1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,040 Speaker 1: What's up, everyone, and welcome to another episode of The 2 00:00:03,279 --> 00:00:06,360 Diddy Diaries. In this episode, we're going to pick up 3 00:00:06,360 --> 00:00:10,080 where we left off with our first week's summary, and 4 00:00:10,160 --> 00:00:13,880 that is with Cassie Ventura back on the stand and 5 00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:21,079 this time for cross examination. Thursday, May fifteenth, twenty twenty five. 6 00:00:22,039 --> 00:00:26,160 After a night to digest Cassie's harrowing testimony, Thursday morning 7 00:00:26,199 --> 00:00:30,800 brings a sense of trepidation. The question on everyone's mind 8 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:35,640 how well Didty's lawyers cross examined Cassie. Attacking a sympathetic 9 00:00:35,640 --> 00:00:39,240 accuser to harshly can alienate a jury, but they must 10 00:00:39,359 --> 00:00:43,759 challenge your credibility to mount any defense. Word is filtered out, 11 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:47,520 perhaps from motions. Argued Wednesday after hours that the defense 12 00:00:47,759 --> 00:00:53,799 plans a focus on Cassie's infidelity and the couple's volatile dynamic. Indeed, 13 00:00:53,799 --> 00:00:58,200 defense attorney Mark Agnafilo boldly told the judge that infidelity 14 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:01,679 will be featured subject of the cross and that everyone 15 00:01:01,759 --> 00:01:05,920 knew this was coming. They foreshadowed a narrative of mutual 16 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:10,400 violence and mutual cheating, Essentially that Cassie wasn't the helpless 17 00:01:10,439 --> 00:01:14,319 victim that she portrays, but an active player in a turbulent, 18 00:01:14,599 --> 00:01:18,959 hedonistic relationship. The courtroom is as crowded as ever. As 19 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:22,640 Cassie retakes the stand at nine thirty am, she's visibly 20 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:27,359 drained but determined. Anna Stavio rises for the defense. A 21 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:31,120 conscious choice, perhaps a woman, to question a woman on 22 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:37,000 these intimate matters, likely calculated to appear less confrontational. A. Stavio, 23 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:41,280 in a calm, almost friendly tone, begins, good morning, miss Ventura. 24 00:01:41,799 --> 00:01:47,079 Cassie responds in kind, to everyone's perhaps pleasant surprise. The 25 00:01:47,120 --> 00:01:51,359 cross examination is polite and low key. A Stavio strategy 26 00:01:51,439 --> 00:01:55,719 is clearly to avoid villainizing Cassie. There's no angry grilling, 27 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:59,640 no raised voice. Observers later say it felt at times 28 00:02:00,159 --> 00:02:04,879 like two friends chatting. This approach is disarming. It lulls 29 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:08,000 the jury and perhaps puts Cassie at ease, making her 30 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:12,479 more likely to concede points. Stavio starts by acknowledging how 31 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:15,840 hard it must be for Cassie to relive these experiences, 32 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:20,840 which catches Cassie off guard. Then she gently pivots, I 33 00:02:20,919 --> 00:02:22,840 want to talk about some of the messages you and 34 00:02:22,879 --> 00:02:28,599 Shawn exchanged during your relationship. She says. What unfolds is 35 00:02:28,599 --> 00:02:33,199 the defense most potent tool Cassie's own words, preserved in 36 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:37,080 text messages and email from the time when these events 37 00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:41,400 were happening. Astavio produces print outs of several explicit text 38 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:47,000 message exchanges between Cassie and Colms. She doesn't read them 39 00:02:47,039 --> 00:02:50,400 in a delicious way, but matter of factly. On August ninth, 40 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:53,199 two thousand and nine, mister Combs texted you, when do 41 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:56,240 you want to freak off? Lol? And you replied I'm 42 00:02:56,280 --> 00:03:00,719 always ready to freak off. A few jurors raised eyebrows. 43 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:04,520 A Stavio continues quoting another message from two days later, 44 00:03:04,759 --> 00:03:09,280 when Cassie sent Colmbs a highly explicit sexual text, the 45 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:12,039 context of which is not read aloud, just alluded to 46 00:03:12,319 --> 00:03:15,800 as an explicit message, and Combs are applied with excitement, 47 00:03:16,199 --> 00:03:19,520 and you responded me too, I just want to be uncontrollable, 48 00:03:19,879 --> 00:03:26,400 a Stavio says, stressing Cassie's enthusiastic phrasing. Cassie looks visibly uncomfortable, 49 00:03:26,479 --> 00:03:29,360 but doesn't deny it. If that's what the text says, 50 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:33,360 then yes, I said that, she affirms, perhaps now understanding 51 00:03:33,599 --> 00:03:37,560 the defense game plan. A Stavio highlights these