What to know about the sex trafficking trial

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• A woman who is only being referred to by a pseudonym, “Mia,” who used to work as Sean “Diddy” Combs’ personal assistant for several years, returned to the stand Friday. She faced cross-examination after accusing Combs of sexually assaulting her on multiple occasions.
• “Mia” returned today for her third day on the stand.
• 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.

Defense readying its attack on alleged victim ‘Mia’

U.S. District Court Judge Arun Subramanian denied defense efforts to show “Mia” drinking and having fun on vacation, as Combs’ team previewed its line of attack on the key government witness.

Defense attorney Brian Steele said the footage from Honduras would go to his argument that Mia was let go from Combs Enterprises because of alcohol abuse.

But Subramanian sided with the prosecution, which claimed that footage of Mia doing shots would be more prejudicial than probative.

Hotel security manager invokes Fifth Amendment

Eddy Garcia, a security supervisor at the Los Angeles hotel where Combs was filmed attacking Cassie Ventura, briefly took the witness stand to invoke his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination.

The appearance was highly procedural, just so Garcia could put that request on the record and prompt the government to assure him he’s free from prosecution as long as he testifies truthfully.

Garcia left the witness stand but is expected to return later today.

‘Mia’ takes the witness stand again

The key prosecution witness, “Mia,” took the stand this morning for the defense’s cross-examination.

She wore a blouse, slacks and a jacket as jurors filed into the courtroom.

Defense begins by having ‘Mia’ go over her qualifications and ‘thick skin’

Defense attorney Brian Steele opened his line of questioning today by having “Mia” go over her resume, asking whether she remembered telling Combs that she was multitasking, worked well under pressure, and had “thick skin.”

Mia told Steele she doesn’t remember writing that she had thick skin. He later asked her if she thought of herself as a leader, which Mia didn’t quite know how to respond to.

She did agree that she speaks up for herself and could multitask under pressure. When asked directly if she had thick skin, Mia said that she thought she did.

‘Mia’ nightmare: Trapped in elevator with R. Kelly

The defense introduced a text message from Mia to Combs, in which she told the defendant that he once, in a nightmare, saved her from R. Kelly.

Mia said in a Jan. 15, 2019, text message that she had a terrible dream of being trapped in an elevator with the convicted sex criminal, but then Combs “came and rescued me.”

Judge Subramanian sustained a government objection, thus preventing Mia from answering why her alleged attacker, Combs, was framed as a savior in her dream. However, the defense still made its point to jurors that, despite the allegations Mia has made against Combs, there were times when she held him in the highest esteem.

‘Mia’ reached out to Combs because she felt bad about Kim Porter’s death, she says

When questioned about apparently loving texts “Mia” sent to Combs in late 2018 and throughout 2019, she testified that she felt bad for Combs after the death of Kim Porter.

Porter, who was with Combs for years and the mother of three of his children, died in November 2018 from pneumonia. Combs’ defense showed texts following that time in which Mia wrote that she loved Combs and dreamed of him as her savior, months after Porter’s death.

Mia told the court that she didn’t think five months was a long time to recover from grief and that she hadn’t yet understood what happened to her while working for Combs. She noted that there was a version of Combs who cared for her.

‘Mia’: I never recorded Combs during an outburst

Despite her near-constant contact with Combs while she worked for him, “Mia” admits she doesn’t have any video of the music mogul during one of his fits of rage.

Mia also conceded that she doesn’t have a text message to a friend to note any violent outbursts by Combs.

The witness testified that she wouldn’t have made such documentation because doing so would have broken trust and confidentiality with her employer at the time.

Defense tries to undermine sexual assault allegations, ‘Mia’ says she was brainwashed

Defense attorney Brian Steele pushed “Mia” about her testimony last week, during which she said Combs sexually assaulted her, asking point-blank whether the sexual assault testimony was true.

“I would not lie in this courtroom,” Mia said. “I never lied in this courtroom; everything I have said is true.”

Steele had shown the court multiple messages from Mia to Combs from 2018 to 2020, after she stopped working for Combs, in which she expressed love and good memories. In one message from August 2020, she wrote that the only things to remember were the good times.

Mia told the court that Combs had brainwashed her. She testified that the environment she was in was filled with high highs and low lows. Mia testified that she was always seeking Combs’ approval.

‘Mia’ says she was ‘terrified and brainwashed,’ making her hesitant to come forward

The witness said she was “terrified and brainwashed,” preventing her from coming forward earlier with allegations of sexual assault against Combs.

When defense attorney Steele asked “Mia” if she had a moral obligation to report Combs immediately, she said she didn’t: “Because I was terrified and brainwashed.”

It was only when others came forward publicly that Mia said she elected to do so too.

