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- [00:02]
Kayla Brantley
Seriously popular.
- [00:04]
Ben Barry
The following episode explores a number of allegations regarding the artist Diddy. He denies all charges and has pled not guilty to sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution.
- [00:17]
Kayla Brantley
The biggest secret in the entertainment industry that really wasn't a secret at all has finally been revealed to the world.
- [00:26]
Marjorie Hernandez
At the height of his career, Sean Diddy Combs had it all. It seemed like everything Diddy touched turned to gold. Now the once untouchable hip hop mogul is fighting for his life as he faces multiple federal charges in New York, including sex trafficking and allegedly running a criminal enterprise.
- [00:46]
Kayla Brantley
Music mogul and rapper Sean Diddy Combs has faced four different lawsuits in recent weeks alleging sexual assault. Combs can be seen grabbing Ventura and throwing her to the ground. Oh, this guy is dangerous.
- [00:58]
Marjorie Hernandez
Woman has now come forward.
- [01:00]
Kayla Brantley
A legend comes of sexual assault. She was drugged and sexually assaulted by Combs.
- [01:05]
Marjorie Hernandez
I'm DailyMail.com journalist Marjorie Hernandez, and over the last six months, I've been investigating this incredible story and speaking to the people in the eye of the storm. Welcome to the Trial of Diddy.
- [01:24]
Kayla Brantley
Hey, I'm Kayla Brantley, reporter at large for the Daily Mail in Manhattan. And welcome to episode 12 of the trial of Diddy. A couple weeks ago, we were all thinking, you know what? This is really all settling down. And clearly it looks like we were wrong because there's been a lot going on. So let me fill you in on what's been happening since our last episode. Shortly after our last episode, federal judge Aren Subramanian pushed back making a decision to this week on whether Diddy could be released on bail. Several other judges have, of course, denied multiple past requests mentioning their fears he would attempt to interfere in the government's case against him if he's released. And for everyone who's been listening, you already know this. But in case you forgot, Sean Combs is accused of sex trafficking, transportation for prostitution and racketeering conspiracy. And it's important to state here that he denies all the allegations made against him. Federal government attorneys have long argued against Diddy's $50 million bail package, claiming it, quote, does not come close to ensuring the of the community. They believe there's sufficient evidence to say that Combs may interfere with the case or even try to flee before the trial, which is set for May 2025. And they've talked about an alleged, quote, pattern of violence toward women and his own staff. Now Combs defense attorneys are arguing he's been unconstitutionally held in jail and effectively silenced since he was first arrested back in September. They go on to claim the government has launched a campaign against Combs to prevent him from getting a fair trial and that their client is, quote, not required to sit idly by and acquiesce to all of this. Judge Subramanian, who reportedly was open to the idea of potentially releasing Combs to detention with around the clock security at a three bedroom apartment in Manhattan is expected to make a decision on bail by Thanksgiving. Right now it's Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, 1:41pm and there's been no word yet. So once we get that, we will update you asap. Of course, if Diddy is still in jail on Thanksgiving, which honestly at this point looks increasingly likely, then you might be wondering what he'll be eating. Luckily, much of the world's media has also wondered the same thing and it's been revealed that it's honestly looking pretty basic for the special day. Should Diddy spend the holiday at his current location, the Metropolitan Detention center in Brooklyn? Then People magazine have reported that Combs will go for breakfast at 6 6am and he'll have fruit, cereal and the non specific sounding breakfast pastries on Thursday, November 28th. And if that breakfast wasn't filling enough, at 11am Lunch is set to include roast turkey or hot and sour tofu for the vegans and vegetarians with side dishes of mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, cranberry sauce, turkey, gravy and the ever delicious dinner rolls. And while that does sound like typical Thanksgiving food, obviously it's probably nowhere near his mom's home cooked meal. And I know what you're all thinking, that all sounds pretty good, Kayla. But will there be holiday pie? And yes there will be because holiday pie is on the menu. I don't know what kind, but there will be pie. And look, I know Thanksgiving dinner is typically much earlier than regular dinner time. My family's probably eating around 3pm but this Thanksgiving dinner is at 11am so. So that is much, much earlier than we'll probably all be having our Thanksgiving meals. Then Shortly after the 4pm headcount, a very sad dinner of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, potato chips, whole wheat bread and fruit will be dished up to all the inmates. So after hearing all of that, those three pleas for bail really are seeming much more understandable now, aren't they? And so for today's guest we have UK Based journalist Ben Barry, who is senior US Reporter at Southwest News Service, a British agency and media company. Ben covers U.S. news, crime, human interest and viral stories. And he certainly had one of those this month with his exclusive piece on the footage from a birthday party Diddy threw for rapper Meek mill at a $7.5 million Las Vegas mansion. We were fascinated by the story, so we reached out to Ben, and here he is. Welcome to the show, Ben.
