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Sean Combs trial updates: Prosecution witness known as 'Mia' expected to testify next

The hip-hop mogul is charged with sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.

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Last updated: Wednesday, May 28, 2025 11:30PM GMT
'Diddy' Trial Recap: Cassie's former stylist testifies
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NEW YORK -- The third week of testimony in the sex trafficking trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs got underway Tuesday.

Prosecutors allege that Combs, a three-time Grammy winner, used his fame and fortune to create a deviant empire of exploitation, coercing women into abusive sex parties while silencing victims through blackmail and violence, including kidnapping, arson and beatings.

Combs' lawyers argue that all the sexual acts were consensual, and although he could be violent, he never veered into sex trafficking and racketeering.

This story may contain accounts and descriptions of actual or alleged events that some readers may find disturbing.

"Bad Rap: The Case Against Diddy," a new podcast from "20/20" and ABC Audio, traces how the whispers of abuse came to light and led to the downfall of Sean "Diddy" Combs, who was once among the most influential entertainers and entrepreneurs in hip hop. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and more.

(ABC News and The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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May 27, 2025, 3:36 PM GMT

Combs' ex-assistant testifies Combs threatened 'to kill' Kid Cudi

Former Sean Combs assistant Capricorn Clark testified about a time when she said Sean Combs was in the kitchen of a house he rented in Los Angeles, along with actress Lauren London and Combs' private chef at the time, Jourdan Cha'Taun.

"He was discussing with us why we didn't have a man like him," Clark testified Combs told them. "He said, 'Let me show you something.'"

He then called for Cassie Ventura, Clark told the court.

"He called Cassie over and he asked her to sit down, stand up, turn around, turn the other way, walk over there, grab that, hand me that, walk back, turn around, go back in the other room," Clark testified. "He said, 'Did you see that? You b------ won't do that. That's why you don't have a man.' To which we said, you're m------------ right."

Clark also testified about a time in Combs' Miami Beach home in 2008 when, exasperated after a long night, she told the court that she exclaimed, "I hate it here."

Combs then "charged" at her, Clark testified.

"He ran toward me with his hands open and pushed me, my shoulders, started pushing me back," Clark testified, demonstrating the movement for the jury.

Clark alleged in her testimony that Combs pushed her 25 to 30 yards through the house and outside while allegedly telling her, "If you hate it here get the f--- out of my house."

Combs' then-bodyguard, identified by Clark in earlier testimony as Uncle Paulie, intervened, Clark told the court, saying he "told Puff to stop and he told me to go pack my things,"

Clark told the court that she left her employment with Combs after that because the alleged shoving incident "was crossing my boundary."

Clark further testified that she returned to work for Combs in 2011. At the same time, she told the court, she was creative director for Cassie Ventura, was who was seeing Scott Mescudi, aka rapper Kid Cudi, at the time. Clark testified that she brought Ventura to Best Buy to purchase a burner phone to communicate with Kid Cudi.

Clark told the court that on the morning of December 22, 2011, she "heard a loud banging" at her door sometime between 5:30 and 6 a.m. and saw "a very upset Puff."

Clark testified that she opened the door and saw Combs dressed in a "white button-down shirt, button-down sweater, business slacks, grey slacks and nice shoes." The pants were split "from knee to knee through the crotch so I could see his underwear," Clark told the court.

Combs also had a gun in his hand, Clark testified.

"Did he enter your apartment holding a gun?" prosecutor Mitzi Steiner asked.

"Yes," Clark replied. "He said, 'Why didn't you tell me?' I said, 'I don't know what you're talking about.' He said, 'Who is Scott?' I said, 'I don't know Scott.' He said, 'Kid Cudi,'" Clark testified.

"He said, 'Get dressed we're going to go kill" Mescudi, Clark told the court.

Clark testified that when she protested, Combs allegedly told her, "I don't give a f--- what you want to do, go get dressed."

Clark testified that she was made to get into a Cadillac Escalade with Combs and a bodyguard, whom she said was named Ruben, and the three of them allegedly drove to Kid Cudi's house. Combs and Ruben allegedly went inside the home while Clark waited in the car, according to her testimony.

"They gained access to the main door of the actual property," Clark testified.

"I called Cassie," Clark further testified, adding that she recalled telling Ventura, "Cassie, what the f---?"

