This story contains graphic descriptions that some readers may find disturbing.
Prosecutors in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ criminal trial are pulling back the curtain on the music mogul’s alleged sex-trafficking enterprise thanks to unearthed personal messages and revealing testimony from Combs’ former staffers.
Video footage of Combs attacking his former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura Fine, at a Los Angeles hotel in 2016 once again took center stage in his sex-crimes case.
Jurors have already seen footage of the assault, but on June 17 they saw messages from Combs, Ventura Fine, Combs’ former chief of staff Kristina “KK” Khorram, and his bodyguard known as D-Roc after the rapper was seen kicking and dragging his girlfriend in a hotel hallway.
In one message, Combs falsely told Ventura Fine he was “about to be arrested” as he pleaded with her to come back to the hotel. Ventura Fine stayed away − but she did tell her then-boyfriend that a male escort they allegedly hired for a “freak off” had also left the property.
That wasn’t the only time “freak offs” came up in testimony: Jurors watched roughly 20 minutes of what appeared to be video footage created between 2012 and 2014 of the elaborate sexual performances.
The prosecution is scheduled to rest its case on June 18, ahead of the Juneteenth holiday. However, U.S. attorneys plan on calling two to three more witnesses. One of them includes Combs’ former assistant Brendan Paul.
Combs, 55, was arrested in September and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty.
Who is Brendan Paul? Meet the former Diddy aide who’s set to testify about drugs
Paul, Combs’ former assistant, is expected to take the stand late in the afternoon on June 17 or early June 18. But what will he tell jurors about his former boss.
Paul, a former Syracuse University basketball player, is expected to testify about obtaining drugs for Combs and his entourage. The former aide and his lawyer spoke with USA TODAY’s Josh Meyer at the Manhattan courthouse, dressed in a jacket and tie. He wouldn’t testify until 2:30 ET at the earliest.
Paul was previously accused of transporting a wide array of drugs for Combs, including GHB, the common date-rape drug allegedly used against his victims. He was arrested at a Miami airport last year for transporting cocaine and marijuana candy.
However, the charges were dropped late last year. He was granted an immunity order in Combs’ case, requiring him to tell the truth to prosecutors to shield himself from further prosecution.
Jurors shown apparent ‘freak off’ videos from 2012 to 2014
Before lunch, jurors were shown roughly 20 minutes of what appeared to be video footage of “freak offs,” created between 2012 and 2014.
The videos were shown in three to four minute increments. Jurors were all wearing earphones, and the monitors that had been used during testimony were cut off to the courtroom gallery. At one point, the courtroom gallery could hear the faint sound of heavy breathing, and the judge reminded jurors to make sure that their headphones were fully on because the microphone feed appeared to be picking up the video.
Throughout the roughly 20 minutes of videos, special agent DeLeassa Penland looked uncomfortable on the stand and at one point appeared to close her eyes and wince.
Special agent addresses ‘freak off’ evidence
When she returned to the stand on June 17, Penland went over details of evidence from alleged “freak offs” in New York and Los Angeles between Combs, Ventura Fine and others.
For example, Penland, a special agent with the U.S. attorney’s office in the Southern District of New York, provided three American Express statements of as much as $944,059 from Combs. The documents included a $4,000 a day hotel suite and $46,786 in damages to the penthouse of the Intercontinental New York in Times Square on Oct. 5, 2012.
Multiple witnesses have alleged that Combs held “freak offs,” or elaborate sexual performances that involved male escorts, at the hotel. Damages were often extensive from the use of baby oil, candle wax and more.
D-Roc and Kristina Khorram: Combs’ aides responded to 2016 hotel attack
Penland provided more detail about the roles that Khorram and bodyguard Damion “D-Roc” Butler played in the much-discussed 2016 incident where Combs physically assaulted Ventura Fine at a now-closed luxury hotel in Los Angeles.
The evidence showed Khorram and Butler were intimately involved in responding to the incident, and Khorram spoke to the hotel security in an effort to obtain video footage of the assault.
For example, Krorram texted Combs’ former assistant Elie Maroun, “I’m going to ask just to cover damages” after the rapper checked out of the hotel room.
