Diddy trial recap: Ex-assistant ‘Mia’ reveals she has ‘complex PTSD’ while testifying about harrowing sexual abuse
Ex-Combs assistant faced aggressive questioning from mogul’s lawyers on Friday in Manhattan federal court
Sean “Diddy” Combs’s former assistant “Mia” told jurors that she suffered from “complex PTSD” as she returned to the stand Friday, closing out the third week of testimony in the music mogul’s sex trafficking trial.
Direct examination of Mia, a pseudonym given to protect her identity, began again after proceedings resumed inside Manhattan federal court, but she was later aggressively cross-examined by Combs’ lawyers who sought to discredit her claims using her own social media posts.
Mia, who worked for Combs for eight years, previously alleged that she was was forced to perform a sex act on Combs and, in another incident, was allegedly raped in the spare room of his Los Angeles home.
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.
The high-profile trial in New York has been ongoing for three weeks and attracted significant attention, including from President Donald Trump, who did not dismiss a potential pardon for Combs, should he be convicted, when asked by reporters at a press conference on Friday.
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Mia planned to 'die with' alleged sexual assaults
The court heard how Mia hired employment attorneys in 2017 to help her negotiate a severance and bonuses.
She said her attorneys had originally requested a settlement offer of $10 million to Combs and his companies, but she ultimately received only about $200,000.
Asked if she’d brought up the alleged sexual assaults, she replied: “Oh, no. I was going to die with that.”
She was then asked if she would return the money “to have this never have happened.”
“Oh absolutely,” she replied.
Mia suffers from 'complex PTSD' after working for Combs
Mia said she is currently not working and suffers from “complex PTSD” after working for Combs.
She told the court the symptoms included misinterpreting emails, triple guessing herself and feeling like she is in trouble when someone calls her name.
Court breaks
The prosecution’s direct-examination of Mia has finished, with court taking a quick break.
Defense attorney Brian Steel will cross examine her when court returns.
Mia's cross-examination begins
Defense attorney Brian Steel has begun his cross examine of Combs’ former assistant, who is being referred to as the pseudonym “Mia.”
Defense confronting Mia over social media pictures of Combs
Defense attorney Brian Steel is confronting Mia over several posts on her social media accounts which feature pictures of Combs.
Captions of the pictures included: “Thank you for giving me an extended family for life.” She also referred to Combs as her “mentor.”
“You wrote... you are forever one of my great fans - this about the man who traumatized you?” Steel said, to which Mia agreed.
She added that she had made positive posts about Combs because social media was about showing off about a great life even if it wasn’t true in reality.
From the court: Combs watches as 'Mia' testifies
Combs' alleged abuse 'ruined' Mia
Brian Steel asked Mia if the abuse she claims to have suffered at Combs’ hands had left her “broken.”
“The sexual abuse was part of the way he ruined me, yes,” Mia responded.
Mia had to 'beg' to go to her grandmother's funeral
Mia told the court that she had to ask “permission” for lots of things, including attending her own grandmother’s funeral.
She said had friends but was not allowed to see or speak to them.
“I did not have an external sounding board,” she said, adding... “and I had to get permission to leave or do things.
“I had to beg to go to my grandma’s funeral.”
Mia says she and Combs were 'best friends'
Asked why she played down her treatment by Combs and the allegations against him, Mia said that she was afraid to upset the mogul and that they were “best friends.”
“How are you best friends with a man you say raped you?” defense attorney Brian Steel asked.
“Ask my therapist,” Mia replied.