Sean Combs trial updates: 'Mia' details several 'violent' encounters with Combs

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

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Last updated: Saturday, May 31, 2025 12:21AM GMT
'Diddy' trial recap: Defense questions 'Mia' about social media posts
Eyewitness News and ABC News legal contributor Bernarda Villalona break down the defense's questioning of "Mia" about social media posts to undercut her rape allegations.

NEW YORK -- The third week of testimony in the sex trafficking trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs wrapped up on Friday.

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 31, 2025, 12:11 AM GMT

Defense cross examination of 'Mia' to continue next week

In December 2016, when "Mia" was informed Sean Combs wanted to dissolve his Revolt Films and that her employment would end, she texted Combs' chief of staff, Kristina "KK" Khorram, saying "I'm going to kill myself. My life is over."

Frantic messages from Khorram that were read in court followed, including, "You can't make a statement and then not answer your phone."

Eventually, "Mia" responded over text: "I can't sleep and I'm not ok. I don't understand how to make this pain go away. It hurts so f------ bad."

Defense attorney Brian Steel asked, "Isn't this great? You're away from your abuser?"

Mia testified, "In hindsight fantastic, but at the time the worst thing ever."

She told the court working for Combs represented "the only world I knew for 24 hours a day for 8 years. It's like dog years. That's all I knew. So, it was very overwhelmingly horrific."

She testified she felt it "being ripped away without explanation."

Steel's cross-examination will resume Monday. Once "Mia's" testimony is over, the next witness is expected to be radio and podcast personality Enrique Santos.

Three weeks of testimony from 21 witnesses in the trial against Combs has concluded.

If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide or worried about a friend or loved one, call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 for free, confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Eyewitness News and ABC News legal contributor Bernarda Villalona break down the defense's questioning of "Mia" about social media posts to undercut her rape allegations.
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May 30, 2025, 8:11 PM GMT

Defense focuses on 'Mia's' birthday present for Combs: 'It's called psychological abuse'

Sean Combs turned 45 on Nov. 4, 2014, and "Mia" made him a scrapbook with a handwritten card, which was shown in court.

"Happy 45th birthday, Puff Daddy" the top of the page said in bold red letters. The text continued in black pen. "Puff! Sometimes life goes by at catastrophic speeds where you never get to live in and enjoy 'now,'" the note read. "I hope on this day you get to sit back and take it all in."

The card came with a collection of magazine articles from 1991 to 1999 "that I hope will stir up nostalgic feelings."

"The man who you say has ruined your life, this is what you write to him?" Steel asked. "It's called psychological abuse," "Mia" testified.

"How did you find any goodness with Mr. Combs after what you described to the ladies and gentlemen of this jury?" Steel asked. "Easily," "Mia" told the court. "The second it went back to good, I was elated. I was searching for that kind of approval. It was an abusive relationship."

"Mia" told to the jury, "I was young and manipulated and eager to survive. I'm unraveling a lot of this now in therapy. Nobody was there to say these things that were happening were wrong. There was nobody around us that ever even flinched at his behavior."

Steel's cross-examination grew louder.

"Isn't it true that Mr. Combs never had unwanted, nonconsensual forcible sexual contact with you, isn't that true? Steel asked. "What I said in this courtroom is the truth," "Mia" testified.

"Then why, if you're being sexually assaulted and your sister is being brutalized physically, are you making a scrapbook for Mr. Combs?" Steel asked, referring to Cassie Ventura, with whom "Mia" said she had a sister-like relationship.

"It's a lot more complicated than the way you framed that," "Mia" testified. "Ask any abuse victim's advocate and they could explain it to you much better than I could."

May 30, 2025, 7:11 PM GMT

Defense questions 'Mia' on attitude towards Combs in social media posts

After "Mia" testified that working for Sean Combs caused her "complex, severe PTSD," the defense on cross-examination tried to offer to the jury a different look at her tenure through her social media posts.

The posts, full of emphatic praise and multiple exclamation points, showed "Mia" posing with Combs, calling him a legend and thanking him for being her friend, all in the years after she alleged he repeatedly sexually assaulted her.

Darla Miles reports.

"That's the person who has traumatized you?" defense attorney Brian Steel asked. "Yes," Mia testified. "Physically?" he asked. "Yes," she testified. "Sexually?" Steel continued. "Yes," Mia testified. "That's the legend?" Steel concluded his sequence. "Yes," "Mia" told the court.

A post from Nov. 4, 2015, Combs' birthday, Steel called "the anniversary of when he sexually assaulted you."

"Mia" testified, "I didn't recognize that date as a celebration."

"How is that not a significant date in your mind?" Steel asked. "It was Puff's birthday. That was what the date was and I tried to forget that, shoved it down," "Mia" testified.

In the post, "Mia" called Combs "Legend, King, Bad Boy for life" and said, "Thank you for showing me the path to Pluto and beyond."

"You just put aside, you're telling this jury, that you were sexually assaulted?" Steel asked. "Yes, absolutely," "Mia" testified.

"You put aside that Mr. Combs made you go sleepless for five days when you got physically ill?"

"Yes."

"You put aside that Mr. Combs went into your bedroom, gets on top of you and does the unthinkable?"

"Yes."

You can keep tabs on the trial by following our True Crime NYC podcast. We're providing daily updates from the proceedings. Visit abc7ny.com/podcasts/ for more information and follow True Crime NYC wherever you listen to podcasts.

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May 30, 2025, 7:44 PM GMT

Trump said he would look at Sean 'Diddy' Combs case

Asked if he would consider pardoning Sean "Diddy" Combs, if convicted, as the hip-hop mogul stands trial in Manhattan federal court, President Donald Trump said, "Nobody's asked, but I know people are thinking about it."

"I don't know. I would certainly look at the facts," Trump said. "If I think somebody was mistreated, whether they like me or don't like me, it wouldn't have any impact on me."

Trump said he believes "some people have been very close to asking" about a pardon.

"First of all, I look at what's happening, and I haven't been watching it too closely, although it's certainly getting a lot of coverage," he said.

Trump added that he hasn't spoken to Combs in years.