What to know about the sex trafficking trial

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• Sean “Diddy” Combs’ trial will today hear from Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Gerard Gannon, who led searches of his properties in Miami. Rapper Kid Cudi was slated to testify today, but his appearance has been postponed.
• Yesterday, Gannon walked jurors through the complicated process of executing search warrants at Combs’ Miami home on Star Island.
• Also taking the stand yesterday was the mother of Cassie Ventura, Combs’ former girlfriend who testified that the music mogul directed her to hire male sex workers to take part in “freak offs,” often long and drug-fueled orgies choreographed by the defendant who watched in the same room.

Combs’ lawyers arrive at court

Attorneys Xavier Donaldson, Marc Agnifilo, Jason Driscoll, Brian Steel and Alexandra Shapiro, who are part of Combs’ defense team, were seen arriving at court after 8 a.m.

Dawn Hughes arrives at court

Dawn Hughes, a forensic psychologist expected to testify later today, arrived at court shortly before 9 a.m.

Items found in Combs’ home: Phones stuffed in a Balenciaga boot and drugs in a Gucci bag

Gerard Gannon is back on the witness stand, and was questioned about items seized from one of the master closets during a raid of Combs’ Miami home last year. 

He described seizing a pair of red pump high heels and discovering cellphones stuffed inside a Balenciaga boot.

Inside the closet was also a Gucci bag that contained white residue that tested positive for cocaine and ketamine. That bag also contained smaller bags of different colored pills — including some stamped with a Tesla symbol — that tested positive for MDMA and Xanax.

Capsules with ingredient linked to shrooms found in bathroom ‘Puffy’ box

A crystal rock-like substance and pills with the main ingredient of magic mushrooms were found in the Combs’ Miami home, the witness said.

The crystal rock-like substance was discovered inside a wooden box marked “Puffy,” Gannon said.

Investigators in the master bathroom also came upon a plastic bag of pills that would eventually test positive for the main ingredient of hallucinogenic mushrooms.

Bin of baby oil, dozens of bottles of lubricant and rubber duck found in closet of Miami home

Authorities also found a bin containing 25 bottles of baby oil, 31 bottles of Astroglide lubricant and a rubber duck in a closet in a hallway between the master bedroom and master closet of Diddy’s Miami home.

A photo of that closet and the items found inside were shown in court.

Handgun and bullets found in guard area of Miami property

In the guest house of Diddy’s Miami property, a .45 caliber handgun was found in a red suitcase at the entrance to the guard shack area. 

A photo of a magazine and bullets in a baggie were displayed in court.

Kid Cudi not testifying today

Grammy-winning rapper Kid Cudi will not testify today, prosecutors said.

The 41-year-old artist had originally been scheduled to take the witness stand late this afternoon with testimony spilling into tomorrow.

But now it looks like Kid Cudi won’t begin his direct examination by federal prosecutors until tomorrow at the earliest.

Defense seeking to minimize gun evidence

Combs’ team suggested that the number of guns, including those with serial numbers removed, found in his Miami home are not that significant or as dangerous as they appear.

Under cross-examination by defense lawyer Teny Geragos, Gannon agreed that many of the firearms were wrapped up in tape, not loaded and thus inoperable.

Gannon also agreed with Geragos that guns without serial numbers

Dawn Hughes takes the stand

Special Agent Gerard Gannon has wrapped up his testimony and left the stand.

Prosecutors have now called Dawn Hughes, a clinical and forensic psychologist, to the stand. Hughes is dressed in a cream colored suit.

Hughes is no stranger to high-profile trials

Combs’ trial isn’t the first time Dawn Hughes has played a role in dramatic legal sagas at the nexus of celebrity and power in the post-#MeToo era. In recent years, Hughes has taken the witness stand in other high-profile sexual misconduct trials that drew national attention.

When the NXIVM sex cult leader Keith Raniere went on trial in 2019, Hughes was on hand to explain to jurors how serial sexual abusers “gaslight” their victims. Two years later, Hughes testified at R. Kelly’s federal trial, telling jurors that the R&B singer had subjected victims to “psychological entrapment.”

Raniere was found guilty of racketeering, sex trafficking and possession of child pornography. R. Kelly was convicted in 2021 on one count of racketeering and eight counts of violating the Mann Act, a law that bars transporting people across state lines “for any immoral purpose.”

Hughes reached a new level of national awareness after testifying at the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard defamation trial. Heard ultimately lost the defamation case.

It’s common for domestic violence victims to stay with abusers, psychologist says

Victims of domestic violence often stay with their abusers as they feel like there are no better options, Hughes said.

These victims who stay in these toxic relationships tend to fall into three categories — because they feel trapped, still feel a bond to their abuser and believe that the act of leaving the relationship is far too complex to achieve, the psychologist testified.

