Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial live updates:
Woman who alleges Combs dangled her from
window expected to testify
Combs faces five criminal counts in total, including two of sex trafficking, and has denied all the allegations.
What to know about the sex trafficking trial
Eddy Garcia, a security supervisor at the Los Angeles hotel where Sean "Diddy" Combs was filmed attacking his then-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, in March 2016, testified yesterday that he and two employees received $100,000 for helping music mogul keep the video under wraps.
Frank Piazza, a forensic video expert, and Bryana Bongolan, who alleges that Diddy dangled her over an apartment balcony, are expected to testify today.
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.
This live briefing may include graphic descriptions of sexual violence. For resources on sexual assault, call the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline.
MATTHEW RUSSELL LEE of I.C.P.
the ears to the inside for
MIND OF MONKEY STUDIO
1h / 1:20 PM
Adjourned
1h / 1:19 PM
Judge: Can he use CorrLinks?
Defense: That's not like texting, it can be on a 48 hour delay.
Judge: I will issue an order. See you tomorrow.
1h / 1:16 PM
Combs' Xavier Donaldson: Now we can't even to talk to him on the phone. He has the minutes, but he can't call us. It says, You have no minutes.
Judge: What does MDC Legal say?
Donaldson: That he has no minutes
1h / 1:13 PM
Combs' Alexandra Shapiro: I disagree that there has been no chilling effect, at least with respect to the mainstream press.
Judge: I think I will be reading the order.
1h / 1:10 PM
Combs' Shapiro: There has been a chilling effect on media coverage, even of demeanor of the witness.
Judge: I don't think people in the courtroom and the other courtrooms were trying to violate the order. Nor do I think they were chilled
1h / 1:07 PM
Jury leaves
Judge: How much more?
Combs' Westmoreland: 45 minutes. Maybe 30.
Judge: Anything else?
AUSA Johnson: I emailed you during the afternoon about a pseudonym order for Jane
1h / 1:02 PM
Judge: Ms. Westmoreland, how much more do you have?
Combs' Westmoreland: How much can I get? (laughs) I'd like to finish today.
Judge: I ask you how long.
Westmoreland: Quite a bit more.
Judge: Jurors, you may go, until 11 am tomorrow
1h / 1:00 PM
Combs' Westmoreland: Didn't you tell the government you took Molly, G and cocaine?
Bongolan: That's a lot of drugs.
Westmoreland: Didn't you take them all?
Bongolan: No all on that night.
1h / 12:59 PM
Combs's Westmoreland: Didn't you tell these prosecutors, two days ago, that you couldn't remember what happened out on that balcony?
Bongolan: I don't remember.
Westmoreland: Do you remember what drugs you were on?
Bongolon: No.
1h / 12:46 PM
Combs' Westmoreland: Didn't you first say Mr. Combs sexually assaulted you on the balcony?
Bongolan: I show them where his hand were.
Westmoreland: You said he groped you breasts - or, your lawyers said it?
Bongolan: My lawyers said that.
1h / 12:42 PM
Combs' Westmoreland: Your complaint says you were smoking a cigarette on the balcony, not weed?
Bongolan: I don't remember.
Westmoreland: Different things?
Bongolan: Yes.
Westmoreland: You told the Government you recalled he was charging at you?
A: Don't remember
1h / 12:37 PM
Combs' Westmoreland: The balcony incident, didn't you tell the Government there was a party in the apartment?
Bongolan: I don't remember that
Westmoreland: You told the Government your girlfriend was in the bathroom, not that you took her in there?
Bongolan: My ex
1h / 12:33 PM
Combs' Westmoreland: Cassie would pay for the drugs, you'd go buy them?
Bongolan: Yes.
Westmoreland: Did you meet the Government on May 25 2025 - and June 2, 3 and 4?
Bongolan: Yeah that's not long ago.
Westmoreland: That's today.
Bongolan: I'm not good with dates
1h / 12:29 PM
Combs' Westmoreland: Drugs were expensive, right?
Bongolan: They are expensive?
Westmoreland: Now?
Bongolan: I don't know
Westmoreland: Did you run out of money for drugs?
Bongolan: I don't remember that
Westmoreland: You and Cassie had a drug partnership?
A: Yes
1h / 12:25 PM
Combs' Westmoreland: Read this.
Bongolan: The whole thing?
Westmoreland: This paragraph.
Judge: As much as you want
Bongolan: Thanks... OK
Westmoreland: You didn't tell the government about "I could kill you" - and Tyrone was there?
Bongolan: Yes. I let him go
1h / 12:23 PM
AUSA: Sidebar. J: Yes
[After long sidebar]
Combs' Westmoreland: You met the Government Jan 18, 2024, didn't mention the "I could kill you" - but put it in your subsequent demand letter?
Bongolan: Yes, in a demand letter. I don't know when.
1h / 12:15 PM
Combs' Westmoreland: But at first you told the government it was at a party.
Bongolan: I don't know.
Westmoreland: Your first demand letter said Mr. Combs said I could kill you while he hung you over the balcony?
Bongolan: He did both. Just not at the same time
1h / 12:11 PM
Combs' Westmoreland: You're saying you don't know how he got in to throw the knife, but once he's left you're no longer worried?
Bongolan: I don't remember how I felt.
Westmoreland: You say at a photo shoot Mr. Combs said, I could kill you?
Bongolan: Yes...
1h / 12:09 PM
Judge: Sustained.
