What to know about the sex trafficking trial
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- Rapper Scott Mescudi, known professionally as Kid Cudi, is testifying today about his relationship with Cassie Ventura and the abusive nature of her relationship with Combs. He testified his car was torched with a Molotov cocktail during his relationship with Ventura and he suspected Combs was involved.
- Combs’ former assistant George Kaplan returned to the witness stand earlier today. Kaplan described the demanding job of being Combs’ bag man and cleaning up liquor bottles and baby oil from hotel rooms.
- 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.
Grammy Award-winning rapper Kid Cudi is expected to testify today.
The 41-year-old, whose real name is Scott Mescudi, is expected to testify about his romantic relationship with Cassie Ventura over a decade ago, including an allegation that Combs blew up his car.
Cudi’s testimony will be key for the prosecution as it tries to bolster its charges that Combs engaged in racketeering and sex trafficking.
Cudi first gained national attention in 2008 with the release of his mixtape “A Kid Named Cudi.” He is known for his hits “Pursuit of Happiness” and “Day N Nite.”
Cassie Ventura testified last week that Combs kicked her after finding out she was cheating on him with Cudi in 2011.
Ventura’s 2023 lawsuit alleges Combs told her at Paris Fashion Week in 2012 that he was going to blow up Cudi’s car after learning about the affair. Around that time, the lawsuit alleges, Cudi’s car exploded in his driveway.
‘Isn’t anybody seeing this?’ Former assistant says Cassie cried for help during incident with Combs on private plane
George Kaplan, Combs’ former assistant, told the court today that he witnessed a physical altercation between Combs and Cassie in 2015 during a private plane ride to Las Vegas.
Kaplan testified that he was seated at a table on the plane and that he heard glass shattering behind him. He then saw Combs standing over Cassie with a whiskey glass, who was on her back with her legs out trying to create space.
He heard a scuffle as Cassie screamed, “Isn’t anybody seeing this?” before hearing more glass crashing, Kaplan testified. The former assistant said he was only 23 years old at the time, he told the court, and security did not intervene.
He said Combs came up to sit in the plane’s cabin but told Cassie to stay in the back, where the bedroom was located behind a partition.
Ventura’s bruised face needed immediate attention
The witness said he once had to rush out of Combs’ home to buy health and beauty items to cover up nasty bruises on Ventura’s face.
Kaplan recalled the incident in Los Angeles in 2015 when he said he saw a visibly upset Cassie with bruising under her right eyebrow. That prompted Combs to order him to get over-the-counter lotions and other remedies to mask the discoloration, Kaplan told jurors.
The witness said he specifically remembered buying witch hazel.
Violence prompted former assistant to quit in 2015, he says
George Kaplan left his job as Combs’ assistant in December 2015 because he was not comfortable with the physical behavior he witnessed over the months in his role, he said.
He said it was a challenging decision but that he knew it was the right thing to do. In addition to the plane incident he said he witnessed and attending to Cassie’s wounds at a different time, Kaplan told the court he saw Combs throwing decorative apples at another woman.
The alleged incident occurred in Miami between Combs and a woman named Gina. Kaplan testified that he saw an angry Combs throwing three of the apples at Gina as she tried to shield herself.
Kaplan said he heard a commotion later that night with screaming back and forth — after Kaplan said he gave Combs a medicine bag. Others have testified that Combs had a Louis Vuitton “med bag” full of illicit drugs.
The former assistant said he put in his resignation in September 2015 but that the reason he gave Combs was that his father was sick with cancer. Combs was very gracious at the time, he told the court, also testifying that he had to compartmentalize his experience working for Combs.
Assistant still said he had an ‘incredible’ time working for Diddy
Despite testifying that he resigned after witnessing distressing acts of violence, Kaplan still praised Combs and said he enjoyed working for him.
Kaplan called his work for Combs one of the most “incredible” times of his life and said the rapper was gracious in accepting the resignation.
The response was drawn out of cross-examination by defense lawyer Agnifilo, in hopes of painting a slightly less troubling picture of what it was like to be in Combs’ inner circle at that time.
Working for Combs was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
Though he didn’t always like how Combs acted, George Kaplan described his time working as the mogul’s personal assistant as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Kaplan told the court during cross-examination Combs that pushed him to depths he didn’t know he was capable of and that Kaplan’s friends described it as his Harvard University. He described his work setting up Combs’ meals, schedule, travel and planning a company “offsite” as part of his administrative duties.