- [05:52]
Ben Barry
Well, thank you so much for having me. I really appreciate it.
- [05:55]
Kayla Brantley
Obviously, this is a podcast, so if our listeners haven't seen that footage, can you describe a lot of what goes on in it?
- [06:04]
Ben Barry
Essentially, it was a birthday party that P. Diddy put on for Meek mills back in 2014. And yeah, in the video, I think is sort of the typical what you'd expect from a celebrity party. Hundreds of people there, a lot of faces that you might recognize. But I think one aspect of the video, perhaps the most shocking aspect of the video for me was when you got that footage of people eating sushi off a naked woman. I think that along with the allegations, which I'm sure we'll get onto from the property manager, were the most shocking part for me.
- [06:47]
Kayla Brantley
Yeah. And I saw the video. You do see just women laying out on the table, people all around her, sushi all over her naked body, everyone just grabbing like she was a serving platter.
- [07:01]
Ben Barry
Yeah, I mean, it is shocking. And obviously, you know, I couldn't imagine being a woman in that situation. It's not nice. It's not what you expect to see. And yeah, I think that was definitely the most shocking part for me.
- [07:13]
Kayla Brantley
Yeah. And Ben, you're a journalist, so obviously you can't tell us all of your secrets of how you get your scoops, but is there anything that you can tell us of how you obtained this footage?
- [07:25]
Ben Barry
Yeah, well, I mean, like all major news organizations, we have a way that people can connect with us and share their stories. Obviously, on our side, we've had a big push in the last year or so with US content, and we are an international news agency. So Jason obviously thought we were the best people at the time to get the story out there. He contacted us saying he had this video to share. And yeah, obviously, like all journalists at the minute covering pdd, you're going to want to see that video. He sent me the video over and like, I most shocking element for me was that moment when people are eating sushi off that woman. But we had an in depth chat, an interview about what it was like, what the party was like, how he became to be the one hosting it, and what it was like dealing with P. Diddy and his management. And yeah, it kind of went from there.
- [08:16]
Kayla Brantley
Yeah. And to catch our listeners up, Jason Haight, who turned over the footage, was the property manager where the Las Vegas party was thrown. So he was managing the property. It was a big mansion in Las Vegas where this huge bash was.
- [08:30]
Ben Barry
Yeah, exactly. Jason was the property manager at the time. Yeah. And he was one running the party.
- [08:36]
Kayla Brantley
So speaking to Jason, what was he.
- [08:39]
Ben Barry
Like speaking to Jason? It was great to speak to him and get his input on the story. I think, as well, you know, the fact that he was okay to be named as well was amazing because it kind of showed the legitimacy of what he had to say. He did have, as I'm sure you've read and people might have read, he did have a number of allegations against P. Diddy and his management. Whether that was that they required the locks to be changed on the rooms and alleging that all the keys were passed over to P. Diddy or, you know, the fire alarms being replaced for one reason or another, or the life insurance on the property that they had put on there. So it was fascinating to speak to him because, yes, we have this video. Some elements of the video were shocking. Some of them were what many people might expect a celebrity party to be like. Hundreds of people there drinking, doing all sorts, you know. But I think for me, it was speaking to him and getting those allegations and those details that were the most shocking parts for me.
- [09:40]
Kayla Brantley
And do you know Jason's motivation for coming forward and giving you that footage?
- [09:45]
Ben Barry
I mean, I don't, you know, I don't know personally his motivation. I think, obviously, like everyone, he has seen these allegations. I can't speak for Jason, but I got the sense from talking to him that if he knew what everyone knows and all the allegations part today, the party probably wouldn't have gone ahead. So I think it was just a sense of wanting to get this information out there for him. But like I said, I obviously can't speak for Jason.
- [10:11]
Kayla Brantley
And do you know if federal authorities have, after your report came out, either spoken to Jason or have they contacted you to seize that footage? Is. Has there been any movement with that?
- [10:24]
Ben Barry
So, I mean, we haven't ourselves heard from anyone. I have been speaking to Jason since the footage of an hour, and he hasn't mentioned anything to me. So I presume that the answer is no to both of those, that no one's reached out to him for the footage or to question him about the event.
