A Colossal Failure

Summary

Summary of "A Colossal Failure" – The Trial of Diddy

Introduction

In the gripping episode titled "A Colossal Failure" of The Trial of Diddy, hosts Kayla Brantley and Hermania Rodriguez Poleo delve deep into the high-stakes court case involving Sean 'Diddy' Combs. This episode, released on July 11, 2025, offers an in-depth exploration of the trial's major developments, key testimonies, and the contrasting reactions from both the prosecution and defense teams.

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Trial Proceedings and Verdict

The episode opens with an update on the trial's conclusion after eight intense weeks. On July 2, 2025, the jury delivered a landmark verdict:

• Not Guilty on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.
• Guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.

Following the verdict, Diddy's defense team sought his release on a $1 million bond pending sentencing on October 3, 2025. However, Judge Aran Subramanian denied the bail request, citing Diddy's "intensity toward violence towards his ex-girlfriends and other accusers" (02:11).

Subsequently, both defense and prosecution attended a virtual hearing on July 8, 2025, to expedite sentencing. The defense highlighted Diddy's role as a single parent to his two 18-year-old daughters, labeling his circumstances as "exceptional" (02:11). In stark contrast, the prosecution dismissed these claims, asserting that the only "exceptional" aspects of Diddy's life were his wealth and propensity for violence (02:11). Judge Subramanian upheld the prosecution's stance, emphasizing the severity of the allegations against Diddy.

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Reactions to the Verdict

The verdict elicited a divided response:

• Supporters of Diddy celebrated vigorously outside the courthouse. Kayla Brantley recounts scenes of supporters wearing shirts that read "Frico is not a RICO" and engaging in unorthodox celebrations, including squirting baby oil (04:49). An exclusive interview with Armand Wiggins, a participant in the celebrations, further highlights the fervent support among Diddy's fanbase.

• Defense Team's Perspective: Diddy's attorney, Mark Agnifolo, lauded the jury's decision as a triumph of the legal system, stating, "Today is a great day. Today is a win" (05:55). He emphasized the jury's role in safeguarding citizens from unwarranted incarceration.

• Prosecution's Disappointment: Contrarily, Doug Wigdor, attorney for victim Cassie Ventura, expressed dismay, noting the jury's decision as unexpected. Mark Garagos, a celebrity defense attorney, labeled the trial a "colossal failure by the government" (07:25).

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Background of the Case

The roots of the trial trace back to November 2023 when Cassie Ventura, Diddy's ex-girlfriend, filed a civil lawsuit accusing him of rape, sexual assault, and physical abuse over a decade-long relationship. Although this suit was settled for an undisclosed amount (later revealed as $20 million), it set the stage for escalating legal battles in 2024.

In March 2024, federal agents raided Diddy's residences in Miami and Los Angeles, uncovering a plethora of drugs, firearms, and supplies associated with "freak offs" and "king nights" — terms referring to Diddy's organized parties involving escorts and sexual activities. This culminated in a September 16, 2024, indictment by the Southern District of New York, charging Diddy with racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He pleaded not guilty and remained in custody until the trial commenced on May 5, 2025.

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Key Testimonies

1. Cassie Ventura (05:55 - 19:27):

   • Initial Relationship: Cassie described meeting Diddy during their early careers, highlighting a tumultuous relationship marked by love, confusion, and manipulation.
   • Abuse Allegations: She detailed numerous instances of physical and emotional abuse, including a particularly horrifying incident in 2009 where Diddy assaulted her brutally.
   • Freak Offs: Cassie recounted being coerced into organizing and participating in sexual activities termed "freak offs," involving escorts sourced through platforms like Craigslist and Backpage. Under duress, she admitted feeling used and degraded during these events.
   • Emotional Impact: On the stand, Cassie expressed profound trauma, stating, "I felt disgusting. I was humiliated" (18:49).