“He wants to speak to Spanish security guard,” Maroun said.
“Say they had a fun drunk night to try and get more info,” Khorram responded.
Butler also called Ventura Fine several times after she left the hotel. The next day, he texted Combs when Ventura Fine was eating breakfast, saying “her face don’t look bad. She good.”
Cross-examination turns tense
As Combs’ lawyers cross-examined Penland, the questioning quickly turned tense. The attorneys showed explicit text messages Ventura Fine sent to Combs about wanting to participate in “freak offs.” Some messages between the then-couple were warm, with Ventura Fine telling Combs how much she loved him.
Teny Geragos, one of Combs’ defense attorneys, asked Penland why she didn’t ask for complete text message exchanges between the couple while she was on the stand. The agent hit back that it wasn’t her job − she was merely asked to verify the evidence that she was given while on the stand.
Judge tears into TMZ, Daily Mail for leaking information on juror
During early court proceedings, Judge Arun Subramanian angrily responded to tabloid reports in TMZ and the Daily Mail with information about one of the jurors.
“Someone is lying here,” the judge said, asking if Combs’ lawyers, prosecutors or others had shared any information.
He specifically questioned defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo, asking him when he learned that the info had been leaked. Agnifilo said that he only knew about the story after prosecutors sent it to him.
The judge said that an investigation will seek to identify the source of the leak, and criminal charges could be filed.
Diddy falsely told Cassie he was going to be arrested after 2016 hotel assault
Phone and text records showed that Combs pleaded with Ventura Fine to return to the Los Angeles area hotel where surveillance footage captured him attacking her in a hallway.
“I went and checked everything and spoke to security. Jules left so you’re good and as long as you don’t disturb the other guests they’ll leave you be,” Ventura Fine texted him, referring to a sex worker they hired for an alleged “freak off.”
“I am about to be arrested,” Combs texted Ventura Fine after she left the hotel, saying police were at the building. Records showed he called her five times in 22 minutes, but there’s no evidence law enforcement was involved in the incident.
“I have a premiere Monday. For the biggest thing I’ve ever done in my life. I have a black eye and a fat lip. It was time for me to go. You are sick for thinking it’s okay to do what you’ve done,” Ventura Fine texted him, likely referring to a premiere for the 2016 film “The Perfect Match.” “Please stay far away from me.”
Prosecutors say they plan to call a few more witnesses; rest later this week
Prosecutors said that they’ll rest their case by the end of court proceedings on June 18, ahead of the Juneteenth holiday the following day.
But before they wrap up their arguments, prosecutors are going to call two to three more witnesses. That includes another former Combs assistant named Brendan Paul.
Jury sees communication about Diddy hiring male escort
During the June 16 hearing, prosecutors showed text messages and emails from Combs about booking a flight for a man named “Jules” to travel from Los Angeles and New York in 2009. Jules was a male escort who previous witnesses have said participated in the rapper’s alleged “freak offs.”
Other messages between Combs and members of his teams also showed discussions about purchasing flights for the man.
Diddy on trial newsletter: Step inside the courtroom as music mogul faces sex-crimes charges.
Have Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio come up in Diddy’s trial?
You may have seen major celebs like Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio named during Combs’ trial. But the A-list actors aren’t accused of anything − they’ve only been mentioned in the background of events Combs attended.
For example, a former assistant identified as Mia alleged that she witnessed a 2012 discussion between Combs and Cassie Ventura Fine escalate at the premiere of a Pitt film during the Cannes Film Festival in France.
She claimed she saw Combs grit his teeth while digging his nails into Ventura Fine’s arm, and he eventually insisted that Ventura Fine leave.
Mia also referenced a high-stakes poker game between Combs and DiCaprio in texts she sent him around 2020.
In one message, she wrote that Combs said, while cursing: “That ‘Titanic’ (guy) doesn’t know (anything). He won $10,000, I won $650,000.”
50 Cent says he’ll reach out to Trump to prevent a Diddy pardon
50 Cent is looking to give President Donald Trump his two cents about Combs. In an Instagram post on May 30, the “In da Club” emcee said he would reach out to Trump after the president said he would “look at the facts” in Combs’ case, suggesting a pardon could be on the table.
