Sean Combs: "Someone is lying."

Summary

Dateline NBC: Sean Combs - "Someone is lying."

Release Date: June 18, 2025
Host: NBC News
Episode Title: Sean Combs: "Someone is lying."

---

Overview

In this gripping episode of Dateline NBC's "On Trial" series, host Andrea Canning delves into the high-stakes racketeering trial of music mogul Sean Combs. With Combs pleading not guilty to all charges, the courtroom drama unfolds with intense scrutiny over evidence, witness testimonies, and potential jury complications. NBC News correspondent Chloe Meloss provides real-time updates from the courtroom, offering listeners an in-depth look into the strategies of both the prosecution and the defense as they battle for the jury's favor.

---

Jury Challenges and Courtroom Turmoil

The trial has encountered significant hurdles with the jury selection process. Andrea Canning reports that juror number six was dismissed recently, and now juror number seven is under scrutiny. Chloe Meloss explains the predicament:

Chloe Meloss [02:40]: "Juror number seven was called in by the judge on Friday, and we could actually see him on the screens in the overflow room where the media and the public sit, but you couldn't hear him."

An anonymous text message to juror seven raised concerns about information leaks, leading the judge to investigate potential breaches. The judge emphasized the severity of the situation:

Chloe Meloss [02:27]: "I'm going to investigate this and I'm going to... potentially legal ramifications for the prosecution or the defense if I find out that anybody gave this information to the press."

This incident has heightened tensions in the courtroom, with Canning noting:

Andrea Canning [04:15]: "It's in situations like this, Andrea, that I just wondered, they could have just sequestered them, right? I mean, they didn't."

The judge's frustration became apparent when he dismissed all members of the press from the courtroom to address the juror issue privately.

---

Prosecution Presents Damaging Evidence

A pivotal moment in the trial occurred when the prosecution unveiled credit card receipts and AMEX bills allegedly linked to Combs and his staff. These documents detailed exorbitant expenses from hotel stays and damages allegedly related to nights with escorts. Chloe Meloss highlights some of the staggering figures:

Chloe Meloss [07:31]: "One of the bills was from the InterContinental Hotel from October 5, 2012. Guess how much it was. Do you want to take a guess?"

Chloe Meloss [07:48]: "Well, let me tell you the exact amount. $46,787.56."

Additional charges included damages at the Beverly Hills Hotel, with bills amounting to $950 for drapes and carpet damage. The prosecution aims to demonstrate that these expenses were funneled through Combs' business entities, suggesting misuse of company funds for personal indulgences.

---

Defense Counters with Contradictory Evidence

In response, the defense introduced text messages intended to portray the "freak offs" (the term used for these orchestrated encounters) as consensual and mutually enjoyable events. These messages aimed to undermine the prosecution's narrative of forced sexual encounters and suggest that participants were willing and happy.

Chloe Meloss [10:48]: "They did. And the point of those messages seems to be that they're trying to show that Cassie lied when she told KK that her neighbors were going to call the police."

The defense also presented evidence questioning the credibility of Cassie Ventura's accounts, indicating discrepancies in her statements about police involvement and the severity of her injuries. This strategy seeks to cast doubt on the prosecution's claims of assault and coercion.

---

Courtroom Dynamics and Future Proceedings

Amidst the ongoing trial, the judge's frustration with the leaked information continues to cast a shadow over the proceedings. Andrea Canning notes the judge's stern demeanor:

Chloe Meloss [11:40]: "He's trying to figure out this issue with juror number seven. And like I mentioned, we don't know what they've decided yet. He is not having a good day. He is angry. He's mad about this information being leaked to some news outlet about juror number seven."

Looking ahead, the prosecution plans to call Brendan Paul, Sean Combs' assistant who was arrested on drug charges during raids of Combs' properties. Paul's testimony is expected to be a critical blow to the defense, providing further insight into the alleged racketeering activities surrounding Combs.

Chloe Meloss [12:39]: "The prosecution is going to call Brendan Paul... This is big. And we're gonna hear about what went down that day."