messages to 52 00:03:37,599 --> 00:03:41,680 suggest Cassie was a willing participant who had times initiated 53 00:03:41,719 --> 00:03:46,680 freak offs. Another message July twenty thirteen, Cassie to Colmbs, 54 00:03:46,919 --> 00:03:49,719 which we could have foed before you left, And in 55 00:03:49,719 --> 00:03:54,080 twenty seventeen, Cassie wrote, I love our fos when we 56 00:03:54,159 --> 00:03:58,000 both wanted a. Stavio asked Cassie to read that one 57 00:03:58,039 --> 00:04:03,520 aloud herself. Cassie does quietly, I love our fos when 58 00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:06,680 we both wanted a. Stavio then asks what did you 59 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:10,439 mean by that, Miss Ventura. Cassie takes a moment. At 60 00:04:10,439 --> 00:04:13,199 that point, I was saying what I thought he wanted 61 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:16,319 to hear. She explains. When I said loving freak offs, 62 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:20,120 they were just words. I didn't truly love them. This 63 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:24,199 is a critical pushback. Cassie basically says she often feigned 64 00:04:24,279 --> 00:04:28,959 enthusiasm to appease Combs. A Stavio nods, I see, so 65 00:04:29,160 --> 00:04:32,319 you are lying to him in these texts. Cassie clarifies 66 00:04:32,480 --> 00:04:35,240 I was. I was trying to keep him happy. I 67 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:39,600 wouldn't call it lying so much as surviving. The defense 68 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:45,000 also underscores Cassie's frustration and agency. They introduced messages where 69 00:04:45,079 --> 00:04:48,839 Cassie complained about the relationship lacking more than sex. Late 70 00:04:48,839 --> 00:04:52,199 two thousand and nine, Cassie email Combs, upset that he 71 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:55,240 would rush her off the phone and not spend quality time. 72 00:04:55,879 --> 00:04:59,120 In other words, she wasn't a passive doll, she argued 73 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:02,759 with him, had her own needs. A. Stavio then slides 74 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:06,639 in the topic of infidelity. She establishes that Colmbs had 75 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:10,480 other women and Cassie knew it, then pointedly asked, you 76 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:12,839 are also seeing someone else towards the end of your 77 00:05:12,839 --> 00:05:19,160 relationship with mister Combs. Correct Cassie tenses this is referencing 78 00:05:19,199 --> 00:05:23,600 Alex Fine, who Cassie began dating around twenty eighteen while 79 00:05:23,639 --> 00:05:28,279 technically still with Combs. Cassie answers, carefully, I began seeing 80 00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:31,079 the man who is now my husband after Sean and 81 00:05:31,120 --> 00:05:33,879 I were already broken up. We were on a break. A. 82 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:37,160 Stavio presses, weren't you still living at Shawn's house at 83 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:41,920 the time. Cassie admits she was. Briefly The defenses implying 84 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:45,519 Cassie cheated on Combs, which, in their narrative, might have 85 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:49,800 provoked some of his rage or undermines her victimhood, as 86 00:05:49,839 --> 00:05:52,480 if to say she was capable of doing wrong too. 87 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:57,079 It's a risky line, but they pursue it lightly. A 88 00:05:57,160 --> 00:06:00,920 Stavio notes how Cassie expressed jealousy when Holmes ped attention 89 00:06:00,959 --> 00:06:03,920 to other women. You didn't want him seeing others, but 90 00:06:04,319 --> 00:06:07,959 he didn't let you see others either, right. Cassie responds, 91 00:06:08,199 --> 00:06:11,839 he didn't want me seeing anyone period, but yes, he 92 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:15,000 did what he wanted. A Stavio then draws out that 93 00:06:15,120 --> 00:06:18,560 Cassie's jealousy sometimes led to fights where she might start 94 00:06:18,639 --> 00:06:22,399 yelling or even throwing things. Cassie admits that at times 95 00:06:22,839 --> 00:06:26,879 she'd smash things out of frustration. The defense subtly seeds 96 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:31,480 the concept of mutual conflict without outright calling her an aggressor. 97 00:06:31,879 --> 00:06:35,600 They mentioned an incident hypothetical where Cassie won slap calms 98 00:06:35,639 --> 00:06:39,519 during an argument. Cassie doesn't recall specifics, but says if 99 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:42,319 I ever hit him, it was in self defense or 100 00:06:42,600 --> 00:06:47,480 at a sheer desperation. Throughout this, a Stavio remains warm. 101 00:06:47,680 --> 00:06:51,600 If Cassie cries, a Stavio offers her a moment and 102 00:06:51,639 --> 00:06:54,759 a tissue. The courtroom observes this for what it is 103 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:58,879 a tactic to get Cassie relaxed and talkative, and it 104 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:03,879 works to an extent. Cassie occasionally volunteers context to defend herself. 