A Trial By Media with Lisa Bloom

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Trial of Diddy – Episode: A Trial By Media with Lisa Bloom

Introduction

In the episode titled "A Trial By Media with Lisa Bloom," hosts Hermania Rodriguez Poleo and Marjorie Hernandez delve deep into the high-profile legal battles surrounding Sean 'Diddy' Combs. This episode provides an insightful analysis of the ongoing trial in New York, focusing on the intricate legal strategies, the psychological impact on victims, and the broader implications of media involvement in high-stakes court cases.

Trial Status and Courtroom Developments

The episode begins with an update on the trial's current status. As of June 19, 2025, the court was not in session due to the Juneteenth holiday. Notably, the previous day's proceedings were disrupted when a juror experienced a vertigo attack, leading to their withdrawal and the adjournment of the court session.

Key Witness and Charges

Marjorie Hernandez outlines the significance of Brendan Paul’s expected testimony. Paul, a former Syracuse University basketball player, is accused of being Diddy's drug mule, transporting both drugs and firearms. Despite his arrest in March of the previous year for cocaine and marijuana possession, Paul avoided jail time by completing a six-month drug intervention program. He now testifies under an immunity deal, while Diddy maintains his innocence, pleading not guilty to all charges.

Special Guest: Attorney Lisa Bloom

The episode features a compelling interview with Lisa Bloom, a renowned victims' rights attorney known for her work in sexual harassment cases. Bloom represents Don Richard, a former member of Danity Kane and Diddy's band Diddy Dirty Money, who has filed a civil lawsuit against Diddy alleging years of sexual and verbal abuse, deprivation of basic necessities, and financial exploitation.

Jury Selection and Racial Bias

A significant portion of the discussion centers on jury selection and the potential influence of racial bias. Bloom explains, “[...] there are racial differences between black people and white people in the criminal justice system, especially when there's a black person on trial" (06:50). She highlights that defense attorneys may emphasize racial considerations to prepare grounds for potential appeals based on racial bias during jury selection. The judge has been meticulous in ensuring that juror exclusions are based on honesty rather than race, maintaining the integrity of the trial process.

Psychological Trauma and Victim Testimony

Bloom provides deep insights into the psychological trauma experienced by victims of abuse. She elaborates on common responses such as "freezing" and "fawning," where victims subconsciously attempt to appease their abusers to avoid further harm. Referencing the Bill Cosby case, she notes, “It's a very complicated psychological trauma response, but it's also very well documented in the literature at this point” (08:49). This context helps explain why victims like Cassie may have remained in abusive relationships despite evident violence.

Consent and Victim Testimony

The issue of consent is central to the trial. Bloom discusses how victims may initially consent to certain actions under duress or as a coping mechanism, only to retract that consent over time. She states, “[...] part of what Cassie testified to, which I found very credible, was initially she said, okay, I'll try it. You want to bring other men in, male escorts? I'll have sex with them. You watch. All right. And so that was consensual at first. And then as time went by, she really didn't want to anymore” (11:36). This nuanced understanding of consent underscores the complexities victims face in abusive situations.

Impact of Long-Term Abuse on Victims

Marjorie Hernandez raises a poignant question about why victims continue to associate with their abusers. Bloom responds by explaining the psychological mechanisms that trap victims in abusive relationships. She emphasizes that “no woman should ever have to choose between her job and her dignity” and places the onus on perpetrators to cease abusive behaviors (08:49).

Potential Implications for Additional Witnesses

The discussion touches upon the potential subpoena of individuals like Christina Khoram and Drock, whose text messages suggest involvement in the alleged criminal activities. Bloom speculates that if these individuals have not yet been subpoenaed, it might be due to existing deals with the government, leaving the possibility open for future prosecutions (15:29).

Defense Strategies and Diddy's Legal Approach

Hernandez inquires about Diddy's likely legal strategies, particularly regarding his decision whether to testify. Bloom explains that it is highly improbable Diddy will take the stand, aligning with standard defense practices where defendants often avoid testifying to prevent self-incrimination. She adds, “[...] I'm never surprised when there's a conviction. I'm surprised if there's an acquittal” but maintains professionalism by not expressing personal opinions on guilt or innocence (14:21).