It appears that Combs’ defense is trying to undermine the government’s case on Combs’ racketeering charge, which asserts that Combs used his business as a criminal enterprise.
Biggie Smalls’ birthday a company holiday
The witness knows that late rapper Christopher Wallace, better known as Biggie Smalls or the Notorious B.I.G., was born on May 21 — because that date was a Combs company holiday.
The defense lawyer Agnifilo asked Kaplan if he would’ve been working yesterday if he were still employed by Combs.
Kaplan said no, because Combs gave everyone the day off from work to mark the 1972 date when Wallace was born. The 24-year-old Brooklyn rapper was gunned down in Los Angeles on March 9, 1997.
Assistant doesn’t remember if he told security about apple throwing incident
Combs’ former assistant doesn’t remember if he told Combs’ security about a violent incident involving Combs pelting decorative apples at a woman.
Kaplan testified that he had no recollection of telling anyone on the security team about the incident, which he described under direct examination. Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo also asked Kaplan whether he was ever personally threatened by Combs.
Though Kaplan said his job was threatened by Combs frequently, he said he was never subjected to threats of physical violence from his former employer.
Kid Cudi takes the stand to testify against Combs
Scott Mescudi, known by his stage name Kid Cudi, has taken the witness stand.
The rapper had a brief relationship with Combs’ former girlfriend Cassie in December 2011 that prompted a threat of violence and blackmail from Combs, she testified last week.
Kid Cudi is expected to confirm much of Cassie’s prior testimony in regard to Combs’ violent threats against him.
Debate over whether Kid Cudi can talk about his dog gets some laughs
Earlier this morning, before the jury was seated, the attorneys had some humorous debate over whether Kid Cudi could testify about his dog’s behavioral changes after a 2011 break-in at his home.
Defense attorney Brian Steele told Judge Arun Subramanian that the government wanted Kid Cudi to testify that his dog was traumatized after being put behind a closed door in December 2011. Prosecutor Emily Johnson argued that observations about the dog are relevant to the break-in.
“He’s not going to testify to what the dog thought,” Subramanian said, eliciting laughter from those in the courtroom.
Kid Cudi can testify about the dog, the judge decided, but only in broad terms, as Johnson noted that the dog is “no longer with us.”
Kid Cudi says he and Cassie starting dating during break in her relationship with Combs
Kid Cudi briefly met Cassie at an event in 2008 but they didn’t start to date until 2011, he testified.
According to him, Cassie was having problems with Combs at the time and, to his knowledge, the couple were not dating when Cassie and Kid Cudi got together.
Combs’ employee told Kid Cudi that Combs was in his house
Kid Cudi testified that he got a call from Cassie in December 2011 saying that Combs had found out about the couple and that she asked him to pick her up. She was nervous and told Kid Cudi that Combs was abusive, he said.
Once Cassie was with him, Kid Cudi told the court, he took her to the Sunset Marquis to keep her safe and away from Combs.
At one point, he said, he received a call letting him know that Combs and an associate were at Kid Cudi’s home. Cudi said the call was made by Combs’ employee at the time, Capricorn Clark, and Cassie was with her on speakerphone.
Combs allegedly broke into Kid Cudi’s home
Kid Cudi recalled how angry he was when Combs allegedly broke into his home in the Hollywood Hills.
The Grammy-winning rapper said Combs was remarkably calm when he called to confront him.
“He said, ‘What’s up?'” and I said, ‘Motherf—–, are you in my house?’ He said, ‘I am here waiting for you,'” Kid Cudi testified.
He told the court that he wanted to fight Combs, but reminded himself that he didn’t know who Combs might have with him.
Molotov cocktail set Kid Cudi’s car aflame, he said
Kid Cudi’s car caught fire in his driveway one day in 2012 while Cudi said he was about 45 minutes away from home.
The rapper testified that his dog sitter called to tell him what was happening and he rushed home. A friend sent him photos that showed the top of his Porsche open where a Molotov cocktail was thrown in, Kid Cudi said.
Prosecutors showed photos of the car in court and had Kid Cudi describe them.
Cassie testified that Combs threatened her and Kid Cudi, saying that Combs wanted to set fire to Kid Cudi’s car in the man’s driveway. She also told the court that Combs assured it would not be by his hands and he would not be in the country when it happened.