105 00:07:04,319 --> 00:07:06,959 I said that because I was scared he'd get mad 106 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:11,040 if I said no, and Ostavio listens sympathetically, but then 107 00:07:11,199 --> 00:07:14,519 uses the very admission to underscore out Cassie was not 108 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:18,759 physically forced to type those eager messages. She chose to 109 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:22,920 play catom. The jury leans forward, reading the text on 110 00:07:22,959 --> 00:07:26,759 their monitors. One female jur looks troubled when seeing Cassie's 111 00:07:26,879 --> 00:07:30,439 flirtatious words, perhaps thinking why would she play along so 112 00:07:30,560 --> 00:07:34,120 eagerly if she hated it. Another juror shakes his head 113 00:07:34,279 --> 00:07:37,680 at one particularly raunchy line from Cassie, while a few 114 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:41,120 others dark glances at Comb's who appears relaxed at the 115 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:45,040 defense table, arms folded and legs crossed. He even cracks 116 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:48,199 a slight smile at one intimate joke read aloud as 117 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:52,720 if reminiscing about better times. This body language Combs, appearing 118 00:07:52,759 --> 00:07:55,759 calm and almost chummy with his lawyer while his worst 119 00:07:55,800 --> 00:07:59,120 secrets are erred, is noted by the press. Some wonder 120 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:04,319 if it plays his confidence or callousness. Next to Stavio 121 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:08,279 addresses the settlement and financial motive. She brings up the 122 00:08:08,319 --> 00:08:12,600 twenty million Cassie received in the civil settlement. That amount 123 00:08:12,639 --> 00:08:15,879 of money could certainly help when one's career installed, could 124 00:08:15,879 --> 00:08:19,639 it not, she asks? The prosecution objects to the career 125 00:08:19,720 --> 00:08:24,680 stall premise sustained. A Stavio rephrases, you hadn't released an 126 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:28,680 album in many years, right? Cassie agrees she only ever 127 00:08:28,720 --> 00:08:30,959 released one in two thousand and six. As we know 128 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:36,240 the insinuation Cassie might have needed money. A Stavio asked 129 00:08:36,240 --> 00:08:39,759 whether Cassie's family was in financial hardship by twenty twenty three. 130 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:44,759 Cassie firmly says no, not at all. A Stavio asked, 131 00:08:44,759 --> 00:08:46,840 did you have to pay your lawyers from that settlement? 132 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:50,000 Cassie says she can't speak about the details due to 133 00:08:50,039 --> 00:08:53,559 the NDA. It's a brief hint that you got money. 134 00:08:53,759 --> 00:08:57,879 You might have motive to exaggerate, but Cassie's earlier tearful 135 00:08:57,879 --> 00:09:01,440 statement I'd give it back to a race really blunted 136 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:05,840 that angle. The defense likely recognized that and doesn't belabor 137 00:09:05,919 --> 00:09:11,480 money much. Astavio also touches on Cassie's post relationship success, 138 00:09:11,679 --> 00:09:15,840 how she got married started a family moved on, possibly 139 00:09:15,879 --> 00:09:19,240 trying to suggest she recovered okay, thus maybe it wasn't 140 00:09:19,240 --> 00:09:23,399 so bad. Cassie counters that she still deals with PTSD, 141 00:09:23,879 --> 00:09:28,639 hence the therapy now. Estavio carefully navigates the Atlantic City 142 00:09:28,639 --> 00:09:32,360 incident where Cassie threatened the man. You were prepared to 143 00:09:32,360 --> 00:09:35,159 have someone hurt the man on Shawn's instruction. Weren't you, 144 00:09:35,279 --> 00:09:39,399 she asks softly. Cassie looks pained. I was terrified. I 145 00:09:39,519 --> 00:09:42,080 wasn't prepared to I was doing what Seawn told me. 146 00:09:42,720 --> 00:09:46,360 I never actually heard anyone but a Stavio notes Cassie's 147 00:09:46,360 --> 00:09:49,559 own words on the recording. I'll kill you. Someone else 148 00:09:49,639 --> 00:09:53,960 is gonna do it. She asks, you said those things, right, Cassie, Yes, 149 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:57,039 I did. There's no walk in that back. So in 150 00:09:57,080 --> 00:09:59,480 that moment, you were willing to use violence to protect 151 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:03,519 Shawn CCT. Cassie responds that she would have actually done it. 152 00:10:03,879 --> 00:10:07,480 She was just desperate. The defense lets it linger and 153 00:10:07,559 --> 00:10:11,080 it's opponent image Cassie, sounding like a mob, enforce her 154 00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:16,600 even if under duress, and throughout Thursday, Jersey two cassies, 155 00:10:16,919 --> 00:10:20,720 one from the past and texts flirty, compliant, even aggressive 156 00:10:20,759 --> 00:10:25,600 at times, and one on the stand, vulnerable, remorseful, resolved. 