Combs' Westmoreland: Didn't you tell the Government they would get in knife fights, plural?
Bongolan: I don't remember
Westmoreland: Let me show you
Bongolan: I was suggesting where the knife came from
Westmoreland: Because it makes no sense
1h / 12:05 PM
Combs' Westmoreland: The birthday party, what drugs were you doing?
Bongolan: I don't remember.
Westmoreland: Alleged knife throwing incident - he just walked in and threw a knife?
Bongolan: I'm not sure.
Westmoreland: Are you telling the truth?
AUSA: Objection!
1h / 12:02 PM
Combs' Westmoreland: About this alleged balcony incident, you and Ms. Ventura talked about the date, the place, who was there?
Bongolan: True.
Westmoreland: In 2015 and 2016 you didn't see any signs of violence, true?
Bongolan: I don't know the exact year
1h / 11:57 AM
Bongolan: I didn't say it like that.
Combs' Westmoreland: Cassie told you she never saw you over a balcony?
Bongolan: No ma'am. I don't remember
Westmoreland (laughs) Alright. Right here. Read this page then look up. You had these conversations?
A: IDK
1h / 11:52 AM
[They've back]
Combs' Westmoreland: Cassie ncluded the balcony incident in her lawsuit?
Bongolan: True.
Westmoreland: Cassie said, This happened at a hotel, true?
Bongolan: She didn't say it like that.
Westmoreland: You said, Your apartment, it has a balcony?
1h / 11:47 AM
Sidebar
1h // 11:45 AM
Combs' Westmoreland: Nov 2023 you are aware Cassie filed a lawsuit - you were working together then?
Bongolan: Yes.
AUSA: May we have a sidebar?
Judge: You may
1h / 11:43 AM
Combs' Westmoreland: You hired Tyrone Blackburn to sue Mr. Combs?
Bongolan: It was to seek justice.
Westmoreland: Your definition of justice is to sue Mr. Combs?
Bongolan: Can you rephrase that?
Westmoreland: Suing for money?
Bongolan: Yes.
1h / 11:41 AM
Combs' Westmoreland: Did you talk with Deonte Nash after his testimony?
Bongolan: Yes.
Westmoreland: But not about his testimony, right?
Bongolan: We know what's going on.
Westmoreland: You don't need to talk because you know-
AUSA: Objection!
Judge: Sustained
1h / 11:39 AM
Combs' Westmoreland: You believed you were one of Cassie's best friends?
Bongolan: Yes.
Westmoreland: But you didn't meet Mr. Combs for a year. You met in 2016, first time at a dinner at this house?
Bongolan: Yes.
Westmoreland: He was standoffish with you?
Yes.
1h / 11:37 AM
Combs' Westmoreland: Name the drug dealers.
Bongolan: I don't know if I can.
Westmoreland: Let's refresh. In this job, your clothing line did not work out due to the skater mentality at Diamond Supply Company?
Bongolan: I believe they saw the vision but, whatever
1h / 11:30 AM
Combs' Westmoerland: You would agree with me that you and Cassie had a serious drug problem?
Bongolan: Yes.
Westmoreland: You sold drugs to Cassie a lot?
Bongolan: Yes.
Westmoreland: You got her 100s of pills?
Bongolan Yes. They were hers.
1h / 11:28 AM
Combs' Westmoreland: How does Ecstasy make you feel?
Bongolan: Uplighted.
Westmoreland: How about G?
Bongolan: Like the negative parts of alcohol.
Westmoreland: Perc?
Bongolan: I threw up
Westmoreland: Cocopuff?
Bogolan: Blunt with weed and cocaine
1h / 11:26 AM
Combs' Westmoreland: You went to parties with Cassie?
Bongolan: Not going to parties. We partied.
Westmoreland: OK. You did a lot of drugs with Cassie?
Bongolan: Yes.
Westmoreland: How did marijuana make you feel?
Bongolan: Sometimes hungry.
1h / 11:22 AM
Combs' Westmoreland: You suggested Cassie do a photo shoot in the pool in just a T-shirt?
Bongolan: That wasn't the first idea. But yeah.
Westmoreland: You began to feel comfortable with her?
Bongolan: Sounds around it.
Westmoreland: You spent the night?
A: Yes
1h /11:20 AM
Combs' Westmoreland: You and Cassie would work on designs, including at her hour, true?
Bongolan: Yes.
Combs' Westmoreland: Alright. You were focused on a T-shirt design.
Bongolan: There were a lot of things.
Westmoreland: She asked you to come over?
A: Yes
1h / 11:17 AM
Combs' Westmoreland: I need to ask you some questions- you have immunity as long as what you say today is true, right?
Bongolan: Yes
Westmoreland: Who decides if you're lying?
Bongolan: The prosecutors?
Westmoreland: Ms. Bon-GOLan, you were a graphic designer?
1h / 11:14 AM
[After yet another sidebar]
Judge: The objections are sustained. Move on.
AUSA Smyser: Your lawsuit, did you write it?
Bongolan: No.
AUSA: How much is being requested?
Bongolan: $10 million...
AUSA: Nothing further.
Judge: Cross?
Combs' Westmoreland: Yes please
1h / 11:05 AM
AUSA: How did you feel during the call?
Bongolan: I declined the offer
Combs' Westmoreland: Not responsive
Judge: Sustained. Move on unless you are prepared to ask some of the foundational questions we discussed at sidebar.
