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

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 27, 2025, 8:07 PM GMT

Clark breaks down as defense digs into her business relationship with Combs

After Capricorn Clark testified earlier Tuesday that a gun-carrying Sean Combs forced her into a car to confront Scott Mescudi, aka rapper Kid Cudi, in December 2012, the defense asserted on cross-examination that she had a different motive.

"Isn't it true that you went so that Mr. Combs wouldn't do something stupid?" defense attorney Marc Agnifilo asked.

"No," Clark answered.

"You went because you were afraid he was going to do something stupid," Agnifilo insisted.

"I went because he told me he didn't care that I didn't want to go," Clark responded. "I did not want to go and it was not my choice, sir."

Agnifilo also questioned Clark about her testimony regarding events at Mescudi's house and her call to Cassie Ventura.

"You're telling this jury you 100% said the word 'gun' on that phone call?" Agnifilo asked.

"Yes," Clark answered. "I said it very quickly. I said, 'Puff came to my house with a gun."

In her earlier testimony, Clark said that before she telephoned Ventura, she called actress Lauren London.

"Tell us why you did that," Agnifilo asked Clark.

"She was the only one that was sort of in our orbit. She was like my sister at the time. I just wanted someone to know where I was in case this all went really bad. I called her for my protection," Clark responded, her voice shaking with emotion.

"Are you aware that Sean Combs and Lauren London were friends for years after this?" Agnifilo asked.

"Yes," Clark responded.

Clark again broke down in tears and sobs when confronted by several emails she sent to Combs, which were shown to the court. One, sent in 2014, read, "Hopefully you'll forgive me soon. It's been long enough. I feel like you've forgiven everyone else but me."

A second email presented by the defense, which Clark sent to Combs in early 2015, said, "Sending you blessings and love for a new year."

Clark also became emotional when Agnifilo showed her yet another email that she sent to Combs on his birthday, Nov. 4, 2015. "My hope for this year is that you make good on your promise to get over things and actually be my friend again," the email read.

Through sniffles, Clark testified that she "felt that I was somewhat of a protector for Puff. That email is me pleading, like, dude, let it go." Clark told the court that the stakes for her were high because her parents are gone and her son has autism.

Agnifilo kept asking Clark why she wanted to work with Combs again.

"I wanted my life back, sir," Clark testified.

"You want to work with him again," Agnifilo said.

"I wanted to work in the music industry," Clark replied.

Redirect examination by the prosecution has now begun.

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May 27, 2025, 7:05 PM GMT

Capricorn Clark continues testimony; prosecutors say case running ahead of schedule

Before the defense resumed their cross-examination of former Sean Combs assistant Capricorn Clark, federal prosecutors said outside of the jury's presence that their case is running ahead of schedule and could be finished in a total of five weeks, rather than the six weeks they previously said they may require.

Once cross examination resumed, Clark compared Cassie Ventura's talent to that of music legends Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey in her testimony, telling the court that Ventura's talent fell short of that level.

When Ventura performed live it "wasn't the greatest," Clark testified under cross-examination.

The defense has asserted that Combs' alleged coercive control over Ventura didn't deprive her of career opportunities, as prosecutors have alleged.

"She got top-tier talent to support her to become a star," defense attorney Marc Agnifilo asked Clark, who agreed.

"Were there other artists in Bad Boy who were getting less attention and support than she got?" Agnifilo asked, referring to Comb's record label, Bad Boy Records.

"She got a considerable amount of support. That was the early days," Clark responded. "The lion's share of Bad Boy was on Cassie at that time."

Clark told the court that In 2012, for the single "King of Hearts," she had Ventura dye her hair bright yellow. The jury was shown a photo of Ventura with the hairstyle.

"She had the shaved head before," Clark testified. "I wanted to depart from that. I wanted something edgier, bolder."

Agnifilo asked, "You wouldn't do this against her will would you?"

"No," Clark replied.