157 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:30,840 It's complex and likely confusing for some. The defense aims 158 00:10:30,879 --> 00:10:34,559 to so reasonable doubt. Maybe this wasn't a one sided 159 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:37,559 saga of abuse. Maybe it was a twisted romance with 160 00:10:37,639 --> 00:10:42,320 blame on both sides. By late Thursday, Astavio concludes her 161 00:10:42,360 --> 00:10:46,320 cross with a respectful thank you, Miss Ventura, and Cassie 162 00:10:46,440 --> 00:10:50,519 has held up remarkably well. She shed tears at points, 163 00:10:50,840 --> 00:10:54,360 especially discussing the shame and the league videos, but never 164 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:58,039 lashed out or crumbled under pressure. In fact, her willingness 165 00:10:58,039 --> 00:11:02,200 to acknowledge uncomfortable fact that she sent those texts, that 166 00:11:02,279 --> 00:11:05,919 she threatened that man, might have bolstered her credibility more 167 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:10,559 than any denial could. As legal analysts note on TV 168 00:11:10,679 --> 00:11:13,639 that night, the defense got some mileage with the texts, 169 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:17,480 but Cassie didn't waiver that deep down, she never wanted 170 00:11:17,480 --> 00:11:20,759 those frea coughs. If the jury believed she was essentially 171 00:11:20,799 --> 00:11:24,679 coerced by love and fear, those messages don't equal consent 172 00:11:24,960 --> 00:11:28,799 in a legal sense. Still, others suggested at least one 173 00:11:28,879 --> 00:11:32,120 juror might wonder if Cassie is reframing history in hindsight, 174 00:11:33,080 --> 00:11:36,159 was she truly that unwilling if she sometimes said she 175 00:11:36,279 --> 00:11:40,919 loved it. The question hangs before Cassie steps down for 176 00:11:40,960 --> 00:11:43,840 good on Friday morning, there's a brief redirect where a 177 00:11:43,879 --> 00:11:47,360 prosecutors allow her to clarify a couple points, like that 178 00:11:47,399 --> 00:11:50,120 she often had to fight her way out of contracts 179 00:11:50,159 --> 00:11:53,639 and the relationship, and that her enthusiastic texts were just 180 00:11:53,679 --> 00:11:56,879 to keep them calm. She and Estavio share a surprising 181 00:11:56,919 --> 00:12:00,039 moment a Stavio thanks her for answering in Cassie. He 182 00:12:00,120 --> 00:12:03,639 nods politely, a far cry from the hostility scene in 183 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:08,159 some cross exams. It was a measured human exchange. One 184 00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:11,720 observer said, she's tough. I feel for her, but I'm 185 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:15,320 trying to keep an open mind, and that epitomizes the 186 00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:19,879 state of play. Cassie's testimony four day's worth dominated Week 187 00:12:19,919 --> 00:12:24,600 one and undeniably advanced the prosecution's case, but the defense 188 00:12:24,960 --> 00:12:29,879 managed to poke a few holes and introduce complexity. All right, 189 00:12:29,919 --> 00:12:32,559 we're gonna wrap up right there, and in the next episode, 190 00:12:32,559 --> 00:12:36,120 we're gonna pick up with Friday, May sixteenth. All of 191 00:12:36,120 --> 00:12:39,000 the information that goes with this episode can be found 192 00:12:39,200 --> 00:12:42,279 in the description box. What's up Everyone, and welcome to 193 00:12:42,360 --> 00:12:46,159 another episode of The Diddy Diaries. In this episode, we're 194 00:12:46,159 --> 00:12:49,200 gonna wrap up our look back at the first week 195 00:12:49,519 --> 00:12:54,240 of the Ditty Trial Friday, May sixteenth, twenty twenty five. 196 00:12:55,080 --> 00:12:59,120 By Friday, Cassie Ventura's marathon on the stand is finally over. 197 00:12:59,519 --> 00:13:01,879 There's a most a collective excel in the court room. 198 00:13:02,080 --> 00:13:06,480 When Judge Submarinian announces just after lunch, Miss Ventura, you 199 00:13:06,559 --> 00:13:10,960 may step down. Thank you for your testimony. Cassie gathers 200 00:13:10,960 --> 00:13:13,840 her files, wipes a final tear from her eye, and 201 00:13:13,960 --> 00:13:16,960 walks back to her seat, where her husband squeezes her hand. 202 00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:20,679 Jurors watch or go, understanding they've just heard from the 203 00:13:20,720 --> 00:13:24,919 government star witness. As MPR later put it, the extent 204 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:27,600 in detail of her testimony showed how central she is 205 00:13:27,919 --> 00:13:32,639 to the government's case. Yet the week isn't over. The prosecution, 206 00:13:32,799 --> 00:13:36,919 aware of the old adage corroborate corroborate corroborate, uses the 207 00:13:36,960 --> 00:13:40,720 remaining hours of Friday to reinforce Cassie's account with two 208 00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:45,360 supporting witnesses, one from law enforcement, one an eyewitness insider. 209 00:13:46,120 --> 00:13:50,879 Witness number three Special Agent Yasin Binda of Homeland Security 210 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:54,519 and Agent Binda with Homeland Security, part of the human 211 00:13:54,559 --> 00:13:57,960 Trafficking unit. She's the agent who plan Comb's arrest in 212 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:02,679 September of twenty twenty four and executed the search warrant. 