AUSA: Did you talk with him again?
A: No
1h / 11:04 AM
They've back
AUSA: Who did Mr. Holladay say he was calling for?
Bongolan: Puff.
AUSA: What offer was he authorized to offer?
Combs' Westmoreland: Objection!
Judge: Sustained.
1h / 10:55 AM
Sidebar
1h /10:54 AM
AUSA: Did people reach out to you?
Bongolan: Tiffany. Cassie. The producer Rob Holladay.
AUSA: Was he friends with Mr. Combs?
Bongolan: Yes...
Combs' Westmoreland: May we have a sidebar?
Judge: We may
1h / 10:52 AM
AUSA: Did your first lawyer sent demand letters to Mr. Combs?
Bongolan: Multiple. And the demand was high. He picked it.
AUSA: Did you approve the letters?
Bongolan: No. They were incorrect. I let him go -
AUSA: Who?
Bongolan: Tyrone Blackburn
1h / 10:50 AM
AUSA: When the last time you had nightmares?
Bongolan: The other day.
AUSA: Have you hired a lawyer about the balcony incident?
Bongolan: Yes. My first lawyer, hired in January 2024.
AUSA: Did you mention everything in your first meeting with us?
A: No
1h / 10:48 AM
AUSA: Are you aware Cassie included the balcony incident in her complaint?
Bongolan: Yes. I told her she had facts wrong, it wasn't in a hotel, and Tiffany
AUSA: Have you talked with Cassie about your testimony or hers?
Bongolan: No. I have nightmares, I scream
1h / 10:46 AM
AUSA: How do you remember?
Bongolan: I tattooed the date on myself.
AUSA: Why?
Bongolan: It's the day I decided to get sober. It was a New Years thing in Miami, at the One Hotel. Puff, Cassie and I did 8 hours of ketamine together
1h / 10:45 AM
AUSA: Is the neck brace in this photo of you?
Bongolan: Yes.
AUSA: Did you ever talk with Mr. Combs about this?
Bongolan: I said, I don't want any problems with you. He didn't say anything.
AUSA: When did you last see them?
Bongolan: Jan 2, 2018.
h / 10:41 AM
Bongolan: I called one of my managers and they said, if you're scared of anything else, just go to a chiropractor.
AUSA: Did you tell the chiropractor who'd done it to you?
Bongolan: No. They asked but I just paid and took the neck brace.
1h / 10:39 AM
Bongolan: He left, and I left - I wanted to take a shower, I felt disgusted. I saw a huge bruise on my leg. With like a piercing in the middle. And back and neck pain.
AUSA: Is this photo a fair and accurate representation of your leg?
Bongolan: Yes.
1h / 10:35 AM
AUSA: What next?
Bongolan: He threw me on the balcony furniture.
AUSA: Were you injured?
Bongolan: I didn't know at first.
AUSA: What'd Cassie say?
Bongolan: Along the lines of, Did you just hang her over the balcony? Then I heard, "Her girlfriend is in the house"
1h / 10:33 AM
AUSA: What did Mr. Combs scream at you?
Bogolan: He yelled, You know what the f*ck you did! I said back, I don't know what the f*ck I did.
AUSA: How long did he hold you there?
Bongolan: How long it takes to say that multiple times, You know what the f*ck you did
1h / 10:31 AM
Bongolan: Mr. Colms came up behind me on the balcony. He lifted me up and put me on the railing.
AUSA: Can you show us how he held you?
Bongolan: To myself?
AUSA: Show us. How much did you weigh?
Bongolan: I can't say because of the drugs, but about 115 pounds
1h / 10:28 AM
AUSA: What did you do when Mr. Combs arrived?
Bongolan: I took my ex-girlfriend to the bathroom, I went "shhh."
AUSA: Why?
Bongolan: I didn't want to expose her to what I saw.
AUSA: Then?
Bongolan: Went out on the balcony and either lit the blunt or was about to
1h / 10:27 AM
[Jury comes back]
AUSA Smyser: What happened on the balcony?
Bongolan: I was there
AUSA: Now was there?
Bongolan: Cassie and my ex girlfriend at the time.
AUSA: What were you doing?
Bongolan: Sleeping on the couch with my ex.
AUSA: Doing drugs?
A: I don't recall
1h / 10:19 AM
Jury comes out - then is told to return to the jury room.
Judge: Jurors, we have some tech issues, have to go under the tables. I'm going to ask you to retire to the jury room, just for your comfort. We'll bring you back in a few minutes.
1h / 10:12 AM
[They've back]
Judge: Anything before we bring the jury in?
AUSA: No disputes (laughs). But we now think Jane will not get on the stand today, given how this is going. We would like to get Enrique Santos on today, some exhibits for Jane. & tech issues
Judge: OK.
1h / 9:22 AM
Judge: Break
1h / 9:20 AM
AUSA: Did you tell the Government about this threat in your first meeting?
Bongolan: No.
AUSA: Why?
Combs' Westmoreland: Objection!
Judge: Sustained.
AUSA: We could break here
1h / 9:19 AM
Bongolan: Puff came up close to my face and said, I am the Devil and I could kill you (seems to sob)
AUSA: Were you taking drugs that day?
Bongolan: Probably cocaine.
AUSA: Did you continue to see Mr. Combs are that?
Bongolan: Yes.
AUSA: Why?