Combs calmly listening to Kid Cudi’s testimony
Combs appeared to be calmly taking in Kid Cudi’s testimony without showing much emotion.
At times, he sat back in his chair at the defense table with arms and legs crossed, as Kid Cudi described wild confrontations with the defendant.
Combs wore was cream-colored top and khaki pants to court today.
Kid Cudi is comfortable and matter-of-fact in his testimony
Kid Cudi doesn’t appear to be nervous or stressed at all on the witness stand, answering questions with a very matter-of-fact tone.
The rapper seems comfortable and is speaking in a conversational manner as he relays his past interactions with Combs.
Tense moment in court as defense objects to Kid Cudi connecting Combs to car fire
There was a hot moment in court when Kid Cudi was asked why he requested to meet with Combs after his car was set on fire.
The rapper responded that he reached out because he knew Combs was involved with the fire. Combs’ defense objected to Kid Cudi’s speculation, and his answer was struck from the record.
Judge Subramanian denied a request for attorneys to sidebar and the prosecution continued to question Kid Cudi.
Witness compares Combs to a ‘Marvel supervillain’
Kid Cudi recalled thinking Combs was like a comic book bad guy shortly after the witness’ car had been torched in an attack he blamed on the defendant.
The pair agreed to see each other at Los Angeles hotel meeting room and Combs was already there by the time Kid Cudi arrived, the witness said.
Combs was calmly looking out the window with hands behind his back, looking like a “Marvel supervillain,” Kid Cudi said.
Combs apologized years after off-putting meeting, Kid Cudi said
Combs’ calmness during their meeting after the car fire was off-putting, Kid Cudi told the court.
At the end of the meeting, he said, he shook hands with Combs and asked Combs what they were going to do about his car. Combs told Kid Cudi he didn’t have any idea what he was talking about, the rapper testified.
Combs then asked if they were cool, Kid Cudi told the court, but Cudi responded that Combs burned his car. A few years after the meeting, Cudi testified, Combs gave him a general apology for the past.
It was the last thing he expected to hear from Combs, Kid Cudi said.
The intimate life of Cassie and Kid Cudi ruled to be out of bounds
U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian appeared to shut down defense efforts to get into the deeply private details of Ventura and Kid Cudi’s relationship.
When Combs’ attorney Brian Steele, on cross-examination, asked Kid Cudi if he and Ventura ever had consensual sexual relations, the government objected and both sides met the judge for a sidebar away from jurors’ ears.
When that meeting broke up, Steele went on to another line of questions.
Kid Cudi agrees he and Combs met over both of them being ‘played’ by Cassie
Defense attorney Brian Steele asked Kid Cudi about the meeting he had with Combs, characterizing it as about a relationship where both men were “played.”
Cudi agreed with Steele and responded “true” when Steele asked if the person who “played” both men was Cassie. Steele also asked Kid Cudi if Cassie was living two different lives, to which the rapper responded that she was.
Cassie was worried and shaken up over Combs, Kid Cudi says
Cassie was worried that Combs would go to Kid Cudi’s home and appeared to be shaken about Combs’ discovering her relationship with Kid Cudi, the rapper testified.
Prosecutor Emily Johnson took over Kid Cudi’s questioning after the defense, asking what Cassie told him about Combs’ abuse. Kid Cudi told the court that Cassie informed him that Combs would hit and sometimes kick her.
Kid Cudi testifies he had to break away from Cassie, as ‘drama’ was ‘out of hand’
Kid Cudi said he and Cassie needed to stop seeing each other due to the blowback of events that seemed to unfold.
“The drama was too out of hand and to give her some space,” the witness said of them pumping the brakes on any possible relationship.
Government and judge livid over ‘sexual’ questions
Away from the ears of jurors, Judge Subramanian chastised the defense for asking Kid Cudi about any sex he might have had with Cassie Ventura.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey called defense lawyer Steele’s line of questioning “outrageous” and said: “We were shocked that defense spoke about sexual activity with this witness.”
The judge agreed and said, “The line was clear and crossed.”
“Mr. Steele, you knew the rule and it you did anyway,” Subramanian said. “Is it going to happen again?”
“No,” Steele replied.