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May 27, 2025, 5:08 PM GMT

Defense questions Clark about working relationship with Combs: 'I had the biggest crush on you'

During a cross-examination that hopped from time period to time period, Capricorn Clark testified that she didn't know the connection between Sean Combs and the large man she told the court earlier today repeatedly administered lie detector tests to her on suspicion that she stole jewelry loaned to Combs.

"You don't know what relationship he has to Mr. Combs?" defense attorney Marc Agnifilo asked. Clark responded that she did not know.

Clark broke down again on the witness stand while she testified about a working relationship with Combs that she compared to business school for someone like her who did not finish college.

"Separate from all this stuff, I did learn a lot from Puff," Clark testified, her voice quaking. "I worked for him in varying roles over a long period of time."

Agnifilo asked, "He let you know you were talented, hardworking and effective?"

"True," Clark responded.

Agnifilo introduced a text message that Clark sent to Combs in June 2021 in which she told him "I had the biggest crush on you." Clark testified that she had no memory of sending the message but conceded that she liked Combs "as a friend."

"You also respected him?" Agnifilo asked.

"Yeah," Clark replied.

A month after federal agents raided Combs' two homes as part of their criminal investigation, Clark floated the idea of returning to work as Combs' chief of staff, the defense stated.

"You wanted to come back and work with Mr. Combs as his chief of staff?" Agnifilo asked.

"We discussed it, yes," Clark replied.

"What you said was, 'You were always able to take care of him,'" Agnifilo said.

The court is now in a lunch break, after which cross-examination will continue.

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May 27, 2025, 4:26 PM GMT

Clark tells court Combs allegedly kicked Cassie upon discovering her relationship with Kid Cudi

Former Sean Combs assistant Capricorn Clark testified that while she was on the phone with Cassie Ventura, which was while Sean Combs had allegedly broken into Scott Mescudi's house, she heard Mescudi in the background say, "He's in my house?"

Clark testified that she told Ventura, "Cassie, stop him. He's going to get himself killed," referring to Mescudi.

Clark told the court that Combs ordered her to fetch Ventura. "He told me to tell Cassie that he has me and he's not going to let me go until I come get her," Clark testified.

A photo of Capricorn Clark is in evidence as Government Exhibit 2A-406.
A photo of Capricorn Clark is in evidence as Government Exhibit 2A-406.

Clark further testified that she and Ruben, one of Combs' bodyguards, were sent to pick up Ventura to allegedly get her to convince Mescudi not to tell police that Combs was involved in the alleged break-in at his house.

"If you don't convince him, I'm going to kill all you m------------," Clark testified Combs told her.

Clark testified that she returned to Combs' house with Ventura. "Puff (was) standing there in a robe and his underwear and he immediately began kicking Cassie," she told the court.

Clark told the court that Combs allegedly kicked Ventura repeatedly, and that with "each kick she would crouch into more and more a fetal position" until Ventura was all the way to the street. "Every time she got kicked, she moved back" and remained in a "full fetal position," Clark testified.

Asked why she didn't intervene, Clark responded that Combs allegedly told her that "If I jump in, he was going to f--- me up, too."

Clark took off her glasses and rubbed her eyes with a tissue as she testified, her voice breaking with emotion, about calling Regina Ventura, Cassie Ventura's mother, and telling her that Combs was allegedly "beating the s--- out of your daughter. Please help her. I can't call the police, but you can."

The next day, Dec. 23, 2011, is when Ventura previously testified that she sent Clark and her mother the email about Combs threatening to release two sex tapes that the jury was previously shown.

Clark testified that she was fired by Combs in August 2012, and that she returned in 2016 to work as Cassie Ventura's creative director. She told the court that everything from "soup to nuts" required approval from Combs. She also testified that she noticed an increase in Ventura's drug use.

Clark told the court that left Combs' employ in 2018, which she added was the last time she communicated with Ventura.

The prosecution's direct examination of Clark is over. Court is taking a break before cross-examination.