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May 27, 2025, 2:55 PM GMT

Capricorn Clark, former Combs assistant, testifies she was 'petrified'

Former Sean Combs assistant Capricorn Clark testified that work was not yet complete on the then-new corporate headquarters of Bad Boy Entertainment at 1710 Broadway in New York City when she was allegedly taken there in 2004 by a bodyguard nicknamed Uncle Paulie and locked inside.

Clark told the court that she was taken to the "dilapidated" sixth floor, which she said was empty save for a folding table and chairs in the middle of the space.

"There was a heavy-set gentleman who was chain-smoking cigarettes and drinking black coffee," Clark testified. "Very wide, very heavy, the size of two linebackers."

Clark, seated in the witness box with her hair pulled back and wearing glasses, testified that she was "petrified" in that moment. She told the court that the bodyguard told her that she "had been brought to the building to take a lie detector test to figure out what happened" to some jewelry that had gone missing.

If she flunked the test, she testified the man told her, "They're going to throw you in the East River."

Clark testified that Combs had given her "three pieces of very high-end jewelry that were out on loan" before a private plane ride to Miami. At Teterboro Airport in New Jersey, Clark said she realized the jewelry had gone missing.

"Had you stolen the jewelry?" prosecutor Mitzi Steiner asked.

"I did not," Clark responded

Clark told the court that the bodyguard named Uncle Paulie took her to the same location inside 1710 Broadway on five consecutive days, where she allegedly was administered lie detector tests.

"I wanted to prove my innocence. I didn't like the threats," Clark testified.

When she was allowed to return to work, Combs never mentioned the lie detector tests or inquired where she had been, Clark told the court.

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May 27, 2025, 2:01 PM GMT

Sean Combs enters court before witness testimony on racketeering charge

The third week of testimony in the Sean Combs sex trafficking trial will begin today with testimony that the prosecution will present to try to help support the alleged kidnapping and arson elements of the racketeering conspiracy to which Combs has pleaded not guilty.

Federal prosecutors have said Combs' former assistant, Capricorn Clark, was twice held against her will, including when she was allegedly forced from her apartment and into a car to take Combs and one of his bodyguards to the home of Scott Mescudi, the rapper better known as Kid Cudi.

Mescudi testified last week that Clark called him from a car to say that Combs was in his house. Nothing was taken, Mescudi told the court, though he said he found that Christmas presents were unwrapped and his dog was locked in a bathroom.

Combs allegedly forced Clark to take a lie detector test to prove she was not part of a robbery, according to the testimony last week of another former Combs personal assistant, David James.

Mescudi testified last week about alleged arson, which is another element of the alleged RICO conspiracy with which Combs is charged. Mescudi testified that he suspected Combs played a role in his car being set on fire with a Molotov cocktail.

Los Angeles Fire Department arson investigator Lance Jimenez is expected to testify today about what he found when responded to the scene of the car fire.

Combs is seated at the defense table in dark-colored pants and crew neck sweater. He embraced defense attorney Brian Steel upon entry into the courtroom and then greeted his other lawyers with hugs and smiles.

May 27, 2025, 12:57 PM GMT

Witness testimony to resume on Tuesday

The third week of the trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs will resume in New York City on Tuesday, with witness testimony set to continue.

When court resumes on Tuesday, federal prosecutors plan to call Combs' former assistant Capricorn Clark and representatives from Los Angeles fire and police departments.

Darla Miles reports from outside court.

Across two weeks of testimony in Combs' sex-trafficking and racketeering trial, federal prosecutors called 16 witnesses, attempting to prove the rap mogul embraced violence and threats to coerce women into sex and protect his music empire.

Among those who have already taken the stand are musician and Combs' ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, her mother Regina, Combs' former personal assistants David James and George Kaplan, plus rapper Kid Cudi whose legal name is Scott Mescudi.

Combs has pleaded not guilty and denies sexually assaulting or trafficking anyone. Combs' lawyers have argued that the rap mogul's domestic violence was driven by jealousy and drug addiction, and that his voyeuristic sexual activities, while not mainstream, are his private business and do not amount to sex trafficking.

-ABC News' Peter Charalambous, Aaron Katersky, Josh Margolin, Tonya Simpson and Kaitlyn Morris