Sean Combs: Kristina Khorram’s texts.

Summary

Dateline: True Crime Weekly – Episode Summary

Episode: Sean Combs: Kristina Khorram’s Texts
Release Date: June 17, 2025
Host: Andrea Canning
Correspondents: Chloe Meloss, Tom Yamas
Guest: NBC News Legal Analyst Tom Yamas

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Overview

In this gripping episode of Dateline: True Crime Weekly, host Andrea Canning delves deep into the high-stakes racketeering trial of Sean Combs, also known as Diddy. The episode, titled "Sean Combs: Kristina Khorram’s Texts," explores the pivotal role of Kristina Khorram’s (KK) text messages in the prosecution’s case against Combs. Through incisive interviews and detailed analysis, listeners gain an insider’s view of the courtroom dynamics, key evidence, and ongoing legal battles.

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Prosecution Evidence Presented

The prosecution has centered its RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) conspiracy charges on a trove of digital communications extracted from Kristina Khorram’s phone. These messages, which include group chats, audio files, and voicemails, are alleged to demonstrate Combs’s involvement in illegal activities such as drug trafficking and the orchestration of "freak offs" (extravagant parties) at hotels.

Chloe Meloss summarizes the evidence:

"According to prosecutors, her phone contains group chats, audio files and voicemails that prove their charge of RICO conspiracy." ([00:56])

Tom Yamas elaborates on the nature of these communications:

"You have KK writing to Brendan Paul, another assistant, saying, 'king mode active' or 'Gucci bag active,' meaning what was Combs mood that day? Was he ready for a freak off or did he want to do drugs?" ([03:06])

These messages indicate a pattern of behavior where Combs and his associates coordinated activities that potentially violated federal laws. The prosecution argues that Combs used his business empire to facilitate these illegal operations, thereby meeting the criteria for a RICO conspiracy charge.

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Key Witnesses and Testimonies

One of the central figures in the trial is Christina Quorum (KK), who served as Combs’s chief of staff. Her communications are critical to the prosecution’s case. Additionally, testimonies from former assistants and associates, such as Cassie Ventura and Jane, provide firsthand accounts of Combs’s alleged misconduct and the internal operations of his team.

Chloe Meloss discusses Cassie Ventura’s lawsuit and its impact:

"Cassie Ventura filed her lawsuit on November 16, 2023, and today we saw a lot of messages around that day. What is the prosecution trying to show with these?" ([07:11])

The episode also highlights testimonies from other individuals involved, including Mia Drock, Combs’s former personal assistant, who testified about being sexually assaulted by Combs ([07:36]).

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Defense's Cross-Examination Strategy

The defense, led by attorney Teddy Garagos, has sought to undermine the prosecution’s case by providing context to the extracted messages. Garagos argues that the messages are "cherry-picked" and taken out of context, aiming to paint a misleading picture of Combs’s activities.

"They have a lot here, and it was a lot. I mean, Diddy was yawning. There was just so much data." ([05:18])

Garagos presented additional text messages and voice notes to the jury to suggest that the prosecution’s evidence lacks the necessary context to conclusively tie Combs to the alleged crimes.

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Juror Issues

The trial has faced significant challenges concerning jury integrity. Recently, juror number six was dismissed due to credibility issues, as it was discovered he had moved out of the jurisdiction without disclosing it. Moreover, the judge dismissed claims by Combs’s legal team that the removal was racially motivated, maintaining that there was no evidence to support such allegations.

Chloe Meloss reports:

"He was not in a good mood being accused that there were racial motivations here. So really that hung over the whole morning of testimony." ([10:39])

Additionally, another juror is under scrutiny for potentially discussing the case with former colleagues, raising concerns about impartiality and confidentiality within the jury.

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Upcoming Developments

Looking forward, the prosecution is set to call Brendan Paul, an assistant arrested during the raids of Combs’s properties, to testify. His testimony is expected to shed further light on the inner workings of Combs’s operations and corroborate the prosecution’s claims of a coordinated illegal enterprise.

