Dateline: True Crime Weekly

Episode: Sean Combs: The Defense Cross-Examines "Mia"
Release Date: May 31, 2025
Host: Andrea Canning
Guest: NBC News Correspondent Chloe Meloss

Introduction

In this gripping episode of Dateline: True Crime Weekly, host Andrea Canning delves into the intense proceedings of the Sean Combs (Diddy) racketeering trial. Focusing on a pivotal moment in the trial, the episode dissects the defense's cross-examination of the prosecution's key witness, Mia. With insights from NBC News Correspondent Chloe Meloss, listeners gain an in-depth understanding of the courtroom dynamics and the strategies employed by both the prosecution and defense teams.

Overview of the Racketeering Trial

Sean Combs stands trial on racketeering charges, to which he has pleaded not guilty. The trial has garnered significant attention, drawing parallels with previous allegations against Combs, including those by Cassie Ventura. This episode marks a critical juncture as the defense begins to challenge the credibility of the prosecution's witness, Mia.

Prosecution’s Presentation of Mia’s Testimony

Mia’s Emotional State and Testimony

Mia took the stand again, displaying a composed yet emotionally charged demeanor. According to her representative, she appeared "pretty strong and stoic," though she "would sometimes seem like her voice was trembling and she was sort of whispering at times" (02:15). During her testimony, Mia recounted her experiences working under Combs, highlighting the abusive work environment and instances of sexual assault.

Text Messages Between Mia and Combs

A significant portion of Mia's testimony involved text messages exchanged between her and Combs. These messages, dating back to the period of the alleged misconduct, included threats and coercion. Mia's representative explained, "Some of the texts are threatening. He's telling her that her job's at stake... He's angry. He's gonna fire her" (02:44). One particularly alarming message read, "if you don't call me now, I'm gonna tell everything," which Mia interprets as a threat to expose their sexual relationship, an assertion she referred to as "sexual assaults."

Attempts to Leave and Subsequent Layoff

Mia detailed her attempts to escape the abusive environment, including a harrowing incident on the island of St. Barts. She described how Combs verbally abused her while she was on a yacht, leading her to seek refuge and ultimately leave the yacht only to realize she had no passport. Despite her efforts, Mia was unable to successfully leave Combs' employ. In 2017, she was laid off and subsequently fought for back pay, ultimately receiving $400,000 after mediation, though she sought $10 million in damages (06:12; 07:03).

Involvement of Other Employees

Mia's testimony also shed light on other key figures within Combs' organization, such as Christina Kharam, Combs' chief of staff, and Drock, Combs' head of security. She recounted interactions where these individuals either supported or attempted to mediate the toxic environment she endured (07:31; 08:14). Notably, Mia declined financial assistance from Drock, perceiving his outreach as an attempt to silence her.

Defense’s Cross-Examination of Mia

Presentation of Binders with Social Media Posts

During the defense's cross-examination, attorney Brian Steele introduced a series of binders containing Mia's social media posts to the jurors (12:53). The posts showcased positive sentiments towards Combs, such as birthday wishes and professional praise. Steele leveraged these posts to challenge Mia's credibility, questioning how she could simultaneously allege abuse while publicly expressing admiration for her employer.

Questioning Mia’s Credibility

Steele aggressively probed the discrepancies between Mia's public persona and her courtroom testimony. He highlighted instances where Mia posted messages like, "you’re my mentor" and "thank you for all the things you’ve ever done for me" (13:19). In response, Mia maintained that social media does not accurately reflect her personal struggles, stating, "social media is not a true depiction of what was really going on in her life" (13:26). The defense aimed to portray Mia as inconsistent, suggesting that her positive posts undermined her allegations of abuse.

Defense’s Narrative vs. Mia’s Testimony

Steele further challenged Mia by juxtaposing her testimony of severe abuse with her social media activity showing times of enjoyment and professional satisfaction. Mia countered by explaining the complexity of her relationship with Combs, noting that "the highs were high and the lows were low" (14:08). She acknowledged that during better moments, she felt safe, which allowed her to "almost forget about" the abuse temporarily (14:11).

Jurors’ Reactions

Andrea Canning reported observing varied reactions from the jurors during the intense cross-examination. Some jurors appeared to exhibit subtle signs of support for Combs, such as smirking or laughing during Steele's aggressive questioning of Mia's credibility (16:16). However, it's important to note that these reactions may not definitively indicate their stance, as jurors are expected to maintain impartiality.

External Reactions and Political Comments

The trial has not gone unnoticed beyond the courtroom. Andrea Canning highlighted a segment where Fox News reporter questioned President Donald Trump about the possibility of pardoning Combs. President Trump responded by stating, "nobody's talked to me about it yet. Nobody's asked," but expressed a willingness to "look at the facts" if presented (17:13).

Conclusion and Next Steps

As the trial progresses, the defense continues to scrutinize Mia's credibility, while the prosecution maintains their stance on the severity of the allegations against Sean Combs. The episode sets the stage for further developments, anticipating continued high-stakes interactions in the courtroom. Andrea Canning concludes by inviting listeners to stay tuned for more updates and encourages them to subscribe to the NBC Newsletter for the latest courtroom developments.

Notable Quotes

• Mia’s Representative: "Today she was still looking down, not making eye contact with the jury. With Diddy, her voice still would sometimes seem like it was trembling and she was sort of whispering at times. 02:15"

• Mia’s Representative: "Some of the texts are threatening. He's telling her that her job's at stake. 02:44"

• Mia’s Representative: "He was reaching out to her to try to silence her. 09:44"

• Mia: "I stand by my testimony. These things did happen to me. 15:25"

Speaker Attribution

• Andrea Canning: Host of Dateline: True Crime Weekly
• Chloe Meloss: NBC News Correspondent
• Adopt Us Kids Representative: Spokesperson for Mia (presumably Mia's representative or attorney)

Timestamps Reference

• [02:15] – Mia’s emotional demeanor on the stand
• [02:44] – Presentation of threatening text messages
• [06:12] – Mia discusses fear of Combs destroying her reputation
• [07:03] – Mia seeks $10 million in damages
• [07:31] – Involvement of Christina Kharam and Drock
• [08:14] – Drock’s outreach to Mia post-civil lawsuit
• [12:53] – Defense introduces binders with social media posts
• [13:19] – Highlighting positive social media messages
• [13:26] – Mia’s defense of her social media activity
• [14:08] – Explanation of the highs and lows in Mia’s experience
• [14:11] – Mia describes feeling safe during good moments
• [16:16] – Observations of jurors' reactions
• [17:13] – President Trump’s response to pardoning questions
• [15:25] – Mia stands by her testimony despite cross-examination

For more detailed analysis and updates, listeners are encouraged to subscribe to the NBC Newsletter and visit NBC News for additional resources.