Bongolan: IDK
1h / 9:17 AM
AUSA: Has Mr. Combs ever threatened you?
Bongolan: Yes.
AUSA: Let me show you a photo from April 2016. Who is in it?
Bongolan: This photographer who goes by the name Bad Boi, with an i. We thought it was cool that was his name. We thought we'd made some art.
1h / 9:15 AM
AUSA: Did you get drugs for Mr. Combs?
Bongolan: Yes, once. Cocaine.
AUSA: Did you sell drugs to others?
Bongolan: Yes, sometimes.
AUSA: Did you try with Cassie to stop drugs?
Bongolan: Yes. We'd try to cook. But there were a lot of drugs around.
1h / 9:13 AM
AUSA: Did Mr. Combs provide you drugs?
Bongolan: Yes. One was called G, I am not an avid user. Ketamine. Marijuana. Cocaine.
AUSA: How often did you get drugs for Cassie?
Bongolan: Often. Those Oxy pills.
AUSA: Did she pay you?
Bongolan: Yes.
1h / 9:12 AM
Bongolan: We were at a party at the Blind Dragon, a karaoke bar in West Hollywood. Then we went to Cassie's house to help her pack. Deonte was there. Puff came...
AUSA: Are you under subpoena?
Bongolan: Yes. I won't get in trouble if I am truthful.
1h / 9:08 AM
AUSA: Did you call the police?
Bongolan: No.
AUSA: Why not?
Bongolan: I was scared.
AUSA: Did you see injuries on Cassie?
Bongolan: She showed me on Facetime before make-up for The Perfect Match.
AUSA: What did she say?
Bongolan: She was quiet
1h / 9:05 AM
AUSA: Did Mr. Combs come over?
Bongolan: Yes. He banged on the door and came in.
AUSA: Do you know how?
Bongolan: I don't know. He was upset. He threw a knife in her direction. And she threw it back. He left swiftly.
AUSA: Were you doing drugs?
A: I don't remember
1h / 9:02 AM
AUSA: Had you or Cassie told Mr. Combs where you were?
Bongolan: No.
AUSA: How did it make you feel?
Combs' Westmoreland: Objection!
Judge: Overruled
Bongolan: Like, oh my God, he knows where we've been.
AUSA: Where would you sleep at Cassie's?
A: Couch or balcony
1h / 9:01 AM
AUSA: What did you do with Cassie?
Bongolan: Drugs... And we'd go shopping. We'd hang out with Deonte and others.
AUSA: Is this a photo of you and Cassie shopping?
Bongolan: Yes. In April 2016. Puff texted Cassie, asked where she was - sent a list where we'd been
1h / 8:58 AM
AUSA: Where did Mr. Combs live?
Bongolan: I think in like Beverly Hills.
Combs' Nicole Westmoreland: Objection! Speculation!
Judge: Ask another question
AUSA: Do you know the name of the street?
Bongolan: Mapleton. 200 South Mapleton
1h / 8:56 AM
AUSA: How would you describe Cassie's relationship with Mr. Combs?
Bongolan: Volatile. I did not want to meet him right away, I had seen a black eye. She begged me to meet him.
AUSA: Did you do design work for Mr. Combs?
Bongolan: A little
1h / 8:54 AM
AUSA: Any after-effects?
Bongolan: Night terrors. I wake up in my sleep.
AUSA: Who is this? [Shows photo]
Bongolan: It's Casandra Ventura, Cassie, my friend. I met her in 2013 at Young and Reckless, the streetwear company. Then at Diamond Designs.
1h / 8:51 AM
[They've back]
AUSA: The Government calls Bryana Bongolan. What else are you called?
Bongolan: Bana.
AUSA: What do you work in?
Bongolan: Fashion designed.
AUSA: What did Mr. Combs do to you?
Bongolan: Held me over a 17th story balcony
1h / 8:47 AM
Sidebar
1h / 8:45 AM
AUSA: Do these videos reliably and accurate depict what happened?
Piazza: Yes.
Judge: You may go. Before the next witness, a sidebar
1h / 8:44 AM
Combs' Geragos: Mr. Piazza, thank you so much for coming, we have no further questions for you.
Judge: Ms. Smyser?
AUSA Smyser: So they are five minutes off?
Piazza: My notes told me there was a five minute 55 second difference. And another offset of five seconds
1h / 8:32 AM
Combs' Geragos: Did you see this translucent or ghostlike figure in the cell phone video as in the surveillance video?
Piazza: The cell phone video was not high qualify enough to capture it.
Geragos: But it's not there
Piazza: It is not.
1h / 8:28 AM
Piazza: There is a five second offset between the two cameras, that's what you just showed.
Combs' Geragos: OK. The female picks up the phone and the male walks away - start again please, is this his walking away?
Piazza: Yes.
Geragos: Play more
1h / 8:24 AM
[Programming note: even I lost track of the thread for some time, kept reverting to "on the ground" 1 hr ago. Now resuming, but this needs to be fixed]
Combs' Geragos: Let's watch it again... Did we just jump about 10 seconds on the time stamp?
Piazza: Yes.
1h / 8:16 AM
Geragos: The female picks up the house phone - there's some sort of cut. Can you explain?
Piazza: Can you back up and go frame by frame?
Geragos: Sure. But is the male separated from her?
Piazza: Yes. The bag-drop triggered it.
Geragos: A 10 second difference
1h / 8:08 AM
Combs' Geragos: Let's again play the male coming into the elevator bank at 11:02 and then... The time stamps are jumping around?