2. Eddie Garcia (14:48):

   • Garcia testified about receiving a $100,000 payment from Diddy to suppress footage of the 2016 assault, highlighting the lengths Diddy went to hide his abusive behavior. She provided a USB drive containing the incriminating video, under an NDA with significant penalties for disclosure.

3. Capricorn Clark (21:27 - 24:31):

   • Clark, a former assistant, detailed alleged threats and violent confrontations orchestrated by Diddy. She recounted an incident in 2011 where Diddy, enraged over Cassie's relationship with rapper Kid Cudi, threatened lethal violence, stating, "We're going to kill this N-word" (23:28).
   • Her testimony underscored Diddy's alleged use of intimidation and force to maintain control and protect his reputation.

4. Brendan Paul (24:31 - 26:21):

   • As a former personal assistant and alleged drug handler, Paul provided insights into Diddy's operations. Under cross-examination, he emphasized that his involvement was minimal and denied being part of a criminal enterprise, stating, "Sean Combs didn't ask you to bring these drugs with you, right? He did not" (25:55).

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Prosecution and Defense Strategies

• Prosecution:

  • Aimed to portray Diddy as a volatile individual orchestrating a criminal enterprise involving sex trafficking and coercion.
  • Relied heavily on victim testimonies and physical evidence, including drug caches and baby oil supplies linked to the so-called "freak offs."
  • Highlighted the abuse and manipulation Cassie endured to establish a pattern of coercive behavior.

• Defense:

  • Attempted to reframe the narrative by downplaying the "freak offs" as consensual swinger activities rather than criminal acts.
  • Emphasized Diddy's status as a single parent to mitigate perceptions of guilt and garner sympathy.
  • Argued that the instances of domestic violence did not meet the legal thresholds for trafficking or racketeering charges. Defense attorney Brian Steele effectively dissected Brendan Paul's testimony to minimize the severity of the allegations, questioning the existence of an organized criminal enterprise.

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Expert Analysis

Veteran attorney Lisa Bloom provided critical insights, questioning the involvement of other associates like Christina Karam (K.K.) in Diddy's alleged crimes. She pondered whether these individuals might have separate deals with the government, which could influence ongoing and future prosecutions: "Might other prosecutions follow? That's always possible" (27:11).

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Conclusion and Future Proceedings

Despite the emotionally charged testimonies and substantial evidence presented by the prosecution, the jury acquitted Diddy on the more severe charges, labeling the government's case as insufficient to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. As a result, Diddy remains incarcerated pending sentencing on the two guilty counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, scheduled for October 3, 2025.

The episode concludes by emphasizing the ongoing nature of the case, hinting at potential future developments, including civil lawsuits and further legal actions against other alleged associates of Diddy. Hosts encourage listeners to stay engaged through social media channels and upcoming episodes, underscoring that "The Trial of Diddy is far from over."

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Notable Quotes

• Hermania Rodriguez Poleo: "Another woman has now come forward. A legend comes of sexual assault." (01:45)

• Mark Agnifolo: "Today is a victory of all victories for Sean Combs and our legal team." (05:55)

• Cassie Ventura (Voice Actor): "I wanted to make him happy. I just felt pretty horrible about myself. I felt disgusting. I was humiliated." (18:49)

• Mark Garagos: "A colossal failure by the government." (07:25)

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Timestamp References

• 02:11: Introduction to verdict and bail hearing.
• 04:49: Description of supporters celebrating verdict.
• 05:55: Mark Agnifolo's statement on verdict.
• 07:25: Mark Garagos labels trial a "colossal failure."
• 14:48: Eddie Garcia's testimony about the suppression of assault footage.
• 21:27: Tenny Garagos distinguishes domestic violence from sex trafficking.
• 23:28: Capricorn Clark's account of Diddy's violent outburst over Kid Cudi.
• 25:55: Cross-examination of Brendan Paul regarding drug trafficking.
• 27:11: Lisa Bloom discusses potential broader implications for Diddy's associates.