213 00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:07,440 Her testimony is straightforward and methodical. She describes the raid 214 00:14:07,759 --> 00:14:11,600 a tactical team to Colmbs into custody without incident. He 215 00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:15,759 reportedly in shock at being arrested. Benda's assignment was to 216 00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:19,320 catalog evidence at the scene. What she found in the 217 00:14:19,360 --> 00:14:22,720 suite or a personal lounge is a physical echo of 218 00:14:22,759 --> 00:14:26,759 cassie stories. She lists the items multiple bottles of baby 219 00:14:26,759 --> 00:14:31,000 oil and lubricant, a professional lighting device the kind DJs used, 220 00:14:31,360 --> 00:14:35,559 apparently installed for mood lighting, approximately nine g's in cash, 221 00:14:35,559 --> 00:14:40,159 and a bag. Also seized were some illegal substances, likely 222 00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:44,039 small quantities of drugs, and several smartphones and memory drives. 223 00:14:44,799 --> 00:14:49,240 Juror's note how each item seems to map into Cassie's descriptions. 224 00:14:49,679 --> 00:14:53,559 The baby oil infamous by now, the colored lights Cassie 225 00:14:53,559 --> 00:14:56,600 had mentioned Colmbs like the room dark with special lighting 226 00:14:56,679 --> 00:14:59,960 during freak offs. The cash used for paying escorts like 227 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:03,879 fill up presumably. Benda holds up a photograph of these 228 00:15:03,879 --> 00:15:07,759 objects arranged on a table. It's Exhibit forty seven a 229 00:15:07,879 --> 00:15:11,759 visual of the implement's turned evidence. The link is clear 230 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:16,480 Colmb's environment was stocked for freak offs. This undercuts any 231 00:15:16,480 --> 00:15:20,919 notion by the defense that freak offs were exaggerations. Clearly 232 00:15:21,480 --> 00:15:27,440 Colmbs had dedicated supplies. Benda also confirms that digital evidence, 233 00:15:27,639 --> 00:15:31,279 likely including some of those freak off videos, was retrieved, 234 00:15:31,600 --> 00:15:34,759 but details are not shared nope in court, likely due 235 00:15:34,799 --> 00:15:38,320 to privacy rulings on Cross. The defense does not have 236 00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:41,440 much to hit her on. Perhaps they clarify that the 237 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:45,320 baby oil and cash aren't illegal by themselves, chicily HARKing 238 00:15:45,480 --> 00:15:49,919 back to Garrigo's baby oil line, but the implication remains, 239 00:15:50,399 --> 00:15:53,039 it's not a crime that baby oil, but combined with 240 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:58,840 everything else, its corroboration of coercive sex acts. Witness number four, 241 00:15:59,279 --> 00:16:02,720 Don Richard, the last witness of week one, comes with 242 00:16:02,759 --> 00:16:06,480 a bit of celebrity or herself. Don Richard is called 243 00:16:06,559 --> 00:16:09,799 and there's a murmur in court. Richard is known as 244 00:16:09,840 --> 00:16:12,799 a singer who was once part of Danity Kane, the 245 00:16:12,919 --> 00:16:16,879 girl group Combs formed in his two thousand reality show 246 00:16:16,960 --> 00:16:20,559 Making the Band, and later a member of Diddy's group 247 00:16:20,639 --> 00:16:24,440 Dirty Money. Essentially she's a former bad boy artist who 248 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:29,360 work closely with Combs. Her presence is significant. She's not 249 00:16:29,360 --> 00:16:32,639 an alleged victim like Cassie, but a witness who saw 250 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:36,559 things from an insider vantage point. In fact, she filed 251 00:16:36,559 --> 00:16:39,840 her own civil lawsuit last year, accusing Colmbs of creating 252 00:16:39,879 --> 00:16:43,879 a toxic and abusive working environment in her bad boy days, 253 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:47,960 including claims that she witnessed them violently assault Cassie. So 254 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:51,159 her motives could be painted by the defense as grudges 255 00:16:51,480 --> 00:16:55,879 or self interest, But her testimony is potentially very damaging 256 00:16:56,159 --> 00:17:00,960 because it offers an outsider's corroboration of Cassie's abuse. Don Richard, 257 00:17:01,039 --> 00:17:05,079 stylish and poised, takes the oath. She testifies only briefly 258 00:17:05,119 --> 00:17:08,279 on Friday. Her full testimony will spill into next week, 259 00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:11,279 the judge notes, but what she does say is vivid. 260 00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:15,319 Richard recounts an incident at Comb's home in either late 261 00:17:15,319 --> 00:17:17,519 two thousand and eight or two thousand and nine, when 262 00:17:17,559 --> 00:17:21,079 she was present with Cassie and Combs after a recording session. 263 00:17:21,839 --> 00:17:24,759 Cassie was in the kitchen trying to cook eggs for Combs. 264 00:17:24,960 --> 00:17:30,640 Richard recalls Combs was apparently intoxicated and became belligerent, perhaps 265 00:17:30,680 --> 00:17:34,720 paranoid about something or upset how long breakfast was taking. 