[On the video, Cassie is being kicked on the ground]
Piazza: It's constantly playing catch-up
Geragos: Play ahead, we're at 11:11:28
1h / 7:58 AM
Combs' Geragos: There are two minutes not shown?
Piazza: This is my corrected version. But there are a few issues that we cannot correct. The system is buffering some of that time. And some portions were motion activated.
1h / 7:54 AM
AUSA: This is only for the witness!
Judge: Yes.
Combs' Geragos: So you called it cheap?
PIazza: I don't know when this document was created.
Geragos: But you thought the system was cheap.
Piazza: In a way.
Geragos: Let me play you 10-C-103
1h / 7:52 AM
Combs' Geragos: Who gave the surveillance video to you?
Piazza: The US Attorney's Office
Geragos: Who gave it to them?
Piazza: I don't know.
Geragos: Did you say it was from a cheap system?
Piazza: I don't think I said that.
Geragos: Let me show you notes [3500]
1h / 7:51 AM
[They've back]
Combs' Teny Geragos: What is your understanding of the source of those surveillance videos?
Piazza: The native system.
Geragos: How did they come to your possession?
Piazza: They were exported and transcoded.
1h / 7:30 AM
Judge: Break
1h / 7:29 AM
AUSA: These are enhanced versions of original videos created in 2012, 2014... Mr. Piazza, what were you asked to do with the sexually explicit video?
Piazza: Enhance the audio component.
AUSA: We admitted these videos into evidence, and no further questions.
1h / 7:26 AM
AUSA: You find these accurate?
Piazza: Yes. And this was all the footage I had.
AUSA: Let's turn to the sex videos. PX 201 to 210. Let me clarify: these are under seal. There was recovered from the Frank Black user on a device provided to the US by Ms. Ventura
1h / 7:23 AM
AUSA: Continue playing. Who is emerging now?
Piazza: The female. With a duffle, her luggage.
AUSA: Now who?
Piazza: The security person.
AUSA: Now the man [Combs] walks away. Holding what?
Piazza: Appears to be a cell phone. He puts it to his ear.
1h / 7:14 AM
AUSA: How what is he holding?
Piazza: It appears to be a cell phone, glowing.
AUSA: Let's focus on what happens in the mirror. Play it. What happened?
Piazza: The male picked up a small object, what appears to be vase, and threw it across the room at the woman
1h / 7:11 AM
AUSA: Is this the compilation?
Piazza: Yes
AUSA: Play the first 30 seconds. What is happening?
Piazza: The male is running down the hallway... He throw her down
[Now dragged her, on screen]
AUSA: What did the man just do?
Piazza: Dragging the woman, holding a bag
2h / 7:05 AM
AUSA: Did you make a compilation?
Piazza: Yes. Your Office requested it. They are edited to track the movement of individuals inside the events.
AUSA: Does it have different camera angles in it?
Piazza: Yes
AUSA: How did you show the changes?
Piazza: Black screen
2h / 7:02 AM
Piazza: This seems to be a collision of two issues. Look at the male sitting down. There appears to be a ghost of a person. The Motion Activity begins to sense that we have motion. Now there is a full figure in the frame. That file is corrupted
2h / 7:00 AM
AUSA: Did you see pixelation?
Piazza: Yes.
AUSA: Does it represent manipulation?
Piazza: No. You can choose Motion Activity. The camera only turns on when there is motion. But it causes time stamp issues. Go back frame by frame, I want to point something out
2h / 6:54 AM
Piazza: You don't know this, but a static camera does not re-record a wall that doesn't move each second - it is repeated. Only what moves is recorded. Thank you.
AUSA: Play 55 seconds.
[Video shown: Combs throws Cassie to the ground and kicks her]
2h / 6:52 AM
Piazza: Here, the video stream was corrupted. This has caused a distortion.
AUSA: The whole file or just these small pieces?
Piazza: The corruption exists in the video stream. There is a structure called a GOP, a group of pictures. We have predictive frames
2h / 6:48 AM
Piazza: The clock was sent to play 30 frames a second, but this was 22 frames. So it played faster. We had to account for that.
AUSA: How?
Piazza: We counted the frames and used software to correct the timing.
AUSA: Were the surveillance videos altered?
A: No
2h / 6:43 AM
Piazza: This cell phone video, video of a video, was shot on an iPhone 6. 30 frames a second. It was not edited or tampered with, I found.
AUSA: Did you reach a conclusion?
Piazza: They are accurate.
AUSA: And the surveillance videos?
Piazza: There were issues
2h / 6:40 AM
AUSA: You analyzed cell phone videos, and surveillance videos?
Piazza: Yes.
AUSA: Let me show you.
[Video of toweled Combs kicking Cassie on the ground is shown]
AUSA: What is a frame rate?
Pizza: Frame per second. It can cause a video to have more info per second
2h / 6:34 AM
AUSA: How many times have you worked for SDNY?
Piazza: 50 or 100 times.
AUSA: Does that impact your testimony?
Piazza: No. I do 75% defense work.
AUSA: Are you being paid? What is your hourly rate?
Piazza: 295.
AUS: Dollars?
Piazza: Yes.
2h / 6:31 AM
AUSA: Have you testified before?
Piazza: Mostly criminal matters. I've also done some civil, & depositions.
AUSA: Have you been qualified as an expert?
Piazza: 50 times.