Concluding Insights

The episode wraps up with Bloom expressing optimism about the prosecution's case, highlighting the robust evidence presented so far. She underscores the importance of an unbiased jury and the complexities involved in high-profile trials influenced by media attention.

Notable Quotes

• Lisa Bloom on Diddy's Success: “Everything Diddy touched turned to gold.” (00:28)
• Hernania Rodriguez on Court Adjournment: “The court was adjourned on Wednesday.” (01:31)
• Lisa Bloom on Jury Bias: “There are racial differences between black people and white people in the criminal justice system.” (06:50)
• Lisa Bloom on Victim Testimony: “It's a very complicated psychological trauma response, but it's also very well documented in the literature at this point.” (08:49)
• Lisa Bloom on Consent: “We have the right to consent or not consent each and every time there's sexual activities.” (11:36)
• Dawn Richard on Defense Strategy: “Defense Attorney 101 is you tell your client not to take the stand.” (16:27)

Conclusion

"A Trial By Media with Lisa Bloom" offers a comprehensive examination of the multifaceted legal battle facing Sean 'Diddy' Combs. Through expert analysis and firsthand accounts, the episode sheds light on the intricate dynamics of jury selection, the psychological toll on victims, and the strategic maneuvers of both prosecution and defense. This in-depth discussion not only informs listeners about the specifics of the case but also provides a broader understanding of the challenges inherent in prosecuting high-profile criminal cases.

Transcript

[Hermania Rodriguez Poleo]

Welcome to the trial of Diddy. I'm Hermania Rodriguez Poleo.

[Marjorie Hernandez]

And I'm Marjorie Hernandez filling in for Kayla Brantley.

[Hermania Rodriguez Poleo]

We'll be right back in a second.

[Marjorie Hernandez]

The biggest secret in the entertainment industry.

[Hermania Rodriguez Poleo]

That really wasn't a secret at all.

[Marjorie Hernandez]

At the height of his career, Sean Diddy Combs had it all.

[Lisa Bloom]

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.

[Marjorie Hernandez]

Another woman has now come forward alleging comes of sexual assault.

[Hermania Rodriguez Poleo]

Music mogul and rapper Sean Diddy.

[Lisa Bloom]

Cough.

[Dawn Richard]

He claims she was drugged and sexually assaulted by Combs.

[Marjorie Hernandez]

Oh, this guy is dangerous.

[Lisa Bloom]

From freak offs to the 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. Welcome back to the trial of diddy. It's Thursday, June 19, 2025, and the court is not in session today. On Wednesday, we were expecting to hear testimony from Brendan Paul, Diddy's alleged drug mule. However, in the morning, one of the jurors experienced a vertigo attack on their way to the courthouse and was forced to turn around and head back home. The juror's partner notified the court that they would not be able to attend that day.

[Marjorie Hernandez]

The judge says that it appears to be unexpected and momentary. The judge said that they will make a decision on whether to keep the juror on the main panel. But for now, the court was adjourned on Wednesday. Of course, due to the Juneteenth holiday, the court is not in session today 19 June. However, the court will be in session on Friday the 20th. And we will be back on Tuesday to bring you the word for word account from the New York City courtroom.

[Hermania Rodriguez Poleo]

Just a bit of information about what we have to look forward to in Friday's testimony from Brandon Paul. Paul was named in a civil lawsuit filed last February by Rodney Jones Jr. A writer producer who accused Diddy of forcing him to hire prostitutes to engage in sex acts while working on Diddy's most recent project, the love album off the Grid. Now, Jones accused Paul of being Diddy's drug mule who transported drugs for him as well as guns. Paul, who's 25, is a former Syracuse University basketball player. He was arrested in March last year at the Opa Loca airport in Miami. He was charged with cocaine and marijuana possession but was given a six month drug intervention program which he completed and so he avoided jail time. He is testifying under an immunity deal. Diddy has pleaded not guilty to all.