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Final Thoughts

"A Colossal Failure" provides a comprehensive and nuanced examination of Sean 'Diddy' Combs' trial, highlighting the complexities of high-profile legal battles where public perception, media influence, and intricate legal strategies interplay. The episode underscores the enduring impact of victim testimonies and the challenges of prosecuting well-connected individuals. As the case progresses towards sentencing, listeners can anticipate further revelations and legal maneuvers that could reshape the narrative around one of the music industry's most influential figures.

Transcript

[Kayla Brantley]

Welcome to the trial of Diddy. I'm Kayla Brantley.

[Hermania Rodriguez Poleo]

And I'm Hermania Rodriguez Poleo.

[Kayla Brantley]

We'll be back in a second.

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The biggest secret in the entertainment industry that really wasn't a secret at all.

[Cassie Ventura]

Was at the height of his career.

[Kayla Brantley]

Sean Diddy Combs had it all. Everything Diddy touched turned to gold.

[Hermania Rodriguez Poleo]

Now he faces multiple federal charges in New York, including sex trafficking and allegedly running a criminal enterprise.

[Cassie Ventura]

Another woman has now come forward. A legend comes of sexual assault.

[Kayla Brantley]

Music mogul and rapper Sean Diddy come she claims she was drugged and sexually assaulted by Combs.

[Hermania Rodriguez Poleo]

Oh, this guy is dangerous.

[Kayla Brantley]

From freak offs to the mosquito mysterious list, the shocking case that has gripped the world is finally here. And we'll be bringing you every detail as it happens.

[Hermania Rodriguez Poleo]

Welcome to the trial of Diddy.

[Kayla Brantley]

Welcome back, everyone, to the trial of Diddy. It took us eight weeks, Hermonia, to get to a conclusion, but we have finally arrived here at what is kind of the end of this trial. But of course, we're still waiting for sentencing. So on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, Diddy was declared not guilty of sex trafficking and not guilty of racketeering conspiracy. However, he was found guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. Following that verdict, the defense team asked for Diddy to be released on bail, a $1 million bond until his Oct. 3 sentencing hearing for the prostitution charges. However, Judge Aran Subramanian, he declined. He stated that Diddy has a quote Prop intensity toward violence towards his ex girlfriends and other accusers. And just this week, on Tuesday, July 8, both the defense and prosecution teams attended a virtual hearing held by Judge Subramanian to expedite Diddy's sentence. Hearing, the defense argued that Diddy has, quote, exceptional circumstances because he is the lone parent for his two young daughters. They're 18 years old. However, the prosecution clapped back by stating that, quote, the only things exceptional about this defendant are his wealth, his violence, and his brazenness. The judge agreed. As we await Diddy's sentencing hearing in just a few months, let's go back a bit to the day of victory for Diddy.

[Hermania Rodriguez Poleo]

That's right, Kayla. And we do have to mention that while the jury did eventually reach a verdict, the deliberation process proved to be a bit complex. At first, the jury was unable to come to a unanimous decision on the most serious charge against Diddy, which was racketeering conspiracy. After a series of notes from the jury to the judge on instructions, the judge responded, quote, I received your note. I remind every juror of their duty to deliberate and their obligation to follow my instructions on the law. With that instruction in mind, please continue deliberating now. That seemed to do it, because by the next day, the jury had decided on all five charges. Now, upon hearing the verdict in court, Diddy fell to his knees with relief, planting his face into the seat of the defense chair. He also turned to the jury box with his palms in a prayer like position and nodding his head in gratitude to the 12 who really saved his life. As the hip hop mogul was let out of the courtroom on the two rows filled with supporters, including his mother, Janice Combs, his sister, and his five adult children and friends, they all erupted into applause.