AUSA: We move to qualify Mr. Piazza as an expert.
Defense: No objection
Judge: He's an expert
2h / 6:24 AM
[Witness, in suit, is sworn i]
AUSA: Where do you work?
PIazza: Legal Audio and Video. 2h 6:21 AM
AUSA: Owner asks, How is her eye? D-Roc: I told everyone a fight broke out in the club. She ain't trippin, she ain't tell nobody, I'm about to call you.
Judge: Thank you. The Government may call its next witness.
AUSA: The Government calls Frank Piazza
2h / 6:19 AM
AUSA: The data shows Twitter exhibits... & texts to D-Roc, who says, We in the security room. Owner: What does Shorty say? D-Roc: Cass is calling studios looking for you. Owner: What did she say on the other thing? Act like I said I am not fucking with her. D: OK
2h / 6:15 AM
Judge: I'll ask our courtroom deputy to check on our jury.
Jury entering!
AUSA: First, we wish to enter some exhibits into evidence before the jury. "A search of 2 Star Island by HSI found this cellphone," now Para 14, "the exhibits are excerpts of the data."
2h / 6:09 AM
AUSA: We are working on a different instruction before the testimony of Jane, on the pseudonym issue.
Judge: Just hand it up, if you agree, and I will read it. Does witness Bryana Bongolan need a 5th Amendment immunity order?
AUSA: Yes. [Colloquy, done]
2h / 6:06 AM
Judge: Defense has to Monday to respond. Is Dr. Hughes' 2d testimony about coercive control, given what the 2d Circuit said in [US v Larry] Ray?
AUSA: Yes, under that recent decision.
2h / 6:04 AM
Judge: Mr. Combs says it's wack, or whack. It goes to state of mind. It is admissible. Anything more? The Doctor Hughes letter?
2h / 6:01 AM
Judge: I don't see the probative value of these defense exhibits. The defense is free to question the witness about them. What about drugs?
Combs' Shapiro: It shows the witness was taking ketamine with Cassie, and Mr. Combs didn't like it.
AUSA: It's inadmissible
3h / 5:53 AM
Combs' Alexandra Shapiro: We want to put in album art for Ms. Ventura's Love a Loser video, it shows she is engaged in business independent of Mr. Combs. You're going to ask, why do you need photos-
Judge: I was going to ask that
Shapiro: AUSAs have done it too
3h / 5:49 AM
Combs' Shapiro: This is impeachment material
Judge: These are assaults under Rule 608(b)? Is that fair?
Shapiro: It's not 608(b)... We're happy to provide the proffer ex parte, it's difficult to explain the fact
Judge: Ex parte proffer is irregular [filings too]
3h / 5:45 AM
[Before jury comes in]
Judge: What about the witness' conflicts with other romantic partners?
AUSA: The last one was with a colleague, not a girlfriend
3h / 5:41 AM
OK - US v Sean Combs Day 16, video fight comes to head, then victim-witness Jane, texts not to be shown?
DAY: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
AND NOW THE VERSION NBC NEWS
POSTED TO THEIR WEBSITE
2h ago / 1:27 PM PDT
Court adjourned until late tomorrow morning
Adam Reiss, Jing Feng and Doha Madani
Court is adjourned for the day after attorneys stayed behind to hash out finer details without the jury present.
Testimony will resume tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. when Bongolan returns to the witness stand for more cross-examination.
2h ago / 1:27 PM PDT
Defense lawyers losing after hour time with Combs
Adam Reiss, Jing Feng and David K. Li
For the past several days, Combs hasn't been able to speak to his own lawyers once he returns to jail after court, his attorneys said.
The defendant has 300 minutes on his books but for some reason can't get in touch with lawyers at night, defense attorney Xavier Donaldson told the court.
"This is unacceptable," Donaldson said.
Judge Subramanian said he'll reach out to the jail and see what could he done.
There is an email system for prisoners, Corrlinks, but that normally comes with a 24- to 48-hour delay so that's not helpful, defense attorney Geragos said.
2h ago / 1:06 PM PDT
Testimony done for the day
Adam Reiss, Jing Feng and David K. Li
Judge Subramanian sent jurors home and asked them to return to court before 11 a.m. on Thursday.
The defense lawyer, Westmoreland, said she has 30 to 45 minutes of questions left for this witness, Bongolan.
2h ago / 12:50 PM PDT
Defense challenging balcony dangling incident
Adam Reiss, Jing Feng and David K. Li
The defense tried to discredit Bongolan's memory of the alleged dangling incident, asking if she hasn't kept all details of it straight.
Combs' attorney Westmoreland insinuated in questions that Bongolan couldn't recall from which direction the defendant came at her or what she might have been smoking at the time of the alleged attack.
She answered, "I don't remember," multiple times.
2h ago / 11:56 AM PDT
Witness testifies she reconnected with Ventura around time of her lawsuit
Adam Reiss, Jing Feng and Doha Madani
Bongolan testified under cross-examination that she reconnected with Ventura and worked for her in late 2023, around the time Ventura filed her lawsuit against Combs.
Defense attorneys probed Bongolan about her conversations with Ventura at the time, asking if they discussed filing legal action as they worked. Bongolan said she did speak to Ventura before and after Ventura filed her lawsuit, but the two didn't discuss it while working.
The pair did discuss the balcony incident in relation to the location and date it happened, Bongolan told the court.