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

‘Mia’ was scared of Combs ‘when he was scary,’ she says

“Mia” is still getting pushed by the defense for years of friendly communications with Combs, despite her testimony that she feared him.

Another text from Mia, this time from December 2022, in which she wishes Combs a happy holiday season, was shown to the courtroom. The defense pointed out that Mia has told the jury she didn’t want to see Combs because she feared him.

Mia was asked whether she was scared of Combs the entire time she knew him, including from 2019 to 2022.

“I was scared of him when he was scary, yes,” Mia said.

‘Mia’ briefly shown on courtroom feed

The witness’s face was briefly shown on an internal courthouse feed, though the error didn’t elicit an immediate reaction in the courtroom.

For about 30 seconds, a camera showed “Mia,” who was testifying under a pseudonym, despite a judge’s order that her face not be shown or even drawn by courtroom sketch artists.

When her face was shown in a feed to an overflow room, the prosecution didn’t lodge an immediate objection.

Prosecution scolds defense for tone of questioning

Prosecutor Maurene Comey alerted Subramanian that she felt Combs’ defense was mistreating “Mia,” accusing Brian Steele of humiliating her on the witness stand.

Comey laid out concerns that Steele’s sarcasm and suggestions that Mia is lying are bordering on harassment and that Steele is adding to Mia’s trauma. Subramanian did not agree that Steele was mistreating Mia, but he did agree that the questions had been argumentative and cumulative in nature.

The judge said he heard Comey’s concerns and would be on the lookout for offensive conduct. He added that the government would alert the court if it found any.

Subramanian warned Steele that he can ask a question and move on, but that if he believes that Steele is asking something just to get it out there, he will step in.

‘Mia’ admits she didn’t tell Ventura everything

The witness said she was very close to Cassie Ventura but admitted not telling Combs’ girlfriend everything she could have.

“Mia” conceded that she didn’t tell Ventura about Combs’ alleged sexual assault on her. She also said she would keep the music mogul’s whereabouts from Ventura, under his orders.

“I remember covering for him and feeling terrible about it,” Mia said.

Combs put a tracking device on Ventura’s car, ‘Mia’ says

“Mia” told the court that she felt terrible about covering for Combs with Ventura, his former girlfriend, but felt that if she didn’t, he would have taken away his access to her.

Mia testified that Combs would find out because he stole their phones and put tracking devices on Ventura’s car.

She added that she wasn’t sure what Combs was capable of and reiterated that she was terrified.

‘Mia’ says she ‘wanted to die’ with the secret of her abuse

“Mia” spoke to Cassie Ventura after Combs’ former girlfriend filed her November 2023 lawsuit detailing sexual abuse allegations against him.

But Mia testified that she didn’t tell Ventura about her own experiences of sexual abuse from Combs during that conversation.

“I was still deeply shamed and wanted to die with this,” Mia told the court.

‘Mia’ went to mediation and asked for $10 million

After her departure from Combs’ employment, “Mia” said she went to mediation and originally asked for $10 million.

Steele, the defense lawyer, asked Mia if she’d demanded that eight-digit sum from a lawsuit. She responded that her claim against Combs went to mediation, and that’s where $10 million emerged as an opening position in negotiations.

They eventually settled for $400,000, with her lawyers retaining about half of that, Mia said.

‘Mia’ says reasons she kept quiet about sexual assault allegations are ‘privileged’

Combs’ defense pushed “Mia” about why she waited to tell the government her allegations of sexual assaults against Combs, saying it took about seven or eight months until she revealed the information to prosecutors.

Mia told the court that she doesn’t remember the exact conversations, but that she did not tell the government until she had retained legal representation. The reasons are “privileged,” she said.

Attorney-client privilege protects the confidentiality of communications between a lawyer and the client.

One female juror appears skeptical of parts of Mia’s testimony

One female juror was seen smiling, seemingly enjoying defense attorney Brian Steel’s cross-examination of “Mia.”

Sometimes, the juror widened her eyes and furrowed her brow, appearing skeptical of some of Mia’s testimony.

After she worked for Combs, ‘Mia’ worked for Madonna

The witness said she went on to work for Madonna after being let go from her job with Combs, refuting insinuations that she has not been employed and could be bitter with the defendant.

In an eight-month stint with the “Material Girl,” Mia said she worked as an assistant in addition to the icon’s film division.

Mia said she secured the Madonna gig independently, without Combs’ help. The witness also accused Combs of reneging on helping her with a TV show she had developed.

Defense questions ‘Mia’ on Ventura’s work through the years

“Mia” was asked several questions about Ventura’s working life during her years with Combs, as the defense apparently tried to undermine prior witnesses’ implications that he stunted Ventura’s career.