[Kayla Brantley]

Yeah. And the celebration of Diddy's not guilty verdict on the racketeering charge and the sex trafficking charge that spilled to outside of the courthouse, I was there where I saw tons of supporters. They were really shouting and wearing T shirts that said, frico is not a rico. Some were even squirting baby oil all over each other. And we actually had an interview. Everyone go check out our exclusive interview with the man who was spraying baby oil on himself and on others. We had a nice sit down with him. His name is Armand Wiggins, so make sure to check that out. And as Diddy's family members left the courthouse, you could see them smiling from ear to ear. And they even waved at the press. And Diddy did arrive back at the mdc, the Metropolitan Detention center, where he's been held since his arrest in September. And he was greeted actually by a standing ovation from his fellow inmates. And Diddy's attorney, Mark Agnifolo, said that they had, quote, never seen anyone beat the government. And back at the courthouse, that same attorney on Diddy's defense team celebrated with words of his own.

[Mark Agnifolo]

It's a great victory for the jury system. You saw that the Southern District of New York prosecutors came at him with all that they had. They're not stopping. But one thing stands between all of us and a prison, and that is a jury of 12 citizens. And we had a wonderful jury. They listened to every word, and they got the situation right, or certainly right enough. So today's a great day. Today is a win. Today is a victory of all victories for Sean Combs and our legal team.

[Hermania Rodriguez Poleo]

Now, while the defense and numerous Diddy supporters were in celebration, the prosecution and several attorneys representing his alleged victims in civil lawsuits were extremely surprised and disappointed by the jury's decision. After the verdict, the attorney for Cassie, Doug Wigdor, wrote a letter to the judge asking that the court deny him bail while he awaits sentencing. Wigdor also spoke to the press and had this to say. His statement is voiced by an actor.

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I think that the story's not over because there are all these other civil claims out there. I mean, we'll recall the O.J. simpson case. I mean, he was obviously found not guilty in his criminal trial, only then to be found liable in the civil case. And then for the rest of his life, he was trying to avoid judgments and leading a very untoward life of nobody accepting him anymore.

[Hermania Rodriguez Poleo]

After the verdict, celebrity defense attorney Mark Garagos told the press that the jury, quote, saw through an overcharged, overzealous prosecution and called the case a, quote, colossal failure by the government. Welcome to the trial of Diddy, A colossal failure.

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[Kayla Brantley]

I'm in.

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[Kayla Brantley]

Let's go. Welcome back to the trial of Diddy. We're going to take you back to really where this all started in November of 2023 when Cassie Ventura, Diddy's ex girlfriend filed a civil lawsuit against him. The lawsuit accused Sean Diddy com of rape, sexual assault and physical abuse over a decade long relationship. The civil suit spoke of physical violence, manipulation, coercion, prostitution and the unforgettable freak offs. That lawsuit was settled the following day for what was at the time an undisclosed amount. However, we did learn during Cassie's testimony in the criminal case that the settlement was actually for $20 million. Cassie's civil suit, while it was settled quickly was disregarded as a quote, money grab by Diddy and representatives. However, it was in 2024 that it seemed like the tune had changed. In March of 2024, Diddy's Homes in Miami and Los Angeles were raided by federal agents and Homeland Security. It was noted during the trial that federal agents Gerald Gannon and Yasmin Binda testified about the discovery of drugs like mdma, ketamine, cocaine, Xanax, the ketamine and ecstasy mix called Tusi ghb, known as the rape drug, prescription drugs and marijuana, all of which were noted in witness testimony as drugs provided for freak offs. Among the drugs, agents also discovered multiple firearms and ammunition. And it was a big point of contention in the courtroom when agents testified to also finding what multiple witness called freak off or king night supplies such as 900, 900 bottles of baby oil, 200 bottles of Astroglide, sexual lubricant, lingerie, high heels and much more.

