Sean Combs trial updates: Court adjourned until Tuesday after Kid Cudi testimony

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Last updated: Thursday, May 22, 2025 11:36PM GMT
Diddy trial recap: 2nd week of testimony concludes with Kid Cudi's shocking testimony

NEW YORK -- The second week of testimony in the sex trafficking trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs began on Monday.

Combs has been accused of sex trafficking by force, transportation to engage in prostitution, and racketeering conspiracy as part of a blockbuster federal indictment originally filed in September 2024. He later faced two additional superseding indictments. Combs has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges.

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.)

ByAaron Katersky ABCNews logo
May 20, 2025, 3:14 PM GMT

Former assistant testifies he stocked Combs' hotel rooms with 'freak off' supplies, procured drugs

As Sean Combs then-personal assistant, David James, testified that he was required to ensure Sean Combs' hotel rooms were stocked with 40 different skin care products, a Luis Vuitton bag that routinely contained $10,000 cash, and "probably 25 or 30 different pill bottles."

James testified that he procured drugs for Combs, sometimes prescription Percocet, which he told the court he sometimes filled under his own name.

David James testifies on the witness stand during Sean "Diddy" Combs sex trafficking and racketeering trial in Manhattan federal court, Monday, May 19, 2025, in New York.
David James testifies on the witness stand during Sean "Diddy" Combs sex trafficking and racketeering trial in Manhattan federal court, Monday, May 19, 2025, in New York.

"Did you give him or anyone else permission to fill prescriptions in your name?" prosecutor Christy Slavik asked, referring to Combs.

"I don't recall that," James answered.

James also testified that Combs allegedly took ecstasy pills marked with the face of former President Obama. Asked how often he saw Combs take drugs, James responded, "I would say every day."

Obtaining and distributing narcotics is among the alleged racketeering acts in the indictment against Combs.

In his testimony, James recalled taking ecstasy and dancing around one of Combs' parties. Later, James testified, Combs reviewed footage of the party, noticed James in the footage and allegedly told him, "I'm going to keep this footage in case I ever need it."

James also testified he stocked Combs' hotel rooms with baby oil, Astroglide lubricant, condoms and prophylactics that he paid for in cash provided by one of Combs' security guards.

James further testified that in 2008, Combs asked him to bring an iPod into a hotel room in Miami. Since James had set up the room he had a key and opened the door to let himself in, he told the court.

"I saw the Cassie on the bed. She had a white comforter up to her neck, her head to the side and she did not move when I entered," James testified. He also told the jury that he remembered a "gentleman" in the room he did not recognize.

"He was completely naked, about 5 feet, 8 inches" with a "very large endowment," James testified.

The man "scurried out as if he didn't want to be seen," James told the court.

ABCNews logo
May 20, 2025, 1:43 PM GMT

Cassie Ventura's mother expected to take stand Tuesday, prosecution says

Tuesday's witnesses are expected to include an alleged escort known as "The Punisher," as well as Cassie Ventura's mother, prosecutors said.

ByAaron Katersky ABCNews logo
May 20, 2025, 1:17 PM GMT

Combs' one-time personal assistant returns to witness stand Tuesday

Sean Combs' one-time personal assistant, David James, returns Tuesday to the witness stand where he became emotional recalling his job interview with the vice president of human resources at Bad Boy Records.

"We were sitting at her desk and there was a picture of Mr. Combs on the wall," James began before choking up at the memory. "She pointed at the wall and she said, 'This is Mr. Combs' kingdom. We're all here to serve in it.'"

His service lasted two years, from 2007-2009, and in that time, James witnessed Combs allegedly attack his personal chef, a woman named Jourdan, who is expected to testify later this week. James also testified that Ventura once told him she could not leave Combs because he controlled too much of her life.

"She was, like, 'I can't, I can't get out,' you know. 'Mr. Combs oversees so much of my life,'" James testified.

James is expected to testify about a time when Combs and others went to confront Suge Knight at Mel's Diner. Ventura had previously testified about it as part of her description of the culture of fear that Combs and his employees allegedly created.

"Sean and I were having a 'freak off' at one of his homes in LA. And, um, I just remember we were kind of, like, just chilling at this point. And D-Roc came in and he said that Suge was down at Mel's Diner, which was just right down the hill. And they quickly packed up and drove down there," Ventura recalled. "I was crying. I was screaming, like, please don't do anything stupid."

Combs is seated at the defense table in a darker colored crew neck sweater. His attorneys are trying to convince the jury jealousy and drugs caused him to be violent. Federal prosecutors argue his violence was meant to coerce Ventura into sex performances with male escorts. One of those escorts, who Ventura said she knew as "The Punisher," is expected to testify Tuesday, along with Ventura's mother.

She is expected to testify about sex tapes that her daughter described as "blackmail materials" and about injuries on her daughter's body that the jury has already seen in photographs.

ABCNews logo
May 19, 2025, 11:48 PM GMT

Former Combs assistant describes working for the music mogul: 'This is Mr. Combs' kingdom'

Former Sean Combs assistant David James took the stand for the prosecution. He testified that he remembered interviewing to be Sean Combs' personal assistant at the headquarters of Bad Boy Entertainment on Broadway, during which time someone remarked on a photo of Combs hanging on the wall.

"This is Mr. Combs' kingdom. We're all here to serve it," James testified the woman told him.

James told the jury about what he said were demanding hours, the weapons Combs' security staff allegedly carried and the time James said he, Kerry Morgan and Cassie Ventura were smoking cigarettes on Combs' dock in Miami Beach.

"She said to me, 'Man this lifestyle is crazy,'" James testified of Ventura. "She said, 'I can't get out.' You know, 'Mr. Combs oversees so much of my life. He controls my music career, he gives me an allowance.'"

James also told the jury that part of his job was ensuring that hotel rooms in which Combs would stay were stocked with items Combs wanted.

Court adjourned just after 3 p.m. ET. Prosecutors said Tuesday's witnesses will include an alleged escort known as "The Punisher," as well as Cassie Ventura's mother.

Eyewitness News and ABC News legal contributor Bernarda Villalona break down new witness testimony, and shocking evidence revealed in Sean Combs' sex trafficking trial.