Chloe Meloss concludes:

"We’re finally going to hear from him tomorrow. And I’ll be in the courtroom." ([12:10])

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Notable Quotes

• Josh Mankiewicz: "And Tika was Theresa's two year old. [00:23]"
• Chloe Meloss: "Maybe you could be the key to solving her case. [00:44]"
• Tom Yamas: "These are sex tapes where I'm heavily drugged. It's very hurtful for him to exploit me. [08:32]"

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Conclusion

This episode of Dateline: True Crime Weekly offers a comprehensive and detailed examination of Sean Combs's racketeering trial, meticulously outlining the prosecution’s evidence, the defense’s strategies, and the myriad challenges facing the jury. Through expert analysis and direct reporting from the courtroom, listeners are provided with an in-depth understanding of one of the most high-profile true crime cases of the year.

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For more updates and in-depth analysis on the Sean Combs trial, subscribe to Dateline: True Crime Weekly and stay informed on the latest developments.

Transcript

[Josh Mankiewicz]

This was a Saturday night in Tacoma, Washington.

[Theresa Chepesky]

So we get our shoes and we go to our lanes.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Theresa Chepesky was there with two of her daughters, her boyfriend, some family and some friends.

[Theresa Chepesky]

And Tika sees the video games.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Tika was Theresa's two year old.

[Theresa Chepesky]

It was my turn to bowl and I told my brother and my boyfriend my make sure you watch Tika so nothing happens to her.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Her attention was diverted for maybe 15 seconds and something did happen.

[Theresa Chepesky]

She was gone.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

The search for Tika began that night and it still is not over.

[Andrea Canning]

Maybe you could be the key to solving her case. DATELINE Missing in America, available wherever you get your podcasts. Listen now.

[Chloe Meloss]

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 Canning and it's Monday, June 16th. Just a heads up. In this episode we're going to be talking about some graphic details and harrowing subject matter. The government began the six week of trial by giving the jury a look at material they pulled off Christina Quorum's phone. We've talked about Christina before. She worked for Sean Combs in various positions over the years, eventually becoming his chief of staff. And according to prosecutors, her phone contains group chats, audio files and voicemails that prove their charge of RICO conspiracy. NBC News correspondent Chloe Meloss was in the courtroom as the prosecution went through all these messages and she has stepped out to tell us all about it. Hey, Chloe.

[Tom Yamas]

Hey, Andrea.

[Chloe Meloss]

Chloe, how was the prosecution presenting this evidence to the jury? Who was on the witness stand?

[Tom Yamas]

The woman who testified today. She's a paralegal for the U.S. attorney's office. She's considered something called a summary witness and basically there to explain how things work and tie up loose ends before this case is over. She reviewed a bunch of data that had been extracted from different devices, put it into a a 30 plus page roadmap for the jurors, saying here are text messages or even audio messages when they were sent to whom, from whom and where. You can find it in exhibits later.

[Chloe Meloss]

So who is Christina, also known as kk, communicating with in these messages?

[Tom Yamas]

Everybody from Cassie Ventura to Jane to other assistants.

[Chloe Meloss]

There's even an exchange about these the cowboys for Angels company that we talked about.

[Tom Yamas]

Right. I mean, this is so fascinating. It's Ryan Lopez, who is one of Combs former assistants writing to kk. I think I saw one of the cowboys today. You can spot them in the lobby like an Escort. KK responds with four laughing emojis.

[Chloe Meloss]

And according to the prosecutor, the messages appeared to show talk of moving drugs around for Combs.

[Tom Yamas]

Yes, we see more about that Gucci bag. Remember, Diddy didn't go anywhere without that bag. And in it was drugs. So you have KK Writing to Brendan Paul, another assistant, saying, king mode active or Gucci bag active, Meaning what was Combs mood that day? Was he ready for a freak off or did he want to do drugs?