Hughes’ testimony could be key in prosecution efforts to fight the defense narrative that women such as Combs’ former girlfriend Cassie Ventura could have left their 11-year relationship.

Psychological, sexual and emotional abuse — and financial dependence — used to control victims, expert says

Domestic violence victims fall prey to psychological, sexual and emotional abuse — as well as financial dependence — making it all the harder for them to fight back or cut themselves loose, Hughes said.

Victims suffering from psychological abuse walk on eggshells and focus on how to stay safe in the moment rather than a big picture solution, such as exiting a toxic relationship, according to Hughes.

Sexual abuse can bring shame and humiliation, which leads victims to worry about keeping this harm private — which again keeps them from seeking an ultimate end to a bad relationship, she said.

The price of emotional abuse leads victims to simply believe they’re not worthy of anything more, thus draining them of the energy or motivation to get help, she said.

Hughes described financial dependence as “very important,” as it deprives the victim of the material resources needed to leave an abusive relationship. She said, “If you don’t have money, you are left with a feeling of ‘Where am I going to go?'” 

Defense mechanism for abuse victims is delayed disclosure, psychologist says

Abuse victims will sometimes delay disclosing what they’ve been through, fearing fallout such as shame or not being believed, Hughes said.

That’s why abuse will likely first be disclosed to a very close friend or loved one, who’d be viewed by victims as the most trusting ear, according to her.

And the trauma itself can impact a victim’s memory, Hughes said, as combat veterans, child sexual abuse victims and others have shown a propensity for failing to recall exact details as stress narrows attention.

Witness George Kaplan granted immunity to testify

Government witness George Kaplan, a former assistant of Combs, entered court after Hughes wrapped up, saying he was there after receiving a subpoena. Earlier in the day, there were concerns over whether he’d plead the Fifth Amendment and not testify.

Prosecutors offered to grant him immunity if he answered questions, but warned that this protection does not cover perjury.

After Kaplan’s attorney reviewed the legal document, the judge executed Kaplan’s immunity, and Kaplan will testify later today.

Back from lunch and Hughes resumes testimony

The forensic psychologist, Hughes, returned to the witness stand to continue her testimony.

The expert on trauma and abuse could be key to prosecutors, who want to show how Combs allegedly victimized and controlled women, even if they didn’t leave their toxic relationships with the music mogul.

Psychologist agrees she hasn’t done comprehensive evaluation of anyone in this trial

The defense wants to minimize Hughes’ impact by pointing out that she doesn’t have detailed knowledge of this case and allegations made against Combs.

Hughes appeared to agree with Combs’ defense that she doesn’t have this level of intimate knowledge and hasn’t done an evaluation of the alleged abusers and victims — because the witness wasn’t asked to do so.

Earlier during direct examination, prosecutors anticipated this line of questioning and asked Hughes why she hasn’t interviewed the defendant or witnesses here.

Hughes told the court she wasn’t legally allowed to do so.

Psychologist confirms she doesn’t evaluate sex offenders, is paid by prosecutors

The forensic psychologist testifying for the government has never appeared for a criminal defendant, she said.

Defense attorney Jonathan Bach asked Hughes if she’s ever represented anyone accused of a sex crime. She has not.

“That’s correct, I don’t evaluate offenders,” Hughes said.

Bach also asked Hughes if she is making $600 an hour for her work with prosecutors, which she confirmed.

George Kaplan takes the witness stand

A former assistant to Combs, George Kaplan, was called to the witness stand by the government.

Former assistant details difficulty of working for Combs, says his job was repeatedly threatened

Kaplan claims Combs regularly threatened to fire him, with the rapper saying he only wanted the best employees possible — sometimes in a motivational tone, sometimes in an angry tone.

Combs also had very exact demands that needed to be met when traveling, such as filling out a list of toiletries that needed to be packed for overnight, Kaplan said.

Kaplan was also required to unpack the toiletries and arrange them so they were all facing forward, which would regularly take 30 minutes, the witness said.

Cleaning up baby oil and liquor bottles in hotel rooms among job duties, former assistant says

Kaplan testified that one of his duties was to clean hotel rooms for Combs, saying that photos of checked-out mess could be embarrassing and sold to tabloids.

The former assistant said the rooms would often be littered with liquor bottles and baby oil after Combs stayed in them, and on one occasion he found white powder near a sink.

The witness also said that packing Combs’ medicine bag was always a lengthy challenge as various pills — including Advil, Tylenol and ketamine — always needed to be included.

Kaplan recalled once accepting a delivery of MDMA for Combs in Miami.

Court is adjourned for the day, Kid Cudi expected to take the stand tomorrow

The jury was excused for the day and court will resume tomorrow with continued questioning of George Kaplan.

A total of five witnesses will be called, including Scott Mescudi, the rap star known as Kid Cudi.

S: NBC News