Diddy trial recap: Kid Cudi set to testify after Combs’s ex-assistant recounted cleaning up baby oil in hotel rooms
Rapper Kid Cudi, who dated Cassie Ventura in 2011, is set to testify on Thursday in Sean Combs’s sex trafficking trial
Sean “Diddy” Combs’s ex-assistant George Kaplan testified today in the music mogul’s New York sex trafficking trial.
After Diddy's hotel room stays — which could span from 12 hours to days — Kaplan said he was asked to grab the rapper's belongings from the room and ensure it was in a "polished state." This usually included picking up empty bottles of Gatorade, liquor and baby oil, he testified.
It was "implied" that he was asked to complete this task to "protect Mr. Combs," because hotels would frequently sell videos and images of celebrities to embarrass them, Kaplan said.
Rapper Kid Cudi, who dated Cassie Ventura in 2011, is expected to take the stand Thursday.
Earlier today, forensic psychologist Dawn Hughes testified as an expert witness on sexual abuse. Homeland Security Investigations special agent Gerard Gannon also testified about the 2024 raid on Combs’s 20,000-square-foot Miami home. He said agents found AR-15 rifle parts, a handgun, 25 bottles of baby oil and MDMA on the property.
Combs is facing sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution, and racketeering conspiracy charges. Combs was arrested in September 2024 as federal authorities alleged he threatened, abused, and coerced victims “to fulfill his sexual desires” between 2004 and 2024. Combs has denied any accusations of wrongdoing.
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Dawn Hughes confirms she doesn't know specifics of this case
Forensic psychologist Dawn Hughes is being cross-examined by Sean “Diddy” Combs’s attorney.
She has confirmed she hasn’t read up on the specific details of this case.
“I’m not rendering any opinions about a specific individual,” she added.
Hughes did confirm she knows that a woman named “Cassie” is involved in the trial. But Hughes said she didn’t review her testimony.
Next witness granted immunity to testify
George Kaplan, another one of Sean “Diddy” Combs’s former assistants, has been granted immunity to testify, according to NBC News. He will take the stand later today.
Yesterday, ex-assistant David James testified about his time working for Combs.
Kaplan can’t be prosecuted for the answers he gives today. However, he’s not immune from perjury.
Jury sent out as attorneys debate testimony
Judge Arun Subramanian has asked the jury to leave the courtroom for a few minutes, CNN reports.
The defense wants to ask forensic psychologist Dawn Hughes about a 2015 webinar she gave about preparing for testifying in court.
The prosecution says this doesn’t reveal that Hughes has any bias. The defense says Hughes was training advocates for women who were abused.
Subramanian said the defense can ask about the training.
Defense asks Dawn Hughes about teaching victim advocates
Dawn Hughes told Sean “Diddy” Combs’s defense attorney she once taught a webinar preparing victim advocates to testify in court.
Combs’s attorney asked Hughes if she had ever testified in defense of a man who was accused of a sex crime.
Hughes confirmed she had not, adding that she does not “evaluate offenders.”
Hughes is an expert in “interpersonal violence” and “traumatic stress,” according to her website.
Cross-examination of Dawn Hughes ends
The defense has ended their cross-examination of forensic psychologist Dawn Hughes.
Dawn Hughes is off the stand
Dawn Hughes has finished testifying.
George Kaplan, Sean “Diddy” Combs’s former assistant, has now been called to the stand.
Diddy's ex-assistant says he worked up to 100 hours a week
George Kaplan, Sean “Diddy” Combs’s former assistant, told the jury he worked up to 100 hours a week and was paid $125,000 by the music mogul.
Kaplan helped prepare Combs’s chef and housekeeping staff each day. He also made sure Combs’s bathroom was stocked with his toiletries and medications.
Kaplan was granted immunity to testify today, NBC News reports. However, immunity does not protect him from perjury.
Kaplan says Diddy requested drugs often
George Kaplan said his former boss, Sean “Diddy” Combs, often asked him to get drugs and other items while he was his assistant.
Combs would request “clothing or potentially food from somewhere or drugs or liquor or an iPad or a speaker,” Kaplan testified.
Kaplan said Combs threatened to fire him at least once a month.
Kaplan describes setting up hotel rooms for Diddy
George Kaplan said one of his duties as Sean “Diddy” Combs’s assistant was setting up hotel rooms.
The first time he set up a hotel room, Kaplan said Combs handed him a bag and told him to unpack it. Inside were clothes, a speaker, baby oil, lubricant and a speaker, he testified.
Kaplan says it was his job to help protect Diddy's image
George Kaplan said it was his job to protect Sean “Diddy” Combs’s image while working as his assistant.
“Protecting him and protecting his public image was very important and that was something I was very keen on doing,” Kaplan testified.