[Chloe Meloss]

In some of these texts, KK is directly communicating with Jane and Cassie Ventura about some pretty serious stuff involving Sean Combs.

[Tom Yamas]

So let's start with Cassie. Right? In one text exchange, you have KK Writing to Cassie. Are you okay? Cassie responding, no, but you should talk to him, meaning Combs. No one deserves to be dragged by their hair. I don't have my stuff. I don't have money. I'm effed. So let's jump to Jane. Jane writes to KK Just keeping it real. I'm not doing any more hard partying, no more hotel nights. And so I think that what you're seeing is that kk, I mean, she essentially knows Martin where the bodies are buried. Metaphorically. Right? I mean, she is Diddy's right hand and she is communicating with these different women. And she goes way back in time to 2016. Right, during the Cassie days.

[Chloe Meloss]

Chloe, how did the prosecution tie all of this into their RICO conspiracy charge?

[Tom Yamas]

Well, remember, in order for the prosecutors to meet the bar of RICO conspiracy, they have to prove that Combs used his business, his enterprise, to carry out illegal activity that could be procuring drugs, that could be hiring these escorts. And so when you're seeing these text messages with KK and assistants or with these former girlfriends, you're seeing that it involves KK and others in the production of these freak offs at these hotels. And you're also seeing them talk about getting drugs, Molly and pills and other types of substances.

[Chloe Meloss]

Did the defense need to do much on cross or was it just so overwhelming that, you know, it kind of was tough for the jury anyway to absorb?

[Tom Yamas]

It was really quick. Teddy Garagos, who led cross examination today, pointed out there's a lot here, and it was a lot. I mean, Diddy was yawning. There was just so much data. Andrea. But these are just cherry picked moments over the course of nearly a decade. And Tenny Garagos was saying these are accurate, but you don't understand what happened before and after these messages. So what she was doing was trying to show text messages and voice notes before and after said messages in these spreadsheets to try to provide more perspective.

[Chloe Meloss]

When we come back, the prosecution also introduced messages between Combs and some of his employees. Right after Cassie Ventura filed her suit, we'll dive into why the government is so focused on what the staff had to say.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Foreign I'm Josh Mankiewicz and I hope you'll join us for season four of dateline Missing in America. In each episode of dateline's award winning series, we will focus on one missing persons case and hear from the families, the friends and the investigators all desperate to find them. You will want to listen closely. Maybe you could help investigators solve a mystery.

[Andrea Canning]

Search DATELINE Missing in America to listen on Apple Podcasts.

[Willie Geist]

Taking over the helm of NBC nightly news, a 75 year old broadcast. It's a great responsibility.

[Chloe Meloss]

Good evening.

[Willie Geist]

I'm Tom Yamas. You have to go out there to bring people at home closer to the store. Wildfires continue to be a threat. With that massive hurricane comes the massive response. The best reporters in our business know how to listen. And when you listen, you get the truth. For NBC News. For NBC News. For NBC News, I'm Tom Gamas. That's what we do every night.

[Tom Yamas]

NBC Nightly News with Tom yamas, evenings on NBC.

[Chloe Meloss]

Okay, so Chloe, Cassie Ventura filed her lawsuit on November 16, 2023. And today we saw a lot of messages around that day. What is the prosecution trying to show with these?

[Tom Yamas]

So the government is really trying to show that Combs and his staff were really trying to figure out what to do and how to handle this.

[Chloe Meloss]

Chloe, what is the prosecution alleging that Combs staff did to protect him?

[Tom Yamas]

One of the things that we saw reiterated today were messages between Drock, who was Combs head of security, and Mia, one of Combs former personal assistants. So during Mia's testimony, remember that was under a pseudonym, she talked about having worked for days without sleep. She testified about being sexually assaulted by Combs. And today you're seeing more text exchanges between Drock and Combs and Drock 2. Mia Drock is calling her and texting her, trying to get her on the phone. This is a really long way to answer your question, Andrea, which is just that Combs had people working for him like Drock who were trying to get to potential witnesses who might testify. And this could go towards obstruction of justice, which is one of those predicate crimes that the government has to prove to meet that RICO conspiracy charge.