266 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:38,519 Without warning, Comb snatched the hot skillet from the stovetop 267 00:17:38,559 --> 00:17:42,799 and lunged at Cassie with it. Dawn described how Cassie 268 00:17:42,960 --> 00:17:45,920 yelped induct dropping into a fetal position on the floor 269 00:17:46,119 --> 00:17:50,359 to protect yourself. Combs then, according to Dawn, punched and 270 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:55,160 kicked her repeatedly while she was down, screaming obscenities. He 271 00:17:55,359 --> 00:17:58,160 ended by putting his form around Cassie's neck in a 272 00:17:58,240 --> 00:18:01,000 chokehold and dragging her up a staircase by her hair. 273 00:18:01,920 --> 00:18:05,000 Don's voice quivers as she states, I was scared for 274 00:18:05,480 --> 00:18:08,880 I had never seen anything like that before. Meanwhile, the 275 00:18:08,920 --> 00:18:13,319 courtroom is transfixed. Here is the third party witness, not Cassie, 276 00:18:13,440 --> 00:18:16,680 not on Calm's payroll anymore, confirming one of the worst 277 00:18:16,720 --> 00:18:20,599 beatings Cassie described. For jurors, if they believe Don Richard, 278 00:18:20,799 --> 00:18:24,119 it's a big deal. It shows Cassie didn't bruise herself, 279 00:18:24,319 --> 00:18:27,240 didn't make this up. Others saw Comb's violence with their 280 00:18:27,279 --> 00:18:31,920 own eyes. The defense will likely attack Richard next week, 281 00:18:32,200 --> 00:18:35,880 saying she's disgruntled and jumping on the bandwagon her lawsuit 282 00:18:35,960 --> 00:18:38,960 seeks money after all, but as a Friday, her account 283 00:18:38,960 --> 00:18:45,759 stands unchallenged and powerfully supportive of Cassie's credibility. As Richard's 284 00:18:45,799 --> 00:18:48,759 brief direct ends, court stops at five PM, so cross 285 00:18:48,799 --> 00:18:52,359 examination of her will start Monday of week two. Week 286 00:18:52,440 --> 00:18:56,039 one of the trial concludes. The jurors are dismissed for 287 00:18:56,119 --> 00:18:59,759 the weekend, with stern instructions not to discuss or consume 288 00:18:59,759 --> 00:19:03,720 any media. They've been through an emotional ringer and surely 289 00:19:03,799 --> 00:19:07,680 will try to decompress those sequestering their minds from the 290 00:19:07,759 --> 00:19:12,880 case might be impossible. Outside the courthouse on Friday evening, 291 00:19:13,160 --> 00:19:17,880 it's a media circus. Cassie Ventura exits, flanked by US 292 00:19:17,920 --> 00:19:21,240 marshals and her attorneys. A crowd assembled across the street 293 00:19:21,359 --> 00:19:24,519 cheers and calls her name. She doesn't speak to the press. 294 00:19:24,880 --> 00:19:27,559 Gag order is likely in place, and she offers a 295 00:19:27,559 --> 00:19:30,759 slight wave and a tearful smile before ducking into a 296 00:19:30,799 --> 00:19:34,599 black SUV. Meanwhile, legal pundits on TV try to sum 297 00:19:34,720 --> 00:19:36,839 up the week. One calls it one of the most 298 00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:39,640 riveting first weeks of testimony I have seen in a 299 00:19:39,680 --> 00:19:44,720 federal trial. Another notes that the prosecution accomplished a lot. 300 00:19:45,119 --> 00:19:47,640 They put on their star witness for four days, and 301 00:19:47,720 --> 00:19:52,720 she was extremely compelling. They cooperated with the video, an eyewitness, 302 00:19:52,960 --> 00:19:57,440 and even the accused own former employee. Indeed, in five days, 303 00:19:57,720 --> 00:20:01,640 the government presented two civilian eye Witsess Flores and Richard 304 00:20:01,880 --> 00:20:06,799 to violence, one participant to sexual abuse, Philip, a federal agent, 305 00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:11,079 with physical evidence, and of course Cassie's comprehensive account tying 306 00:20:11,119 --> 00:20:14,680 it all together. That's a strong start by any measure, 307 00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:19,799 but defense attorneys on commentary panels are not conceding by 308 00:20:19,839 --> 00:20:24,440 any means. One veteran defense lawyer opines the government's case 309 00:20:24,519 --> 00:20:28,319 hinges almost entirely on Cassie Ventura. If even one or 310 00:20:28,319 --> 00:20:31,519 two jurors doubts parts of her story, maybe due to 311 00:20:31,559 --> 00:20:34,480 those texts or the fact she states so long, that 312 00:20:34,559 --> 00:20:37,400 could be enough for a reasonable doubt on the sex 313 00:20:37,440 --> 00:20:42,000 trafficking counts. They highlight that the defense scored points by 314 00:20:42,079 --> 00:20:45,480 using Cassie's own words to show apparent consent and by 315 00:20:45,519 --> 00:20:50,400 emphasizing the mutual chaos of the relationship. The concept of 316 00:20:50,480 --> 00:20:55,200 mutual abuse or mutual violence is floated. As NPR pointed out, 317 00:20:55,440 --> 00:20:59,000 it's a narrative deployed in other celebrity cases and has 318 00:20:59,039 --> 00:21:02,359 been used many times times before. The defense seems to 319 00:21:02,359 --> 00:21:06,480 be leaning that way, not denying that wild, even violent 320 00:21:06,519 --> 00:21:09,359 things happened, but arguing they were a part of a 321 00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:15,480 consensual sexual dynamic that Cassie later regretted or reinterpreted. It's 322 00:21:15,480 --> 00:21:19,279 a tricky defense, another analyst says, because jurors might think, 323 00:21:19,599 --> 00:21:22,400 even if she agreed to some kinky stuff, she surely 324 00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:25,720 didn't agree to being beaten to a polt. The line 325 00:21:25,759 --> 00:21:29,680 between consent and coercion via fear is where this trial 326 00:21:29,720 --> 00:21:34,640 will likely be won or lost. Judge Submaranean's