[Hermania Rodriguez Poleo]

Yeah. But to take it back to the time before the trial, after Diddy's home raids in LA and Miami, things just continued to get worse for him. That's when CNN aired a video from 2016 of the severely violent domestic assault between Diddy and Cassie at the Intercontinental Hotel in Los Angeles where Cassie is spotted by security cameras barefoot, disheveled and she appears to be attempting to escape something. That's when Diddy appears on CCTV in a towel, dragging, kicking and punching her in the head. It was this video that took Diddy from making social Media comments about people trying to make money off of him to making a public apology about his conduct. This video became the catalyst for what was to come for the rapper. In the following months, several other civil suits were filed against Diddy, most notably from Rodney Lil Rod Jones. In 2024, Jones filed a lawsuit against Diddy, claiming sexual harassment, drugging, and threats that Jones says he experienced while working for COMBS from September 2022 to November 2023. According to the New York Times, currently there are more than 50 civil lawsuits against Diddy. They're mostly based out of New York City and claim sexual abuse. Yeah.

[Kayla Brantley]

And then fast forwarding there to September 16, 2024. That was when the Southern District of New York against Sean Combs. This followed an indictment by a federal grand jury the same day Diddy was arrested in Manhattan by Homeland Security agents, who later told the court that there was extremely strong evidence that Diddy's final freak off before his arrest had happened the day before and that Diddy was fully aware that he was to be arrested the next day. So basically, a last hurrah. Freak off. The indictment included three felony counts. Racketeering, conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution on September 17, 2024. The next day, Diddy pleaded not guilty to the charges and was denied bail. That's where he stayed in prison until May 5, when the Sean Diddy Combs case commenced.

[Hermania Rodriguez Poleo]

Right. Well, and we now know that victim number two, Jane, has said that she was on her way to see Diddy the day he was arrested. So after a week of jury selection, witness Testimony begins on May 11, 2025, with Israel Flores, who works security for the Intercontinental Hotel. Flores had a firsthand account of the September 2016 incident that truly brought Diddy's abuse to the forefront in the public's eye. The prosecution strategy with Flores testimony was to highlight the efforts that Diddy went through to hide this incident from the public. Flores testified to responding to Cassie in distress through the surveillance cameras and Diddy throwing a, quote, stack of cash at him in an apparent attempt to bribe him. Apparently, Diddy told him, don't tell anyone. Flores refused the money, though, and gave it back. However, one security officer from the Intercontinental was swayed by Diddy's offer, and that was Eddie Garcia, who testified that Diddy paid him $100,000 to suppress the footage of Diddy assaulting Cassie. Garcia told the court that Diddy's said the footage would ruin his career. Garcia handed over a USB drive with the footage on it. To Diddy's team and signed an NDA with a $1 million penalty if he said anything about this. He said that Diddy counted out the cash in $10,000 increments using a money counter and handed over a brown paperback containing the full 100,000. Garcia split the money amongst his colleagues and pocketed 30,000.

[Kayla Brantley]

I think one of the most talked about moments of the case was Cassie's four day testimony. She took the stand while being nine months pregnant and on the verge of giving birth. And in fact, Cassie's Testimony began on May 13 and she gave birth to her third child on May 27, just a week after she got off that stand. Cassie's testimony was really heart wrenching and she went into great detail about her decade long relationship with Diddy. She highlighted multiple violent incidents and prosecutors wanted to make sure that the jury was aware that Cassie was being manipulated and not just physically abused, but emotionally abused by Diddy on a consistent basis. In an attempt to show how a young Cassie could be manipulated by a Diddy who was in his late 30s at the time, the lead prosecutor in the case, Emily Johnson, asked Cassie how she ended up with Diddy and what happened between them on her 21st birthday. Here's what she said. Her words have been voiced by an actor.

[Cassie Ventura]

A lot of different things happened, but he kissed me in the bathroom of his or in the bathroom of this actual suite pretty early in the morning. We had been up, all of us, pretty late. I think it was just really confusing at the time. Again, young new artists, like, just didn't really know the lay of the land when it came to things like that. So in my confusion, just kind of cried and ran out. I wanted to be around Shawn for the same reasons as, like everyone else at the time, him. It's just this exciting, entertaining, fun guy. Just wanted to spend time. It felt special because not a lot of people got that kind of time with him. After Miami, we really just, I mean, at least from my own side of things, I really fell in love with him. I traveled with him everywhere I was in studio. I was just like a little shadow for a little while.