She also testified that Ventura asked if she could use Bongolan's name in her lawsuit when discussing the incident, but Bongolan said no.
2h ago / 11:45 AM PDT
Witness admits to regular drug use
Adam Reiss, Jing Feng and David K. Li
Bongolan testified both she and Ventura had once been very regular drug users when they were in Combs' social world.
Under cross-examination, Bongolan confirmed she did ketamine, marijuana, ecstasy, cocaine and Vicodin in this time of her life. Bongolan said one of her favorite drugs was a blunt with sprinkles of cocaine.
"We had a problem," she said.
2h ago / 11:24 AM PDT
Defense opens up cross-examination by probing witness' immunity
Adam Reiss, Jing Feng and Doha Madani
Combs' attorney Nicole Westmoreland began cross-examination of Bongolan by asking her again about the immunity order she was provided for her testimony.
Westmoreland clarified that the protection against prosecution only works if Bongolan is truthful. She then followed up by asking Bongolan who she understands has the power to decided whether or not she is lying.
The prosecutors, Bongolan answered.
2h ago / 11:21 AM PDT
Being dangled over balcony isn't worth $10 million, witness says
Adam Reiss, Jing Feng and David K. Li
The witness said she sued Comb for $10 million, in order to "seek justice for what happened to me on the balcony."
When Bongolan was asked by the prosecution if she could give away $10 million for the balcony incident to have never happened, she unequivocally said yes.
2h ago / 10:57 AM PDT
Balcony incident left witness with nightmares and paranoia, she says
Adam Reiss, Jing Feng and Doha Madani
After Combs allegedly dangled Bongolan over the balcony, she said she was left with a lasting psychological impact.
Bongolan testified that she had nightmares and used to scream in her sleep. She added that she dealt with feelings of paranoia, sometimes peeking her head out at her own home just to make sure the area was clear.
2h ago / 10:54 AM PDT
Bongolan tried to talk to Combs about incident to no avail, she says
Adam Reiss, Jing Feng and Doha Madani
A day or two after the balcony incident, Bongolan said, she received a FaceTime call from either Combs or someone on his team.
She told the court that she repeatedly stated that she didn't want to have problems with Combs, but Combs didn't say much. Bongolan testified that Combs put his hand over his head while looking into the camera.
2h ago / 10:48 AM PDT
Ventura in 'disbelief' following Combs' balcony threat, witness says
Adam Reiss, Jing Feng and David K. Li
Ventura was in a nearby room and didn't witness Combs allegedly dangling Bongolan over the balcony — but she was nonetheless shocked by the incident, the witness said.
"He threw me on the balcony furniture, it definitely hurt, wasn't sure if she was injured," Bongolan told the jurors.
"Cassie was in her bedroom but she came out. I heard her voice, her tone was in disbelief."
2h ago / 10:40 AM PDT
Bongolan testifies Combs yelled at her while holding her over balcony
Adam Reiss, Jing Feng and Doha Madani
Bongolan testified that she was dangled over the 17th story balcony for maybe 10 to 15 seconds while Combs yelled, "you know what the f--- you did."
She said she had no idea what he was talking about and told Combs as much, Bongolan said. Combs allegedly came up behind her and lifted her above his chest to hold her up against the balcony, she told the court.
Bongolan described herself as 5-foot-1 at the time and weighing roughly 100 to 115 pounds. She told the court she was trying not to slip while pushing back on Combs because she was scared she was going to fall.
3h ago / 10:16 AM PDT
Courtroom returns from lunch
Adam Reiss, Jing Feng and Doha Madani
The courtroom has returned to court after the lunch break and Bongolan is back on the witness stand.
4h ago / 9:24 AM PDT
Jury breaks for lunch
Adam Reiss, Jing Feng and David K. Li
Judge Arun Subramanian declared a recess for lunch, telling jurors to return to court before 1:05 p.m. ET.
When jurors return, they'll hear more from Ventura's friend Bongolan and her description of alleged threats made by Combs.
4h ago / 9:22 AM PDT
Combs called himself the 'devil' and said that he could kill her, witness says
Adam Reiss, Jing Feng and Doha Madani
One interaction Bongolan recalled while on the witness stand was a moment in which Combs allegedly told her something along the lines of, "I am the devil and I can kill you."
She told the court that she was terrified. Bongolan also testified that he had taken cocaine at the time of the incident.
4h ago / 9:12 AM PDT
Threw knives at each other, witness testifies
Adam Reiss, Jing Feng and David K. Li
Bongolan testified she witnessed Combs throw a knife at Ventura during a violent outburst at her apartment.
Bongolan didn't recall the exact year when this incident unfolded, but said it happened in the middle of night at Ventura's place in Los Angeles.
Ventura picked up the knife and hurled it back at Combs, the witness said. Both their throws missed.
4h ago / 8:56 AM PDT
Bongolan says she had night terrors after Combs allegedly dangled her from balcony
Adam Reiss, Jing Feng and Doha Madani
Bongolan testified that Combs held her over a 17th-story balcony in 2016 before throwing her onto the balcony's furniture.
The mental affects of the assault left her with night terrors, she told the court. She added that there were times where she would scream in her sleep.
Ventura mentioned the balcony incident, without naming Bongolan, in her 2023 lawsuit against Combs. Ventura also testified about the incident while on the witness stand last month.