---

Conclusion

As the Sean Combs trial progresses, Dateline NBC provides listeners with a front-row seat to the unfolding legal battle. With mounting evidence, contentious witness testimonies, and jury complications, the case promises to keep audiences on edge. Andrea Canning and Chloe Meloss continue to deliver comprehensive coverage, ensuring that all key developments are thoroughly examined and presented with clarity.

For those following this high-profile case, stay tuned to Dateline NBC for daily updates and in-depth analysis.

---

Produced by: Franny Kelly, with Alison Orr and Liz Brown Kurloff as Senior Producers
Executive Producer: Paul Ryan
Senior Executive Producer: Liz Cole
Original Music: Jesse McGinty
Listen to more episodes: Dateline Premium

Transcript

[Willie Geist]

Avoiding your unfinished home projects because you're not sure where to start. Thumbtack knows homes so you don't have to don't know the difference between matte, paint, finish and satin or what that clunking sound from your dryer is. With Thumbtack, you don't have to be a home pro, you just have to hire one. You can hire top rated pros, see price estimates and read reviews all on the app.

[Thuma]

Download Today Create an oasis with Thuma, a modern design company that specializes in furniture and home goods, by stripping away everything but the essential. Thuma makes elevated beds with premium materials and intentional details using the technique of Japanese joinery. Pieces are crafted from solid wood and precision cut for a silent stable foundation. Assembly takes just 5ish minutes with no tools required. To get $100 towards your first bed purchase, go to Thuma Co Pandora that's T H U M A Co Pandora.

[Jenna Bush Hager]

Hey everyone, it's Jenna Bush Hager from Today with Jenna and friends, reminding you to check out my podcast Open Book With Jenna. In this week's episode, I Sit down with Tiffany Haddish live at the Read With Jenna Book Festival. We talked about everything from her new memoir, I curse you with Joy to her powerful journey growing up in foster care, learning to read as a teenager, and how she found healing through humor, books and storytelling. You can listen to the full conversation now by searching Open Book with Jenna wherever you get your podcasts.

[Andrea Canning]

This is On Trial, a special series from Dateline True Crime Weekly, bringing you daily coverage from the Sean Combs racketeering trial. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him. I'm Andrea Cannon and it's Tuesday, June 17th. Just a heads up in this episode, we're going to be talking about some graphic details and harrowing subject matter today in downtown New York Court kicked off with more juror issues. And that's also how the day ended up in between. The prosecution showed credit card payments for hotel rooms they say Combs and his staff booked for nights with escorts on cross. The defense pulled up more text messages that they say suggest Cassie Ventura enjoyed at least some of those nights. NBC News correspondent Chloe Meloss was in the courtroom this morning as those receipts were shown and as the judge read both legal teams the riot act. Chloe is outside now to get us up to speed. Hey Chloe.

[Chloe Meloss]

Hey Andrea.

[Andrea Canning]

So after a relatively quick and painless jury selection process, now in week six, there's there are problems. We've got turmoil with the jury. Juror number six was officially dismissed yesterday and now it appears we have some issues with juror number seven.

[Chloe Meloss]

Here's the deal with juror number seven. Juror number seven was called in by the judge on Friday, and we could actually see him on the screens in the overflow room where the media and the public sit, but you couldn't hear him. But a news organization published an article about juror number seven, and they knew all this information that was discussed behind closed doors. He said that he received a text message from an unknown number, a number he didn't recognize, wasn't stored in his phone, asking him if he was juror number six. Right. Because there were all these discussions and it was all in the media late last week that juror number six might be dismissed. And so this juror did the right thing, alerted the court, let the judge know. But that devolved into the judge learning that he had had a conversation with a former colleague. So we're not exactly sure juror number seven is potentially in trouble here, but we do know that the judge is having another conversation with him today. Now, I also want to point out the judge said that he wants to find out who leaked what, when, and how. And the judge is like, I'm going to investigate this and I'm going to, you know, there will be potentially legal ramifications for the prosecution or the defense if I find out that anybody gave this information to the press. And all of this happening Amid juror number the sixth of having been dismissed this week, juror number 7 may be dismissed. So it's in situations like this, Andrea, that I just wondered, they could have just sequestered them, right? I mean, they didn't. They didn't do that.