[Marjorie Hernandez]

Of the charges here at the trial. We don't like to miss a beat when it comes to giving our listeners insight into everything happening with the trial of Diddy. And today we have have a special guest. Attorney Lisa Bloom is joining us. Lisa is a high profile victims rights attorney well known for her work and sexual harassment cases. Lisa Bloom is also representing Don Richard, a former member of Danity Kane and the band Diddy Dirty Money in her case against Diddy. Richard filed a civil lawsuit against Diddy claiming that he subjected her to years of sexual and verbal abuse, deprived her of food and sleep, and withheld approximately 3.5 million in unpaid wages and royalties. She also alleges witnessing Diddy physically assaulting other women, such as his ex girlfriend, Cassie. We'll be back with attorney Lisa Bloom. Thank you so much, Lisa, for being with us today.

[Dawn Richard]

Thanks for having me. Nice to see you.

[Marjorie Hernandez]

Now we're in week six of the trial and there have been so many bombshells that have happened so far, But I guess the latest issue has been with the jurors.

[Dawn Richard]

So it's very important that jurors are honest, right? I mean, the system kind of relies upon jurors answering questions truthfully during the jury selection process. I was there for that week of jury selection and they were really grilled. And you know, on the one hand you could say, well, this juror apparently not being truthful about where he lived, New York versus New Jersey. Does that really matter? Is that really important? But what was important to the court is that the juror was not truthful. And so the juror was excluded for that reason. Luckily, there's still alternates and the trial continues.

[Hermania Rodriguez Poleo]

I wanted to ask you about that because it seems to be a huge part of Diddy's, his lawyers, the way they're going about it, they really seem focused on the jury's race. And even the judge admonished them saying, you don't get to choose a jury that just mirrors your race. They really did not want juror number six out, who was the black man? And now it appears that they do want this new juror with an issue out because the next alternate is also black. Are they right to care that much about the race issue in the jury?

[Dawn Richard]

It's a great question. Look, there are racial differences between black people and white people in the criminal justice system, especially when there's a black person on trial. I mean, there's no question about it that if you just had to choose blindly based on race and you have a black man on trial, he's going to prefer black jurors. Right. Because statistically, they're more likely to acquit. Now, having said that, there are plenty of black jurors who would be willing to convict Diddy or anybody else. And the reason I think the defense continuously raises this is because they're always looking ahead to a possible appeal, assuming that he gets convicted. They want to have their issues on the record for appeal. You can't appeal later if you didn't raise it in the trial court. And one of the issues you can raise on appeal is the issue of potential racial bias. So there's a body of law about racial bias and jury selection. The prosecution cannot exclude people based on race. Neither can the defense. The judge cannot exclude people based on race. And so you always get into this issue when, for example, a black juror is excluded and everybody knows the alternate that's going to replace him is going to be white. Is that based on race or is it based on something else, like the fact that the juror lied? So this judge, I think, is being very careful about that and putting on the record it's not because of race, but that's something that I'm sure if Diddy is convicted, he's going to raise on appeal.

[Hermania Rodriguez Poleo]

I also wanted to ask you about, of course, your client, Dawn Richard, because the cross examination was brutal. I mean, they really took a completely different tone than they did with Cassie. How is she doing and what did you think of her time in the stand?

[Dawn Richard]

So she's doing well. I'm very proud of her for the courage it took to go and testify. You know, she's a musician. She's an artist. She's not used to legal proceedings like I am. And it's very intimidating to go into a courtroom and testify. She didn't have to do it. She did it because she believed it was the right thing to do to support Cassie, who she considers to be very brave, as I do. And you're right. On cross examination, she was asked tough questions. I mean, that's what defense attorneys do. That's their job. I don't begrudge them doing that. And there were some things that she needed to explain based on some of the prior statements that she had made in her interviews with prosecutors. And I think she did explain them. You know, people, when they tell a story, especially a story of a traumatic incident over and over and over again, there are always going to be small inconsistencies. If I asked you Germania today what you had for breakfast, you would tell me something. If I asked you a week from now what you had for breakfast on that same day, you might give me a little different answer. If I asked you six months from now, you might give me a little bit different answer. It's not because you're intentionally lying. It's just because human memory can be a little bit faulty. But generally, when somebody's talking about a traumatic incident and they describe it, they get the gist of it, right? Even if the details may vary over time.