- [10:51]
Kayla Brantley
One of the things, especially in such a huge case like this, a difficulty that I know a lot of journalists have, is getting people who may know things to speak. So covering this case and, you know, covering even a lot of other big cases. How difficult has that been for you?
- [11:09]
Ben Barry
I think as an experienced journalist, you know, yourself, like you just said, it is very difficult. We've been quite lucky with our reporting here at SW&S that whether it's been people like Jason or alleged victims of pdd, they're willing to speak out and share their story and be pictured and share their name. So in that regard, we have actually been quite lucky. But, I mean, you always get some people that don't want to be named. We have sent out footage of P. Diddy the day before he was arrested in Central park, talking to fans, you know, laughing and joking, and those people didn't want to be named for different reasons. He's a big celebrity.
- [11:50]
Kayla Brantley
Yeah. Whether it's intimidation or whatever it is. Yeah.
- [11:54]
Ben Barry
But, yeah, like I said, I think maybe that's kudos to us at sgms, but we've been quite lucky that people who have come forward with their stories have been willing to be named and, yeah, full on share their story with the world.
- [12:07]
Kayla Brantley
Yeah. And you mentioned some of the requests that he had told you from Diddy's team, whether it was changing locks. But one of the details that we found really interesting in your story was that Diddy's team sent Haight their own smoke detectors, which they requested to be installed in place of regular ones. Do you know if Haight's people had inspected those smoke detectors at all? Because it kind of makes you wonder why. Why, you know, put smoke detectors. I know a conspiracy or a rumor that's been floated is that maybe there were cameras in them because allegations have been floated around that Diddy did have cameras at his parties.
- [12:50]
Ben Barry
I'm sure if the smoke detectors were inspected, obviously that's a question for Jason as well. But what I do know is that he was told that, as I mentioned, the insurance policy that P. Did his people had taken out on the property required the use of these new smoke detectors to be put in. In my reporting, I share how Jason was a bit hesitant on that because of the artwork in the mansion and the painted on the ceiling. But that was a request that they wanted and he stuck by and did.
- [13:24]
Kayla Brantley
And of course, with a piece of information like that, it could be as innocent as, you know, they. It's just a policy thing or, you know, some people's minds after all these allegations goes straight to the worst thing possible. So, of course, that's for the investigators.
- [13:40]
Ben Barry
To find out for sure.
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Kayla Brantley
That's not our jobs.
- [13:44]
Ben Barry
No, exactly. Yeah. I Think obviously, you know, again, with the age of social media, when you get these massive stories, people are always going to have their own takes on every aspect. And I think obviously maybe that's one of those takes. But like you said, the investigators will find out that information.
- [13:58]
Kayla Brantley
Definitely. And the release of the shocking footage of Cassie being assaulted by Diddy, that was definitely a major turning point both in his criminal case and, you know, in the court of public opinion. Obviously, you know, this was footage from a party. You didn't see any abuse going on. But do you think that a video like the one that you released could have an impact in the case?
- [14:24]
Ben Barry
I mean, that video of Cassie was shocking. I remember seeing it. I'm sure you do as well. And it is just absolutely horrific footage that we've all seen. I don't know if the footage of the party will have quite the same impact. Like I said, you know, the footage isn't great, but it is more what Jason's got to say that really made a difference for me and I think in this story as well. I don't know if it's got the same impact as that shocking footage that we've all sadly seen.
- [14:52]
Kayla Brantley
And have you received any feedback or pushback after this story went live?
- [14:58]
Ben Barry
No, we haven't. Whether that's to come or not, I don't know. Obviously, as journalists, especially here in the UK and the us, we do our due diligence to make sure everything's correct and factual. We obviously did reach out to PDD's people and. And haven't got a comment back or anything back to them.
- [15:17]
Kayla Brantley
So no odd emails dropping in your inbox ever since?
- [15:21]
Ben Barry
No, nothing. I mean, as journalists, we all get emails dropping into our inboxes, but yeah, nothing. Nothing like that.
- [15:28]
Kayla Brantley
Well, thanks for listening, everyone. Marjorie will be back next week and we are planning another Q and A episode, so we will both be diving into all of your comments, thoughts and suggestions for the show. In the meantime, what would you like us to cover? What other trials are you interested in? Let us know by email thetrialailymail.com or you can WhatsApp us at 447-7966-57512 and make sure to start your message with Trial as ever, thank you for listening. Please share all your comments, suggestions and thoughts on the Trial of Diddy on Apple or Spotify and follow us on TikTok@DailyMailCrime. Do follow the podcast the Trial of Diddy as we will be here each week with new information and expert guests. Goodbye.