The rapper shared a clip of the president’s comments in his post and wrote that Combs “said some really bad things about Trump,” adding that he will “reach out so he knows how I feel about this guy.”
Who is ‘KK’? Former critical Diddy staffer Kristina Khorram could testify
Federal prosecutors on June 5 referred to Combs’ former staffer Khorram as “an agent and co-conspirator” of the rapper.
That doesn’t mean she’s about to face charges; instead, it indicates she’s likely reached an agreement with prosecutors and will testify.
The designation also comes as prosecutors submitted a text from Ventura Fine to Khorram about the alleged 2016 balcony incident in which Combs attacked Bryana “Bana” Bongolan. The message from Ventura Fine said Combs “went at Bana, choked her, dangled her feet off the balcony. This is crazy. I have to get away.”
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Texts from Diddy’s ‘right hand’ Kristina ‘KK’ Khorram revealed
Ananya Sankar, a paralegal specialist for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, took the stand June 16 to go through communications from Khorram to the mogul and his ex-girlfriends.
The court saw texts from Ventura Fine to Khorram, dating back to 2017 and 2018. “No one deserves to be dragged by their hair,” Cassie wrote in one. In another, she said, “I can’t do the violent, scary, kick-me-out-my-own-house thing anymore.”
There was also a 2023 text from Combs’ other ex “Jane” to Khorram, in which she said, “No more hard-partying and no more hotel nights.” She also said she wanted to celebrate Combs’ birthday normally.
Judge dismisses juror after debate over ‘lack of candor’
Judge Arun Subramanian dismissed juror No. 6 on June 16, apparently over the juror’s statements about where he lives and who he lives with at home. The move came after nearly a week of back-and-forth over what prosecutors had described as the man’s “lack of candor” about his living situation.
The juror is a 41-year-old Black male, but no other details were immediately available. During jury selection, the man apparently said he lives with his partner and daughter in the Bronx. But last week, he reportedly said he’s been living with his family in New Jersey.
An alternate juror was subsequently promoted to take his place: a 57-year-old accountant from Westchester County, according to multiple reports. He is a white man.
Combs’ lawyers have claimed the dismissal of Juror No. 6 indicates the prosecution’s racial bias.
No, Eddie Murphy did not testify in the Diddy trial
Despite videos circulating online, which appear to show artificially generated court sketches of Eddie Murphy testifying at Combs’ trial, the actor hasn’t been in the courtroom and isn’t expected to be called as a witness.
While a specter of celebrity hangs heavy over the proceedings, many of the big names roped in have merely been name-drops from the standby lesser-known witnesses from Combs’ inner circle.
The only true “celebrities” to testify thus far have been Casandra “Cassie” Ventura Fine, Kid Cudi and Danity Kane singer Dawn Richard.
Is Diddy still in jail?
The disgraced music mogul remains in custody, and, despite repeated attempts at bail, has remained confined to the Special Housing Unit in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center. He has been in jail since his arrest on Sept. 16, 2024.
What is Diddy on trial for?
Combs is facing federal sex-crimes and trafficking charges in a sprawling case that has eroded his status as a power player and kingmaker in the entertainment industry.
He was arrested in September 2024 and later charged with racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. The rapper has pleaded not guilty to the five counts against him.
What is racketeering? Meaning of RICO charges
Racketeering is the participation in an illegal scheme under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Statute, or RICO, as a way for the U.S. government to prosecute organizations that contribute to criminal activity.
Using RICO law, which is typically aimed at targeting multi-person criminal organizations, prosecutors allege that Combs coerced victims, some of whom they say were sex workers, through intimidation and narcotics to participate in “freak offs” — sometimes dayslong sex performances that federal prosecutors allege they have video of.
How to stream the Diddy trial
The trial will not be televised, as cameras are typically not allowed in federal criminal trial proceedings.
USA TODAY will be reporting live from the courtroom. Sign up for our newsletter for more updates.
Contributing: USA TODAY staff
If you are a survivor of sexual assault, RAINN offers support through the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org and en Español RAINN.org/es.
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text “START” to 88788.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: P Diddy trial live updates: Jurors see freak off clips, hear breathing