Defense attorney Brian Steel asked Mia questions about Ventura obtaining modeling jobs, movie work and even music she worked on with other artists, such as Wiz Khalifa. Mia testified that all of this was done with Combs’ knowledge and consent.

Prior witnesses have said that while Ventura recorded music while dating Combs, she was unable to release new albums as part of her 10-album deal with Combs’ record company. Ventura has one studio album, which was released in 2006, and a mixtape, which dropped in 2013.

Defense hammering home ‘kill myself’ message

Steel revisited the “kill myself” text message by Mia, echoing what might be the defense’s strongest point of this cross-examination.

But like in previous instances of Steele asking Mia about her praising Combs, the witness owned it and explained her mindset of wanting to remain employed by the defendant.

“My entire world was ripped away from me, immediately,” she said. “And even if, in hindsight, that world was awful, I didn’t know it at the time. That’s why it felt like everything was ending.”

‘Mia’ says it wasn’t clear to Ventura that she and Combs were not exclusive

The cross-examination of “Mia” moved into the former assistant’s observations of Combs’ relationship with Ventura, specifically whether Ventura was jealous of other women.

She testified that in her experience, she only recalls Ventura being upset that she saw Combs with another woman while Ventura was filming in South Africa. Mia testified that the relationship was presented to Ventura as one of exclusivity between her and Combs.

When defense attorney Brian Steel noted that clearly wasn’t true, Mia told the court “it was not clear to her.”

‘Mia’ reiterates that Combs had threatened her life

Defense attorney Brian Steel revisited Mia’s prior testimony of the violence she said she endured while working for Combs, noting that in 14 years all she ever wrote about Combs were statements of admiration.

Mia testified that there was a time where Combs slammed a door on her arm and continued to apply pressure, leaving her bruised. She said that her only interaction with Combs’ human resources was for them to enforce a punishment he wanted.

Steel recalled her prior testimony saying she was scared of being killed, asking Mia if there were times she felt she could die at Combs’ hands.

Mia told the court that he had threatened her life and physically assaulted her.

Prosecution takes up redirect, asks ‘Mia’ about Combs’ social media presence

Combs’ defense ended its cross-examination, allowing prosecutors to redirect Mia’s testimony.

Mia was asked about her work with Combs, which included managing all of his social media presence. She testified that if Combs did not feel as if she was doing her job, Mia would be punished and her job would have been threatened.

This apparently included posting for Combs’ birthday, as Mia told the court she would’ve been in trouble if she didn’t post.

Working hard, staying out of trouble

On redirect, “Mia” said she had a good reason to keep working hard and ensuring that Combs was pleased.

“Because when he was happy, I was safe,” the prosecution witness said.

The defense repeatedly asked Mia why she stayed with Combs despite the alleged assaults she says she endured. Mia didn’t distance herself from previous statements of admiration for Combs, saying that high highs — at that point of her career and life — seemed to make up for the low lows.

Alleged sexual assault is the worst thing she has ever had to talk about, ‘Mia’ says

The prosecution had Mia reiterate her feelings of fear in talking about Combs, with her testifying that her terror and difficulty understanding what allegedly happened was partly why she met with the government so much.

Prosecutor Madison Smyser asked Mia if she has ever been able to speak about her allegations that Combs sexually assaulted her without looking down.

“No, it’s the worst thing I have ever had to talk about in my life,” Mia said.

Mia says she couldn’t look her loved ones in the eye without testifying

The witness said she has no choice but to testify against Combs because she doesn’t want her younger, female loved ones to turn a blind eye to the issue of sexual assault.

“Because I can’t look my niece or my goddaughters in the eyes … in the future if they happen to be in this situation.”

Combs used aliases for hotel reservations, witness says

Sylvia Oken, area director of sales and marketing at the Beverly Hills Hotel, is on the stand now as the prosecution’s next witness.

Oken told jurors that Sean Combs used the aliases “Phillip Pines and “Frank Black” for hotel reservations.

She said it’s not uncommon for entertainment industry guests to stay at the hotel under an alias.

Government acknowledges witness’s face was shown in error

Prosecutor Maurene Comey told the court that — hours earlier — the face of “Mia” was mistakenly shown on video piped into the courthouse overflow room.

Judge Subramanian asked if something went wrong with the redacted footage that should’ve been aired or the incorrect version was used.

The prosecution didn’t have an answer.

Court is adjourned for the day

With no one expected to return for continued testimony, prosecutors say they will start tomorrow off by calling a named Eddy Garcia to the witness stand.

Garcia worked as a security supervisor at the Los Angeles hotel where Combs was filmed attacking Cassie Ventura in March 2016. He briefly took the stand today to invoke his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

He received an immunity order, sparing him from potential prosecution so long as he answers questions truthfully.

Court is adjourned and will resume tomorrow morning.

S: NBC News