4h ago / 8:51 AM PDT
Bryana Bongolan taking the witness stand
Adam Reiss, Jing Feng and David K. Li
The government called Ventura's friend Bryana Bongolan to the witness stand.
Earlier today, Bongolan cited her Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination and prosecutors have said she won't be prosecuted as long as she testifies truthfully.
4h ago / 8:38 AM PDT
Security video getting an extended look by jurors
Adam Reiss, Jing Feng and David K. Li
Piazza’s testimony might be coming across as highly technical and tedious as lawyers go moment by moment through security footage of Combs and Ventura.
The rather dry testimony, though, has led to a cumulative impact of jurors having to sit through an extended look at Combs’ brutal beating of his then-girlfriend March 5, 2016, in Los Angeles.
While Combs’ defense, in opening statements, conceded he’s prone to out-of-control temper tantrums, this kind of reminder might not be helpful to his cause.
5h ago / 8:08 AM PDT
Footage of sex acts filed under seal
Adam Reiss, Jing Feng and David K. Li
The prosecution filed into evidence, under seal, 10 sex videos involving Ventura.
The footage was dated between 2012 and 2014 and came from a user file marked "Frank Black," an alias Combs allegedly used while traveling.
2h ago / 7:30 AM PDT
Expert taking jurors through the video step by step
Adam Reiss, Jing Feng and David K. Li
The witness, Piazza, is walking jurors through video footage of Combs' 2016 videotaped beating of Ventura at a Los Angeles hotel.
He's confirming the video's authenticity and walking the court through a version he’s stitched together, showing events as they happened in chronological order.
2h ago / 6:54 AM PDT
Video shown of Combs beating Ventura not altered, witness says
Adam Reiss, Jing Feng and David K. Li
The primary task of this video expert appears to be authenticating that footage of Combs beating Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel has not been altered.
Piazza said there are "no anomalies" in the disturbing footage shown of Combs assaulting his then-girlfriend Ventura at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles in 2016.
2h ago / 6:24 AM PDT
Frank Piazza, video expert, called to the stand
Adam Reiss, Jing Feng and Doha Madani
Court is in session and the government has called its first witness: a forensic video expert named Frank Piazza.
Piazza was sworn in and took the stand wearing a dark suit.
3h ago / 6:22 AM PDT
Bryana Bongolan, a Ventura friend, to testify with immunity
Adam Reiss, Jing Feng and David K. Li
Bryana Bongolan, a friend of Combs' former girlfriend and key government witness Cassie Ventura, invoked her Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination.
The witness has been told she won't be prosecuted as long as she tells the truth on the stand, prosecutors said.
It wasn't immediately clear what Bongolan could say that'd put her into any legal jeopardy. Bongolan has alleged that Diddy dangled her over an apartment balcony during a previous altercation.
Earlier this week, hotel security guard Eddy Garcia also invoked his rights against self-incrimination. It turned out that he testified about helping Combs team secure video of the mogul's beating of Ventura.
3h ago / 5:41 AM PDT
Court is in session
Adam Reiss, Jing Feng and Marlene Lenthang
Court is now in session for Day 16 of Combs' racketeering and sex trafficking trial.
4h ago / 5:14 AM PDT
Former CFO of Bad Boy Entertainment detailed Combs' business finances
Adam Reiss, Jing Feng and Marlene Lenthang
Derek Ferguson, the former chief financial officer of Bad Boy Entertainment, testified yesterday and detailed the structure of Combs’ businesses.
His testimony confirmed that Combs had signatory power over the funds, and prosecutors will likely use this to argue that Combs may have run a criminal enterprise.
Ferguson stated he never witnessed Combs commit violence or a sexual assault. But he did confirm that a $20,000 payment was made from Ventura’s family to Combs in December 2011.
Ventura’s mother, Regina Ventura, previously testified that Combs demanded the family pay $20,000 to keep him from releasing sexually explicit videos of Ventura after he learned she was seeing rapper Scott Mescudi, also known as Kid Cudi. She also told the court she received the money back days later.
4h ago / 4:33 AM PDT
Woman disrupted court yesterday, shouting 'Diddy's innocent!'
Marlene Lenthang and Adam Reiss
A woman disrupted court yesterday morning, shouting in Combs’ defense — "It’s not right what they’re doing to him!" and "Diddy’s innocent."
U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian ordered court marshals to escort her out. The uproar unfolded before the jury was seated.
5h ago / 3:46 AM PDT
Hotel security officer testified yesterday that Combs paid $100K to suppress assault video
Erik Ortiz and Pilar Melendez
Eddy Garcia, a former security supervisor at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles, testified yesterday that Combs and his team desperately wanted to get the sole copy of the security video that showed the music mogul attacking Ventura in March 2016.
In exchange for $100,000 divided among the hotel’s security team members, Garcia testified that he signed a nondisclosure agreement that called for his silence and the destruction of evidence.
Garcia admitted on the stand that he was so "nervous" about the NDA that he didn’t read it all before he signed it. He said the Combs presented stacks of cash in a brown paper bag and that he used his share of the money to buy a used car.
5h ago / 3:46 AM PDT
Who is expected to testify today
Erik Ortiz and Pilar Melendez
Frank Piazza, a forensic video expert, and Bryana Bongolan, who alleges that Combs dangled her over an apartment balcony, may testify today.
Yesterday, prosecutors said they were concerned about Victim-2's identity, who is referred to with the pseudonym "Jane." Jane is expected to take the stand tomorrow.
DAY: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
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