roll so 327 00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:40,279 far also draws praise. He's maintained order and fairness, shielding 328 00:21:40,359 --> 00:21:44,319 jurors from explicit videos, and balancing both sides concerns in 329 00:21:44,400 --> 00:21:49,440 evidentiary rulings. He denied media access to pornographic exhibits, perhaps 330 00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:54,519 wisely to keep focus on testimony, not voyeurism. He also 331 00:21:54,680 --> 00:21:59,440 reportedly admonished attorneys in sidebar to keep questioning respectful, which 332 00:21:59,519 --> 00:22:04,039 might have been fluents the gentle cross style. As week 333 00:22:04,079 --> 00:22:06,920 one closes, the tone of the trial is set. The 334 00:22:06,960 --> 00:22:11,839 prosecution came out with a dramatic narrative of exploitation, supported 335 00:22:11,880 --> 00:22:17,000 by emotional testimony and damning corroboration. The defense responded with 336 00:22:17,039 --> 00:22:20,599 a nuanced counter narrative, aiming not to prove Comb's innocent 337 00:22:20,640 --> 00:22:24,839 of bad behavior, but to reframe the bad behavior as 338 00:22:24,880 --> 00:22:28,400 beyond the scope of federal crimes, or not as wholly 339 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:32,920 one sided. In essence, the defense concedes Comb's flaws, his 340 00:22:33,079 --> 00:22:37,319 horrible violence caught on tape, his hedonistic sexual appetites, but 341 00:22:37,440 --> 00:22:42,000 maintains he is not a trafficker or a racketeer, just 342 00:22:42,039 --> 00:22:46,680 a flawed man whose private life is being criminalized. For 343 00:22:46,759 --> 00:22:51,319 the jury, it comes down to credibility. Cassie's credibility got 344 00:22:51,319 --> 00:22:54,759 a boost from others Flores, Richard, et cetera, but it 345 00:22:54,839 --> 00:22:59,359 also took some hits via her own contradictions, enthusiastic texts, 346 00:23:00,079 --> 00:23:04,640 first testimony of reluctance. If the jurors believe Cassie wholeheartedly, 347 00:23:04,960 --> 00:23:08,119 Combs is in deep trouble on the sex trafficking counts 348 00:23:08,240 --> 00:23:12,359 because their story checks all the boxes force fraud, coercion, 349 00:23:12,720 --> 00:23:16,839 interstate transport for illicit sex, and a pattern suggesting a 350 00:23:16,839 --> 00:23:21,319 criminal enterprise. However, if jurors suspect Cassie was a willing 351 00:23:21,359 --> 00:23:25,720 participant who later reframed the experience. They might hesitate to 352 00:23:25,759 --> 00:23:30,200 convict on trafficking. They could see it as extreme BDSM 353 00:23:30,519 --> 00:23:35,359 or a toxic relationship, but not a federal crime. The 354 00:23:35,400 --> 00:23:37,880 defense only needs one or two jurors to feel that 355 00:23:38,039 --> 00:23:41,799 doubt for a home jury or acquittal on key counts. 356 00:23:42,519 --> 00:23:45,200 Looking ahead to week two and beyond, there are key 357 00:23:45,240 --> 00:23:50,160 things to watch additional accusers. The prosecution mentioned other women 358 00:23:50,279 --> 00:23:53,240 like Jane and Mia in opening We can expect that 359 00:23:53,240 --> 00:23:57,839 these women, likely under pseudonyms, were first names only to testify. 360 00:23:58,359 --> 00:24:02,039 Jane's story teased in openings involve Combs making her participate 361 00:24:02,079 --> 00:24:05,640 in freak coughs, not allowing condoms, making her reduce sexual 362 00:24:05,720 --> 00:24:08,960 lacks after vomiting, and a violent episode of door kicking 363 00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:13,920 and assault. If Jane testifies and echoes Cassie's narrative with 364 00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:18,319 her own example, that could be devastating corroboration. It would 365 00:24:18,319 --> 00:24:21,640 show Cassie wasn't uniquely treated that way. It was COM's 366 00:24:21,680 --> 00:24:26,480 modus operendi, and the defense will likely attack Jane's anonymity 367 00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:30,519 If she testifies under a pseudonym, they might suggest she's 368 00:24:30,599 --> 00:24:35,319 less accountable or credible. They'll also likely highlight any differences 369 00:24:35,319 --> 00:24:39,680 in stories to avoid a pattern being too clear. Insiders 370 00:24:39,920 --> 00:24:44,480 and enterprise evidence beyond Don Richard, prosecutors might bring in 371 00:24:44,759 --> 00:24:48,039 former employees like the chef or driver mentioned, who can 372 00:24:48,079 --> 00:24:51,400 attest to how colmb's staff was used to procure drugs, 373 00:24:51,680 --> 00:24:55,279 arrange escorts, or keep victims in line. That goes to 374 00:24:55,319 --> 00:24:59,359 the racketeering element that there was an enterprise bad boy 375 00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:03,079 or is in her circle engaging in criminal conduct. If 376 00:25:03,119 --> 00:25:05,759 an employee says yes, I was ordered to lock a 377 00:25:05,799 --> 00:25:08,839 woman in a car at gunpoint, or I routinely delivered 378 00:25:08,839 --> 00:25:12,640 ecstasy to mister Colmb's before these parties, it will strengthen 379 00:25:12,680 --> 00:25:16,000 the RICO count. The defense will counter that if such 380 00:25:16,039 --> 00:25:20,240 things happened, Colmbs alone is responsible, not a coordinated enterprise, 381 00:25:20,799 --> 00:25:24,440 essentially trying to sever the RICO by portraying these as 382 00:25:24,480 --> 00:25:30,559 isolated acts or a personal misbehavior, not organizational policy. The 383 00:25:30,599 --> 00:25:34,599 defense's case. It's unclear if comb Side will put on 384 00:25:34,640 --> 00:25:38,799 a case beyond cross examination. They haven't promised specific witnesses yet. 385 00:25:39,119 --> 00:25:43,400 It's unlikely Combs himself will testify. The risk would be enormous. 