[Marjorie Hernandez]

Lisa? I think one of the questions I get asked a lot when somebody, you know, wants to know some information about the Diddy trial is why the women, for example, Cassie, Jane, and also his employees, why did they continue to work with him despite the fact that they alleged that he had exhibited some very violent episodes and violent in nature? How do you respond to that?

[Dawn Richard]

Right. So, you know, I've represented victims of discrimination, harassment, and abuse for almost 40 years, and this is very, very common. I think it's far less common for somebody to say, this is terrible. I quit. I never want to see you again. What is much more common is, especially for female victims, is the freezing and fawning response, which is, okay, I don't know what's happening. You know, kind of freezing in the moment and then afterwards fawning, which is the psychological mechanism of basically telling yourself that didn't. He's a great guy. If I just show enough deference, it'll never happen again. I saw this in the Bill Cosby case, where we know now he drugged and raped dozens and dozens of women. And those women afterwards continued to want to work with him, sent him friendly emails, et cetera. So it's a very complicated psychological trauma response, but it's also very well documented in the literature at this point. I will also say that no woman should ever have to choose between her job and her dignity. Why should they have to leave? That's not on them. It's on the perpetrator to clean up his act, to not be abusive, to be respectful to everyone in the workplace. So nobody's put in that position. You know, Dawn Richard ultimately did stop working with him. Around, I think, 2010, 2011, there was a reunion of Dany Kane, but she didn't really interact with him very much on that reunion. And you know what? It was good for her career to be part of that reunion. And why should she have to give that up just because Sean Combs is accused of all these terrible things? It's up to him to conform his behavior. So I think one of the things that we've Learned from the MeToo movement is that it's very complicated and difficult for a sexual abuse victim to kind of pull herself out of the situation, especially when it's a very high profile, powerful man who's known to engage in a lot of acts of violence if you cross him or if you report him. And it takes years and years, really, for the people to understand what happened to them, to come to terms with it, and then to stand up for their rights.

[Hermania Rodriguez Poleo]

And going off of that note, I think also the issue of consent, right, is at the center of this trial and whether the jury understands that even though the alleged victims may have said they like these sex marathons, why they would have said that even if they did not mean it. Now, prosecutors wanted an expert on victims that have suffered similar abuse to get back on the stand, which says to me that they felt that they needed to tell more to the jury about why Cassie might have said, I want to free golf. Now, the judge did not allow that expert witness to get back on the stand. Will that make a difference, do you think? Prosecutors have made the jury understand why Cassie might have said she liked freak offs?

[Dawn Richard]

So I think that's a very wise insight. I'm glad the expert did testify initially about the trauma response. And, you know, normally you get one shot. You put the expert up, she testifies. You don't get to call her back again later in your case to say more things. So that would be unusual if the judge would have granted it and the judge did not grant it. I think you're right. It does show that the prosecutor, I mean, I'm sure they are concerned about some of the text messages from Cassie and the other victims indicating that they like the freak offs or the hotel nights, and they enjoyed it and they wanted to, you know, people can consent to some acts and not other acts, Right? We have the right to consent or not consent each and every time there's sexual activities. So part of what Cassie testified to, which I found very credible, was initially she said, okay, I'll try it. You want to bring other men in, male escorts? I'll have sex with them. You watch. All right. You know, I'll do it. And so that was consensual at first. And then as time went by, she really didn't want to anymore. And things changed. And I think anybody who's been in a relationship that ended up being coercive or even just things that you don't like can relate to that. Things become normalized. It's very Hard to pull yourself out of it. And I think that's Cassie's story, which I found very credible.

[Marjorie Hernandez]

Cassie was with him off and on for 11 years. The fact that they again were together for so long, and this has happened throughout the relationship. Do you think the jury will buy that? Look, I am still a victim, despite the fact that I stayed in this very abusive relationship.

