her why there was a lot public reward of her former boss and optimistic personal textual content messages, and never one written merchandise or word to a buddy indicating the torturous abuse that she claimed whereas below oath over the previous few days. Metal even flat-out requested her if she was mendacity in courtroom, at one level.
“I’d not lie on this courtroom,” Mia replied. “I by no means lied on this courtroom; every little thing I’ve stated is true.”
Proof at Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal trial exhibits a textual content message despatched from his former assistant to the rap mogul on his birthday.
SDNY Federal Court docket
Metal additionally questioned her actions through the years of abuse she claims Combs subjected her to, and whether or not she had an ethical obligation to report him on the time the abuse was occurring, which was all through her time at Combs World, from 2009-17; she replied that “as a result of I used to be terrified and brainwashed,” there was no such obligation on her half.
A lot of what was mentioned on “Mia’s” third day of testimony had been heard whereas she was questioned by the prosecution or through the cross-examination. She reiterated her emotions of being trapped by Combs; she once more mentioned his jubilant highs and deep lows and the way this might affect her instantly; she additionally mentioned the way it took time to comprehend the extent of abuse she says she suffered and the way her PTSD was unearthed by talking with a psychological well being skilled.
“It’s been a protracted course of,” she stated. “I’m nonetheless untangling this stuff. I’m in remedy. “
The robust friendship “Mia” developed with Ventura, Combs’ longtime former girlfriend and Sufferer 1 within the federal case towards him, got here up once more on Monday. “Mia” testified that she by no means revealed the a number of sexual assaults she suffered from Combs to Ventura. A lot of her job, she repeatedly instructed the courtroom below questioning, was conserving Combs’ temper in verify and making certain a world of alleged chaos and abuse was operating easily; speaking to anybody, even Ventura, in regards to the rape and sexual abuse was out of the query. The falsehoods she instructed to guard Combs additionally prolonged to hiding his location from Ventura.
“I bear in mind overlaying for him and feeling horrible about it,” Mia instructed the courtroom. “I used to be nonetheless deeply ashamed and needed to die with this.”
“Mia” additionally confirmed that Combs had data and gave his consent on all work and tasks Ventura labored on in music and movie, which included a couple of options and music collaborations; it didn’t embrace the ten albums that had been a part of her Dangerous Boy Information contract, which she signed with Combs at 19 earlier than quickly changing into his girlfriend.
Like the handfuls of those that have filed lawsuits towards Combs within the final 19 months, “Mia” stated she was capable of finding the power to return ahead when others got here ahead publicly.
Metal questioned “Mia” in regards to the post-employment settlement she wanted being out of the blue fired from her job; she instructed the lawyer that the $10 million ask went to mediation as her opening place and that it was settled for $400,000; the attorneys took half of this, she stated.
Following her exit from working alongside Combs for a decade, “Mia” spent eight months working with pop icon Madonna — a gig she landed independently and with zero help from Combs. In discussing her exit from Combs’ orbit, she instructed the courtroom that the mogul walked out of a promise to help her in launching a TV present she’d developed.
“My whole world was ripped away from me, instantly,” she stated. “And even when, in hindsight, that world was terrible, I didn’t realize it on the time. That’s why it felt like every little thing was ending.”