[Andrea Canning]

Also relating to the jury, yesterday afternoon, while you and I were taping, the prosecution played some video clips from freak offs.

[Chloe Meloss]

This was something that we thought perhaps would be played for jurors earlier on because there's been so much discussion about these freak offs. So some of the jurors were seen wincing and kind of frowning during these videos that were played. So they have to put headsets on when they're watching. And they have these screen protectors so that nobody else can see. These are exhibits that are sealed to protect the privacy of those involved and the judge and also the defense. They don't want these videos being put up all over the Internet and embarrassing everybody. And really just kind of feeding that media circus that we've seen around this trial.

[Andrea Canning]

The defense played some different clips of the freak offs, a different portion of the same video. What were they trying to show by showing that section of the video, they're.

[Chloe Meloss]

Trying to show that these were not forced sexual encounters. The defense has always maintained that everyone that participated in these freak offs were doing so consensually. It's in an attempt to show the jurors that people were happy there were conversations being had. It wasn't this forced sex trafficking situation that the prosecutors are trying to make it seem.

[Andrea Canning]

All right, Chloe, when we come back today, both the prosecution and the defense returned to Cassie Ventura. What more is there to say? Find out.

[Willie Geist]

Hey guys, Willie Geist here reminding you to check out the Sunday Sit down podcast. On this week's episode, I get together with Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill, to talk about that Star wars role that has shaped his Life for nearly 50 years now and his gripping new film from the Mind of Stephen King. You can get our conversation now for free wherever you download your podcasts.

[Jenna Bush Hager]

Hey everyone, I'm Jenna Bush Hager from the Today show and I'm excited to share my podcast Open Book with Jenna. It is back for season two. Each week, celebrities, experts, friends and authors will share candid stories with me about their lives and new projects. Guests like Rebecca Yarros, Kristin Hannah, Ego Wodom, and more. Like a good book, you'll leave feeling inspired and entertained. Join me for my podcast Open Book with Jenna. Listen now on Apple Podcasts.

[Andrea Canning]

Dateline True Crime Weekly.

[Willie Geist]

Andrea Canning and the Dateline team cover breaking crime news around the country. And now a special series with daily updates from the trial of Sean Combs.

[Andrea Canning]

I'll be talking to NBC News correspondent Chloe Meloss every day after court about what she's seeing ins the witnesses, the evidence and what it all means. DATELINE True Crime Weekly. Listen now, wherever you get your podcasts. Chloe, we mentioned at the top that the prosecution showed the jury some receipts allegedly relating to the hotel nights. What kind of things stood out to you from from what the jury saw.

[Chloe Meloss]

These freak offs could be expensive. And I don't just mean the hotel room and the escorts. What made it so pricey? Some of the damage. One of the bills was from the InterContinental Hotel from October 5, 2012. Guess how much it was. Do you want to take a guess?

[Andrea Canning]

A lot.

[Chloe Meloss]

Well, let me tell you the exact amount. 46,787 $6.

[Andrea Canning]

Man.

[Jenna Bush Hager]

A car for that?

[Chloe Meloss]

Two cars? How is that even possible? The Hermitage, $950. Beverly Hills Hotel. There were two $500 bills and that had to do with damage to the drapes and to the carpet. So you can only imagine an important.

[Andrea Canning]

Point the prosecution seems to be making is that these types of expenses were paid for by Combs company cards.

[Chloe Meloss]

Yes. So we saw a lot of different receipts and AMEX bills that show that everything from travel, the damage, hotel rooms were paid for from his different business entities. Perhaps when the defense puts on their case, Andrea, they're going to say, well, Combs didn't know. He just put it on a credit card and expected his team to divide up personal and business. I think with they're going to try to say is that Combs wasn't doing his own expenses.

[Andrea Canning]

Right.

[Chloe Meloss]

Right.

[Andrea Canning]

Next, the prosecution pulled messages from March 2016, and that is right around the time of the incident at the hotel in L. A where Combs can be seen on surveillance video kicking Cassie when she's on the ground. Why did they go back to these messages?