[Hermania Rodriguez Poleo]

Cassie testified that their relationship eventually changed and that Diddy became controlling and physically abusive. Here's Cassie again, voiced by an actor.

[Cassie Ventura]

If they were violent arguments, it would usually result in some sort of physical abuse and dragging, just different things of that nature. I mean, he would mash me in my head, knock me over, drag me, kick me, stomp me in my head if I was down, if I wasn't. Smiling at him the way he wanted. If I just looked a certain way that he didn't like maybe I was a brat or something, like he would let me know I need to fix my face or watch my mouth. That was like those were things that were said in the relationship quite often. Fix your face, watch your mouth or you got a slick mouth.

[Hermania Rodriguez Poleo]

Cassie broke down in tears on the stand when she spoke about Diddy, introducing her to the freak offs when she was just 22 years years old. She said that she was very nervous, confused and in love with Diddy. She explained on the stand what the freak offs entailed. Here she is, voiced by an actor.

[Testimony Voice Actor]

Basically entails the hiring of escorts and setting up this experience that I could perform for Sean. The performance involved.

[Kayla Brantley]

I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

[Testimony Voice Actor]

It just involved watching Sean being able to watch me with the other person person and actually direct, like direct us on what we were doing sexually. Eventually it became a job for me pretty much to where I knew if that is something that he wanted to do. I had the contacts to set it up and get a hotel room and all of that. But in the beginning Sean set it up.

[Hermania Rodriguez Poleo]

He was in charge now throughout the trial, dead defense and the media and the public question why Cassie continued participating in these freak offs if, as she said, she did not want to do them. Cassie had this to say. She is voiced by an actor.

[Testimony Voice Actor]

I wanted to make him happy. I was in a really significantly mature relationship that I don't think I was prepared for now when I look back at it. But yeah, I loved him. I didn't want him to think that I thought anything bad of him for it. I just wanted to make him happy. I just felt like it was all I was good for him. I just felt pretty horrible about myself. I felt disgusting. I was humiliated. I didn't have those words to like put together at the time, like how horrible I really felt and I didn't, I couldn't talk to anybody about it.

[Kayla Brantley]

So Cassie went on to say that the freak offs became a weekly occurrence and that she would have to fill herself with various drugs provided by Diddy in order to, to get through it. She said that the male escorts that Diddy had her engage with during the freak offs she would find on Craigslist, Backpage and various agencies accounts, including one called Cowboys for Angels and another one called Latin Men. Diddy did face two counts of sex trafficking. However, he was found not guilty for this. And looking back, we can see all the evidence that the defense brought forward that showed Cassie contacting the escorts to set up these freak offs and showing her as an active participant despite her emotional testimony. Testimony of force and coercion.

[Hermania Rodriguez Poleo]

During her testimony, Cassie also spoke about an incident in 2009 in Los Angeles. She said she had been speaking to a music producer at a club and when they left, Diddy called her a slut in the car. She said she was drunk and she punched him hard in the face. She said that this began a massive assault where Diddy's entire face changed and he stomped and punched her the entire ride home as she crouched down on the floor in the backseat of the suv. She said that her face was badly bruised with knots and bleeding and that Diddy forced her to cover up and heal in the London hotel as she was not allowed to leave because it was not safe. This is just one of the many violent incidents that Cassie described from the stand throughout this trial. We also heard about Diddy's violent tendencies from Cassie's best friend Brianna, her former friend Carrie, her former stylist Deonta Nash, and a lot of Diddy's ex assistants, including Capricorn Clark and one that went by Mia. We also heard from one of his ex girlfriends and victim number two, who went by Jane. Now, the defense was adamant since opening statements that this trial is not about domestic violence. Here is what Tenny Garagos had to say about domestic violence in opening statements. Her words are voiced by an actor.

