Diddy trial recap: Ex-assistant ‘Mia’ says she was ‘brainwashed’ and didn’t report Sean Combs’s alleged abuse
Mia, who was given a pseudonym to protect her identity, was aggressively cross-examined by Combs’s lawyers last week
Sean “Diddy” Combs’s former assistant “Mia” returned to the witness stand on Monday, kicking off the fourth week of testimony in the music mogul’s sex trafficking trial.
Mia, who was given a pseudonym to protect her identity, testified that she did not report Combs’s sexual abuse because she was “terrified and brainwashed” by him. Her testimony comes after Combs’s attorney Brian Steel asked her if she told the truth when she testified last week that Combs sexually assaulted her.
"I would not lie in this courtroom," Mia responded. "I never lied in this courtroom. Everything I have said is true."
The day ended with brief testimony from Sylvia Oken, director of sales and marketing at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Documents from her hotel revealed Combs booked rooms under the name “Frank Black.” The jury also saw a $500 bill from the hotel, which included charges for “oil damage.”
The high-profile trial in New York has attracted significant attention, including from President Donald Trump, who has not ruled out a potential pardon for Combs if the rap star is convicted.
“Nobody’s asked, but I know people are thinking about it,” Trump said last week.
Combs is facing five federal courts of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution.
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Sunny morning as week four of the trial begins
Ariana Baio reports from New York:
I’m back at the federal court for the continuation of cross-examination of “Mia”, a former Combs employee who has testified about witnessing and experiencing his abuse.
It’s a sunny but cool morning here in Manhattan.
On Friday, we left off in cross-examination with Brian Steel, a defense attorney for Combs, questioning “Mia’s” testimony using old social media posts she made praising Combs.
Steel accused “Mia” of lying about her recount of sexual abuse at the hands of Combs - insinuating it was not unwanted.
A recap of Diddy's ex-assistant's recent testimony
Diddy employee ‘Mia’ says music mogul repeatedly slammed her arm in bathroom door
Watch: Everything to know about the Sean "Diddy" Combs' trial
Who will testify after Mia?
Prosecutors named four witnesses they will call after Sean “Diddy” Combs’s ex-assistant Mia finishes testifying.
The list included Eddie Garcia, who worked in security at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles. Video footage released last year shows Combs beating his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura at the hotel in 2016.
Forensic video expert Frank Piazza and a hotel custodian are also expected to testify soon.
Mia on the stand
Sean “Diddy” Combs’s ex-assistant, who is testifying under the pseudonym “Mia,” is back on the stand as the defense continues their cross-examination.
Catch up on the beginning of her cross-examination as court resumes:
Diddy assistant stunned into silence as defense accuses her of making up rape claim
Defense points out Mia's work history
Sean “Diddy” Combs’s defense attorney asked Mia about her resume and work history before she assisted the music mogul.
Mia’s resume says she worked for comedian Mike Myers from 2008 to 2009.
Defense reads Mia's texts to Diddy
Sean “Diddy” Combs’s defense attorney is reading out texts Mia sent to the music mogul.
Around Christmas 2018, Mia texted Combs, “Merry Christmas love you so so much.” Mia testified she had just seen Combs at Kim Porter’s funeral. Porter, who had three kids with Combs, died in November 2018.
In January 2019, Mia texted Combs that she was thinking about him after she had a dream that he saved her from being trapped in an elevator with R. Kelly. Two months later, Mia wrote to Combs, “all the love in the world.”
Mia testified she sent these texts because she was still under Combs’s grip “psychologically,” even though she didn’t work for him anymore.
Mia says she saw Diddy as her 'protector'
Mia testified that she saw Sean “Diddy” Combs as her “protector” while being cross-examined today.
Her statement came after the defense asked her about a 2019 text she sent to Combs. In the text, Mia said she was thinking about him after she had a dream that he saved her from being trapped in an elevator with R. Kelly.
Mia says she didn't record Diddy's outbursts
Mia testified that she never filmed Sean “Diddy” Combs’s outbursts because it would be a “huge break of trust, loyalty and confidentiality.”
“I would not have been allowed to film that,” Mia testified. “I was filming whatever he wanted me to film.”
Mia also said she never texted a friend about Combs’s alleged violence.
Defense tries to discredit Mia's claims of sexual abuse
Sean “Diddy” Combs’s defense attorney Brian Steel asked Mia if she was telling the truth when she testified last week that Combs sexually assaulted her.
"I would not lie in this courtroom," Mia responded. "I never lied in this courtroom. Everything I have said is true."
Steel also asked Mia if she ever wrote to “a friend, family member, police officer, anybody” telling them she was assaulted.
“No, the only time I reached out for help was very subtly to people in the office, but not disclosing things that other people hadn’t witnessed,” Mia responded. “No, I would never.”
Earlier today, Steel showed the jury several texts Mia sent to Combs from 2018 to 2020.