Diddy’s Defense Accused of Humiliating Ex-Assistant in Court Amid Suggestion She’s Lying

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In downtown Manhattan federal court, the fifth week and second month of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ trial for sex trafficking and racketeering charges commenced on Monday. One of Diddy’s defense lawyers scrutinized his former assistant during cross-examination, casting doubt on her claims against him by highlighting inconsistencies between her actions and the accusations of abusive behavior she testified to from the witness stand.

On Monday, Mia, the ex-assistant testifying under an alias at Combs’ trial, concluded her three days on the stand. Most of her time in court was spent on cross-examination, led by renowned defense attorney Brian Steel, who repeatedly scrutinized her actions and statements, focusing heavily on her social media posts that appeared to support or praise Combs during and after the period she claims he was abusing, manipulating, threatening, and sexually assaulting her while working for his company.

55-year-old Combs has denied the charges that he mistreated “Mia”, his long-term partner Cassie Ventura, and others as stated in the indictment. In the event of a conviction, he might serve 15 years up to a lifetime in prison.

During a court hearing on Monday, defense attorney Robert Steel’s persistent and intense line of questioning towards witness “Mia” prompted U.S. Attorney Maureen Comey to intervene. Comey expressed her concern to Judge Arun Subramanian that Steel was attempting to embarrass “Mia” while she testified. Steel’s sarcastic comments and implied accusations of dishonesty bordering on harassment were argued by Comey; however, Judge Subramanian did not agree with this assessment but acknowledged that Steel’s questions had become argumentative and repetitive. Despite this, he permitted Steel to continue, promising Comey that he would monitor for any abusive behavior.

Steel kept challenging Mia’s accounts of the abuse and sexual assaults she alleges were inflicted by Combs, asking questions such as why there was an abundance of public acclaim for her former employer and personal text messages that were positive, yet no written evidence or notes to a friend suggesting the horrific abuse she described under oath recently. At one point, Steel directly asked Mia if she was lying in court.

Mia assured, ‘I’ve always told the truth in this courtroom.’ In other words, she has never lied and what she’s stated is factual.

Steel pondered over her actions during the years when she alleges Combs abused her, and whether she had a moral responsibility to report him as the abuse unfolded, which spanned her entire tenure at Combs Global from 2009-17. She explained that since she was “terrified and indoctrinated,” there was no such duty incumbent upon her.

On the third day of her testimony, “Mia” elaborated on many points that were initially brought up during questioning from both the prosecution and defense. She reaffirmed her sentiments of being ensnared by Combs, detailing his periods of intense joy followed by severe depression, and explained how these mood swings affected her personally. Furthermore, she spoke about the gradual understanding of the extent of the alleged abuse and the emergence of PTSD symptoms after consulting with a mental health expert.

“It’s been a long process,” she said. “I’m still untangling these things. I’m in therapy. “

In court on Monday, it emerged that Mia had a close relationship with Ventura, who was once in a long-term relationship with Combs and is the first victim in the federal case against him. Mia testified that she never disclosed to Ventura the repeated sexual assaults she experienced at Combs’ hands. According to her testimony, a significant part of her job was maintaining Combs’ mood and managing an alleged environment of chaos and abuse; discussing with anyone, including Ventura, the incidents of rape and sexual abuse was unthinkable. The lies Mia told to shield Combs also involved concealing his whereabouts from Ventura.

Mia confessed to the court, ‘I took his place and felt dreadful about it.’ She continued, ‘I was filled with deep shame and wished I could end my life because of it.’

As a gamer, I’d rephrase it like this: Mia made it clear that Diddy (Combs) was aware and okay with every piece of music and film work Ventura was involved in. This encompassed some features, musical collaborations, but not the 10 albums under his Bad Boy Records deal, which I signed when I was just 19 and soon after started dating him.

Similar to many others who’ve brought suits against Combs over the past 19 months, “Mia” expressed that it took courage from seeing others speak out publicly for her to step forward as well.

As a gamer, I’d put it like this: “I, the gaming enthusiast, probed ‘Mia’ about the compensation package she aimed for after getting unexpectedly let go from her job. She shared with the lawyer that her initial demand of $10 million in the settlement was taken to mediation. Eventually, it was agreed upon that she would receive $400,000; however, the lawyers pocketed half of this amount, according to her.

After parting ways with Combs following a decade of collaboration, “Mia” took on a job with the renowned pop star Madonna for eight months. This opportunity came without any involvement from Combs. In her court statement about leaving Combs’ sphere, Mia shared that he had reneged on his pledge to help her debut a TV show she had created.

She declared, “Everything I knew was abruptly taken from me, and at that moment, I didn’t realize how bad it actually was. Looking back now, I can see its flaws, but in the midst of it all, it seemed as if my entire existence was coming to an end.

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2025-06-03 02:54