[Tenny Garagos]

Domestic violence is not sex trafficking. I want to say it again. Domestic violence is not sex trafficking. Domestic violence is a very serious matter. It is a bad, illegal problem and it is something that the law addresses. We take full responsibility that there was domestic violence in this case. He will be accountable for the things that he did, but we will fight for his freedom throughout the next eight weeks for what he did not do.

[Kayla Brantley]

Capricorn Clark specifically went into great detail about what she and the prosecution classify as kidnapping at the direction and power of Diddy. She gave dramatic testimony about the many times Diddy allegedly threatened her life, as well as a string of alleged abuse, violence and kidnappings. In fact, she said that when she first started working for Diddy in 2004 and during her very first day on the job, she said she was kidnapped by Diddy and his head of security, Uncle Paulie. She said that she was picked up at her home and taken to Central park at 9pm she said that it was just the three of them, she, Diddy and Uncle Paulie. She said that Diddy had Paulie bring her there because he found out that she had previously worked for Suge Knight. And as a reminder for our listeners, Clark previously worked for Suge Knight. He was the CEO of Death Row Records. She was his assistant before working for Diddy. And Suge Knight is famously Diddy's arch nemesis. Clark's words are here, voiced by an actor. He told me he didn't know that I had anything to do with Suge Knight, and if anything happened, he would have to kill.

[Hermania Rodriguez Poleo]

Clark also testified to the night that Diddy showed up at her home in 2011, enraged, wearing ripped clothes and carrying a gun. This was because he found out that Cassie was dating the rapper Kid Cudi. She said that it was around five or six o' clock in the morning when she heard loud banging on her metal front door. She said that through the peephole, she could see Diddy pacing anxiously with something in his hands, which she later recognized as Kid A gun.

[Kayla Brantley]

Capricorn. Clark said that she could tell that Diddy was upset and that a big part of her job at the time was to make sure that he remained happy and to make sure that his name and likeness were okay, which basically means that Diddy's image and reputation stayed intact. So she said she opened the door to make sure that everything was all right. She said that Diddy came in screaming, quote, why didn't you tell me? And when Clark inquired about what he was referring to, he said, quote, who is Scott referring to? Kid Cudi's name. His name is Scott Mascudi. She replied, quote, oh, Cassie's friend. To which Diddy said, quote, get dressed. We're going to kill this N word.

[Hermania Rodriguez Poleo]

Clark said that when she told Diddy that she did not want to go, he said, quote, I don't give a fuck what you want to do. Go get dressed. She told the jury that she was very concerned for her safety. Here's Clark again, voiced by an actor.

[Kayla Brantley]

I never seen anything like this. He never come to my house. I never seen him with a weapon. Never seen him making me do something like this.

[Hermania Rodriguez Poleo]

Diddy's alleged drug mule was one of the final witnesses to take the stand. Brendan Paul, a former Syracuse University basketball star and personal assistant to Diddy, was arrested in March 2024 at Miami's OPA Loca airport for possession of cocaine and marijuana. Paul testified under immunity describing how he sourced and handled drugs. But during the cross examination by the defense, he stressed that he is not a drug mule and that his purchasing and distribution of drugs for Diddy was rare. The defense really took this Opportunity with Paul to probe him further on whether or not he felt that Diddy was the leader of a criminal enterprise. Here is defense attorney Brian Steele and Brandon Paul, voiced by axiom.

[Brendan Paul]

You made it clear to the jury and you've always made it clear you are not some drug mule, right? Absolutely not. What's your understanding of what a drug mule is? Someone who traffics kilos and kilos of drugs across the world. And what you're doing is on a few occasions, I think you said between five and 10, correct? Yeah. And this was a minor part of what you did with Sean Combs and the other co workers, right?

[Kayla Brantley]

Right.

[Brendan Paul]

Absolutely. You mentioned on your direct examination, I believe that KK ran the enterprise. Do you remember saying something like that around there? Now, you're not saying a criminal enterprise, are you?