[Chloe Meloss]

We heard Jane testify last week that reading about Cassie's allegations in her civil suit made Jane feel like the Concerns she'd had about the hotel nights were legitimate.

[Tom Yamas]

You have Jane writing to KK hey, you know, I don't want to involve you, but I'm traumatized by my time with him. And he's saying how I hurt him, not the trauma he caused me. He started yelling at me. Now he's threatening me and saying that he's going to call the police to send the tapes to my child's father. These are sex tapes where I'm heavily drugged. It's very hurtful for him to exploit me. Please talk sense into him. So then you have KK Responding to Jane. Hey, they're about to read all of this, and we'll call you. I have not seen him in two days. What the defense team has always said is that Jane was smart and she was memorializing these experiences in writing with not just Combs, but with KK After Cassie's suit was filed, because she knew that she either wanted to pursue civil claims or potentially be in a situation like she is now testifying in a courtroom. But the prosecutors are saying this is a woman that was going through trauma, who in real time was talking about these horrific experiences of potentially being blackmailed and extorted. It wasn't just these women having exchanges with Combs. They were having exchanges with KK So they were talking about it with other people.

[Chloe Meloss]

Chloe, let's talk about the second witness today. An investigator for the prosecutors of the Southern District. Why did they call her?

[Tom Yamas]

This witness was going through flight and hotel records, Andrea. And the purpose of that is to put Cassie and Combs and Jane and several escorts in the same places on the same days so that Combs can't see. Oh, well, I didn't know where they were traveling from. And who. How do you actually know that they showed up to the same hotel as I did? Maybe we booked them a flight to another state, and I wasn't even there. This was to show the jury this is not a coincidence.

[Chloe Meloss]

Yeah. So this is to prove the transportation for the purposes of prostitution charges, which a former federal prosecutor told me that's he thinks one of the easiest charges they have.

[Tom Yamas]

It is. And they have two of them, so.

[Chloe Meloss]

Last thing for today, Chloe. This morning, the judge officially dismissed juror number six, who we have been talking about on the podcast. Did you learn why?

[Tom Yamas]

Because of credibility issues. He said he was living in one place. It appears he's potentially moved to New Jersey, and he wasn't upfront about it. The judge also saying this morning that it's not out of the realm of possibility that this juror had ulterior motives and really wanted to be on this jury because he had bias. And that was another reason why to dismiss him. They replaced him with an alternate who happened to be a white man. And this goes exactly to what Combs's legal team wrote in a very long fiery letter over the weekend to the judge saying that this is not about his credibility and living in the right jurisdiction to serve. You guys are potentially dismissing. And they did. One of only two black men on the jury, and this is racism. The judge very quickly shutting that down this morning. He was not having it. I was in there. He was not in a good mood being accused that there were racial motivations here. So really that hung over the whole morning of testimony. You could tell that the judge was just not happy and things were really tense.

[Chloe Meloss]

Chloe, now we're hearing a possible issue with another juror.

[Tom Yamas]

So tomorrow morning, the judge is actually going to be questioning another juror who might have talked about the case to a former colleagues. So suffice to say, things are not going very smoothly when it comes to the jurors tomorrow.

[Chloe Meloss]

Chloe, we're going to hear from Brendan Paul. Who is he?

[Tom Yamas]

He's the assistant that was arrested during the raids of Combs Homes. We're finally going to hear from him tomorrow. And I'll be in the courtroom.

[Chloe Meloss]

Looking forward to that. Thank you, Chloe.

[Tom Yamas]

Thanks, Andrea.

[Chloe Meloss]

Thanks 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 diddy 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 Karloff. Original Music by Jesse McGinty Paul Ryan is executive producer and Liz Cole is senior executive producer of Dateline.

[Andrea Canning]

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.