Makeup artist Mylah Morales to take the witness stand
Mylah Morales, a makeup artist Cassie Ventura mentioned in her testimony, is expected to take the witness stand when court resumes after lunch.
Last week, Ventura told the court that Morales stayed behind to nap as she and her friends went to a last-minute party at Prince’s home. But Ventura rushed out once she saw Combs, whom she said she didn’t speak to before going to the party.
According to Ventura, Combs tracked her down and beat her in another room while Morales was in the vicinity. Ventura told the court she then stayed with Morales for a few days as her injuries healed.
Government calls out ‘sexual stereotypes’ conveyed in topless pictures
Prosecutors accused the defense of prompting “sexual stereotypes” by handing over topless pictures of Cassie Ventura.
Combs’ team gave the government pictures that showed when the next witness, the makeup artists Morales, did work for the defendant. Several of those pictures were of a topless Ventura, which drew Comey’s ire.
“We don’t want the suggestion of sexual stereotypes that if she dressed like this for photo shoots and in public it is more likely she consented to sexual activity,” Comey told the judge.
Judge Subramanian also questioned whether any of the topless photos were relevant and defense lawyer Anna Estevao responded: “It shows that she had a full and blossoming career.”
Subramanian allowed the defense to use some of the images, but not the topless ones.
Cassie left with swelling and busted lip after going into room with Combs, Morales says
Morales corroborated some prior testimony from Cassie Ventura, who alleged that Combs beat her in a hotel bedroom after spotting her at an unexpected party at Prince’s Los Angeles home.
The makeup artist told the court that she stayed behind to take a nap on the coach of Ventura’s Beverly Hills hotel room that night and woke up to a commotion later. Morales testified that Ventura came in and went straight to the bedroom with Combs behind her.
The couple shut the door to the bedroom and Morales said she heard yelling and screaming before Combs left the hotel. She did not witness what occurred between the couple but said Ventura had a swollen eye, busted lip and knots on her head after the incident.
Morales testified that Ventura stayed with her for a few days after the incident and a doctor friend came to check on the singer, who refused to go to the emergency room.
The incident left Morales in fear for her life, so she didn’t call the police, she said. She and Ventura saw each other a few times after that night but never acknowledged the incident, she said.
Makeup artist testifies she gave a handful of interviews
Morales, under cross-examination, confirmed that she’s done a handful of interviews in recent months as misconduct allegations agains Combs surfaced.
She acknowledged speaking on the record to well known media figures such as Don Lemon and Piers Morgan in 2024 and participating in some documentaries about Combs.
The defense sought to paint Morales as an attention seeker, but the effort seemed to fall flat.
Hotel manager says room marked out-of-order after Combs’ stay and would require ‘deep cleaning’
Frederic Zemmour, the hotel manager at L’Ermitage hotel in Beverly Hills, testified that a room would require deep cleaning after Combs’ stayed there.
Zemmour told the court that Combs would stay under an alias. Notes marked in his hotel profile included that Combs used excessive amounts of oil and spilled candle wax on everything.
The room had to be marked out of order for a deep cleaning after Combs left, Zemmour testified, and an additional $500 fee was charged for damage.
Combs’ defense did not cross-examine the hotel manager.
Photos show damage to Kid Cudi’s convertible
Prosecutors admitted photos into evidence today that showed burn damage to Kid Cudi’s car, which he said was caused by a molotov cocktail in 2012 after Combs learned Cassie was dating Kid Cudi.
The photos show what appears to be a burned hole through the top of the convertible roof as well as scorch marks on the driver’s seat leather and door.
The weekend comes early for jurors
HSI Special Agent Joshua Croft, who specializes in computer forensics, left the witness stand and drew a close on testimony for the week.
Court will not be in session tomorrow and Monday for the federal observance of Memorial Day.
When Croft left the witness stand and it was said that there’d be no more testimony, Judge Arun Subramanian jokingly asked jurors if they had any objections.
And after a bit of laughter in the courtroom, Subramanian told jurors to go for a bike ride or watch the Knicks playoff games this weekend.
Witnesses next week include another former assistant of Combs, members of LAPD and LAFD
Court will resume on Tuesday, giving jurors an extended holiday weekend, with another round of witnesses for the prosecutor.
Maurene Comey told the judge that Capricorn Clark, Combs’ former assistant, will take the stand, as well as unnamed members of the Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles Fire Department.
S: NBC News