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No.

[Brendan Paul]

And you would not work for a criminal, would you? Absolutely not. And the only reason you had those drugs is because you said you were cleaning in or around Sean's room and you found the drugs, right?

[Hermania Rodriguez Poleo]

Correct.

[Kayla Brantley]

Correct.

[Brendan Paul]

And you put them into your bag and you forgot you put them in there when you got on the plane, true? Correct. Sean Combs didn't ask you to bring these drugs with you, right? He did not. He didn't even know you had them on you, right? No.

[Kayla Brantley]

So this here was a very pivotal moment in the defense's case against the RICO charge, which would indicate organized crime. During Brandon Paul's testimony, as well as the testimony of former assistants Jonathan Perez and David James, Diddy's, quote, right hand woman, Christina Karam was brought up many times when it came to setting up freak offs and king nights, procuring drugs and recording interrogations on the mishandling of freak off videos. A constant question since the trial began was what about Christina Karam or as many knew her, K.K.

[Hermania Rodriguez Poleo]

That'S right, Kayla. And several of the experts we have had as guests on our podcast for this trial have said similar things and wondered about Christina Koram. One of them was veteran attorney Lisa Bloom. And this is what she had to say when she was a guest on our show.

[Lisa Bloom]

Sean Combs is accused of racketeering conspiracy, which basically is an agreement among multiple people to commit bad acts. And some of those people that he's supposedly agreeing with are these people who worked for him, who enabled him, who participated with him, who funded things, who cleaned up his messes afterwards. It is a mystery to me as to whether these other people, whether there are deals that they have with the government, which they may very well have, and that's why they turned over evidence like text messages and so forth. That's why the government has it. Or, or not. I mean, we just don't know at this point. Might other prosecutions follow? That's always possible.

[Hermania Rodriguez Poleo]

We'll be right back after this break.

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[Mark Agnifolo]

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[Kayla Brantley]

Well, it has been a wild ride here at the trial of Diddy. From the freak off to king knights to freezer meat and baby oil, there's been so many major developments that are really set to alter the life of Diddy as we know it and a lot of his alleged victims. The prosecution's entire strategy going into this case was to tell the story of Sean Combs from the perspective of his victims. The many gut wrenching testimonies, they really tugged at the heartstrings of all who watched and listened. And we, the public and the media saw the video of Cassie's assault from 20 and we heard a lot of direct evidence of what would appear to be conspired criminal activity. However, the jury was not convinced beyond a reasonable doubt.

[Hermania Rodriguez Poleo]

That's right, Kayla. Defense attorney Mark Agnifolu's closing testimony was pretty much mocking the prosecution saying thank God the streets are saved from the 900 bottles of baby oil and 200 bottles of Astroglide. Thank God the Astroglide is off the streets. He really kept this mocking tone throughout his closing arg and urged jurors to view the drug fueled freak offs as consensual date nights within a swinger's lifestyle, not evidence of sex trafficking or racketeering. He openly acknowledged that domestic violence occurred, but argue it did not meet the legal threshold for trafficking or racketeering.

[Kayla Brantley]

Yeah, but despite all that, I do believe that the defense stuck with the jury and all of that testimony and the freak off videos that that's hard to erase from your mind. And as we mentioned earlier, Diddy's sentenc date for the two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution is slated to take place on October 3, 2025. As of now, Diddy will remain behind bars until that date. We will be taking a short break for now, but the trial of Diddy is far from over. So make sure to follow us at the trial pod on Instagram, on our Daily Mail TikTok page and make sure to subscribe to the Trial of Diddy for any updates because we absolutely will be back.

[Hermania Rodriguez Poleo]

Also, we would love to hear your questions, thoughts and voice notes. Please email [e-mail] and don't forget to.

[Kayla Brantley]

Subscribe to the trial plusrimedesk.com if you haven't already. Thank you.

[Hermania Rodriguez Poleo]

See you later.

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