[Chloe Meloss]

Because these messages appear to corroborate Eddie Garcia Sia's testimony. Remember, he's the security guard who testified that he helped his boss sell that security footage to Combs.

[Andrea Canning]

Right.

[Chloe Meloss]

Remember the money in these brown paper bags? And he ended up paying double the amount instead of 50,000, it was 100,000. And they also show a lot of interaction between KK member Christina Corum and Drock Combs, head of security. And they seem to be helping Combs keep tabs on Cassie and communicating with her her on his behalf. Remember, Combs showed up to her place. He had a hammer. He was banging on the door. This was after he had beaten her brutally in the hallway of the hotel. So in one message, you have Cassie writing to KK Rock says he's 15 minutes away. This is crazy. He won't stop. Cassie to KK again, can you please tell him that the neighbors are about to call the police? Police. And then Drock to KK Tell him he needs to get out of there before they call the police. And there's even another exchange in which Combs actually writes to Drock about those injuries that Cassie had sustained, saying, how is she and Drock responding? She's okay, eating breakfast. Face don't look bad. She's smiling. Call her. And remember, Cassie testified that she had to recover from those injuries at a hotel for several days.

[Andrea Canning]

On across the defense, they pulled up messages from that day as well, giving a different view.

[Chloe Meloss]

They did. And the point of those messages seems to be that they're trying to show that Cassie lied when she told KK that her neighbors were going to call the police. Combs also wrote to Cassie, hey, call me. The cops are here on Cross Examination today of this SDNY investigator, the individual who was on the stand said that they didn't see any evidence that cops were ever called. No LAPD calls to Cassie's phone, no reports from the lapd. And there were no incident reports. They also showed many, many text messages, Andrea, that seemed to show Cassie reacting positively to Combs suggestions to have freak offs and expressing positive feelings towards him after they happened. And we also saw this with Jane.

[Andrea Canning]

After the judge dismissed the jury today, he also dismissed everyone else. He said, slate is up.

[Chloe Meloss]

What.

[Andrea Canning]

What did.

[Chloe Meloss]

What does that mean? He kicked everybody out, all members of the press, both in the courtroom and in the overflow room. And that's because he's trying to figure out this issue with juror number seven. And like I mentioned, we don't know what they've decided yet. He is not having a good day. He is angry. He's mad about this information being leaked to some news outlet about juror number seven. And the big question for me is, is juror number six, having been dismissed this week, gonna talk and give interviews?

[Andrea Canning]

Are they allowed once they've been dismissed?

[Chloe Meloss]

Once they've been dismissed, yes. They can talk from their own personal perspectives.

[Andrea Canning]

So the judge wouldn't put some type of gag order on them to wait until there's a verdict?

[Chloe Meloss]

Hey, I guess that he could because he's not happy right now, especially about information being leaked to the press.

[Andrea Canning]

Yeah, well, judges are humans, too. They're people, too. And they have bad days. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day. Did we get any information, Chloe, about the schedule for the rest of this trial?

[Chloe Meloss]

Well, tomorrow it definitely should be an exciting day because the prosecution is going to call Brendan Paul. He's Combs assistant who was arrested on drug charges during the raids of Combs Properties. And he was supposed to testify today, but unfortunately, the direct examination, cross examination, then redirect of that SDNY investigator that took all of today. This is big. And we're gonna hear about what went down that day.

[Andrea Canning]

Yeah. This is very important for the prosecution as they wind down. Thank you, Chloe, so much.

[Chloe Meloss]

Of course.

[Andrea Canning]

And thanks to everyone else for listening. We'll be back with a new episode tomorrow. If you want to read the latest developments and analysis from inside the courtroom, check out the NBC newsletter. Diddy on trial. Go to nbcnews.com to find that. On Trial is produced by Franny Kelly with help from the Dateline True Crime Weekly team. Our senior producers are Alison Orr and Liz Brown Kurloff. Original Music by Jesse McGinty. Paul Ryan is executive producer, and Liz Cole is senior executive producer of Dateline.