[Dawn Richard]

Yes, because of the violence, which is really not disputed. Right. We know. We've seen the hotel video. The jury has seen the hotel video where he physically assaults her, drags her, kicks her when she's down, and other acts of violence against. Against Cassie, really brutal acts, punching her in the face, dragging her by the hair have been described by a lot of witnesses at this point. Right. So when there's that much violence, it's hard to imagine what could have been consensual at that point. We also have the testimony about him blowing up Kid Cudi's car and Cassie knowing about that. So you really get the picture that she was terrified in this relationship and terrorized. And the most dangerous time for a battered woman is the time when she leaves a relationship. Battered women know that. And so we hear with Kid Cudi that's she had a new boyfriend. Maybe she was trying to leave at that point. There's this very violent incident, and she comes back. But it is also confusing. She testified that she did love Sean Combs in that really toxic, unhealthy relationship. And that was also. I thought that was also very honest testimony.

[Hermania Rodriguez Poleo]

So sounds like you think he will be convicted. Yes.

[Dawn Richard]

Look, 95% of criminal cases in court end in convictions. So I'm never surprised when there's a conviction. I'm surprised if there's an acquittal. Because I represent a witness, Dawn Richard. Their rules don't allow me to opine about guilt or innocence, so I'm not going to answer that question. But I do think the prosecution so far has put on a very strong case, and I think they're continuing next week, and then they're going to rest, and then we'll see what the defense has to say.

[Hermania Rodriguez Poleo]

And I just have one more question for you. And I am so lucky that I have a legal mind like yourself to answer it, because I have been wondering this throughout the entire trial. Two people, Christina Khoram, Drock. Every person on the stand basically has mentioned them. Shocking text messages, really, particularly from Koram. Like one telling Diddy, don't do something dumb, like not pay Jane's rent when everything already was happening to keep her on their side. Why haven't these people been subpoenaed? Does that mean they could face charges in the future? What about these two people who everyone has something to say in this trial about?

[Dawn Richard]

Well, also very good question. Both of you have great questions. So, yes, basically 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 not. I mean, we just don't know at this point. Might other prosecutions follow? That's always possible.

[Marjorie Hernandez]

Now, Lisa Diddy's attorneys did mention to the judge that their own presentation could last maybe less than two days, not more than five. So do you think that means Diddy will definitely not take the stand in his own defense?

[Dawn Richard]

Defense Attorney 101 is you tell your client not to take the stand. Now, it's the client in this case, Sean Combs, who makes the decision. He gets to make the decision, not the lawyers. But I would be absolutely shocked if he takes the stand. I think it's extremely unlikely. And also, you are right, two to five days, if he took the stand, you know, that would be a week just for him. Right. And let's all remember the two to five days. Some people might say, well, gee, you know, the prosecution has been, what, six weeks, seven weeks. Why such a short time for the defense? The defense does not have any burden of proof. They don't have to prove anything. Many trials, the defense doesn't put on any evidence. Right. They just poke holes in the prosecution's case and say the prosecution did not prove their case. And that's every defendant's right in America to do it that way. He is putting some witnesses on. I'm very interested in hearing them. And the jury is supposed to keep an open mind until the end. And I hope that they are, like.

[Marjorie Hernandez]

You said, Defense 101, don't take the stand if you're the defendant. But would you, as an attorney representing a plaintiff, would you have wanted him to take the stand?

[Dawn Richard]

Oh, of course I would. Of course I would want him to take the stand. I mean, part of the reason why I came to the trial, in addition to being there for my client, Dawn Richard, when she testified, was just to see some of the other witnesses and to see how they might be beneficial to my cases. I represent her as well as a male accuser, John Doe, in civil cases, cases against Sean Combs. And so if Sean Combs testified, of course I would want to see that testimony. I would want to take copious notes. I would want to know everything he said because it might be useful in my cases. And I think the other attorneys for the other people suing him would probably feel the same way.

[Hermania Rodriguez Poleo]

Well, thank you so much, Lisa Bloom. This was quite enlightened, and again, feel so lucky that I got to ask you all these questions that I've been wondering about throughout this trial. It really has been very interesting to see kind of how the process works.

[Dawn Richard]

Well, I really enjoy it. Thank you so much. Germania and Marjorie, you're both very sharp, and I enjoy talking about this trial with you, so look forward to the next time.