386 00:25:44,000 --> 00:25:47,920 Cross exam would be brutal. With his past deeds. However, 387 00:25:48,279 --> 00:25:52,119 they might bring in character witnesses, friends, ex girlfriends who 388 00:25:52,200 --> 00:25:55,480 had positive relationships, et cetera, maybe to say that they 389 00:25:55,519 --> 00:26:00,680 never felt forced, or expert witnesses on sexual behavior coologists 390 00:26:00,720 --> 00:26:04,079 to discuss consensual role play or the concept of mutual 391 00:26:04,079 --> 00:26:08,079 abuse to bolster their theory. The judge would have to 392 00:26:08,119 --> 00:26:11,759 allow such experts, and prosecution would likely present their own 393 00:26:11,799 --> 00:26:16,680 counter experts, eg. An expert on domestic abuse explaining why 394 00:26:16,759 --> 00:26:21,039 victims sometimes act like Cassie did, staying and even appearing 395 00:26:21,079 --> 00:26:25,519 to consent due to trauma bonding her fear the jury 396 00:26:25,559 --> 00:26:29,480 perception management. Thus far, both sides have been very cognizant 397 00:26:29,480 --> 00:26:32,880 of how the jury perceives them. The prosecution laid out 398 00:26:32,880 --> 00:26:37,039 their case in a logical chronological fashion, not overloading too 399 00:26:37,079 --> 00:26:41,799 many witnesses at once, letting Cassie's story land fully. The defense, 400 00:26:41,839 --> 00:26:45,759 by cross examining with courtesy, aim to appear reasonable and 401 00:26:45,839 --> 00:26:49,039 not as if they're bullying a victim. This likely scored 402 00:26:49,039 --> 00:26:51,759 them some points in juror's eyes, at least for style 403 00:26:52,519 --> 00:26:57,000 in coming weeks, as evidence perhaps becomes less emotional. Financial records, 404 00:26:57,079 --> 00:27:01,039 travel records showing flights to freak offs, etc. The defense 405 00:27:01,279 --> 00:27:05,680 might be more aggressive on technicalities. We see emotions for 406 00:27:05,799 --> 00:27:08,599 judgment of acquittal at the end of the prosecution case 407 00:27:09,039 --> 00:27:13,079 Standard Rule twenty nine motions arguing the evidence is insufficient 408 00:27:13,480 --> 00:27:16,519 on one or more accounts. For instance, they might argue 409 00:27:16,640 --> 00:27:19,720 that even if everything Cassie said is true, the elements 410 00:27:19,720 --> 00:27:23,079 of commercial sex Act for trafficking aren't met because it 411 00:27:23,160 --> 00:27:28,000 was ostensibly for Comb's personal gratification, not profit, a legal 412 00:27:28,039 --> 00:27:31,920 long shot but a possible argument. Or they may challenge 413 00:27:32,079 --> 00:27:35,200 the by force, fraud or coercion element by saying Cassie's 414 00:27:35,240 --> 00:27:38,559 own actions show it wasn't force or fraud but a 415 00:27:38,599 --> 00:27:41,920 twisted form of consent. The judge is unlikely to throw 416 00:27:41,920 --> 00:27:45,480 out charges given the evidence, but these arguments preserve issues 417 00:27:45,480 --> 00:27:50,599 for appeal sensitive allegation handling. The court likely has more 418 00:27:50,640 --> 00:27:54,920 evidentiary battles ahead. For example, if there are more explicit 419 00:27:55,000 --> 00:27:57,839 videos to be shown, perhaps one of the freak off 420 00:27:57,880 --> 00:28:01,400 tapes that Combs are recorded, expect the press to renew 421 00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:04,240 the request to view them and the judge to carefully 422 00:28:04,279 --> 00:28:09,640 restrict it. Also, if any miners are extremely sensitive allegations 423 00:28:09,680 --> 00:28:12,559 come up. One civil suit had an allegation of a 424 00:28:12,599 --> 00:28:15,920 thirteen year old, but that woman withdrew her claim. It's 425 00:28:15,960 --> 00:28:17,759 not part of this trial. As far as we know, 426 00:28:18,359 --> 00:28:21,960 the judge will be extra cautious. So far, all accusers 427 00:28:21,960 --> 00:28:27,640 are adults, a bit young adults. Public repercussions outside the 428 00:28:27,640 --> 00:28:31,240 trial is being watched as a potential ME two milestone 429 00:28:31,240 --> 00:28:35,160 in the music industry. If Week one set any tone, 430 00:28:35,279 --> 00:28:40,039 it's one of accountability finally catching up. Cassie even said 431 00:28:40,079 --> 00:28:42,559 she filed her suit thanks in part to the New 432 00:28:42,680 --> 00:28:45,799 York law, the Adult Survivors Act, that opened the window 433 00:28:46,119 --> 00:28:50,000 for old sex abuse claims. That context might not be 434 00:28:50,119 --> 00:28:54,240 explicitly in trial, but it looms over it already. Executives 435 00:28:54,240 --> 00:28:57,039 and artists are quietly discussing what it means for the 436 00:28:57,079 --> 00:29:02,680 industry's culture of silence around powerful figures. One entertainment journal 437 00:29:02,759 --> 00:29:05,359 is tweeted, if didd he can face a reckoning, No 438 00:29:05,400 --> 00:29:10,359 one's untouchable. Public opinion seems to be edging towards believing Cassie. 439 00:29:10,480 --> 00:29:14,880 The graphic detail and her palpable pain lend her great credibility. 440 00:29:15,400 --> 00:29:18,400 As for the major themes emerging, consent verse coercion is 441 00:29:18,480 --> 00:29:22,240 number one. The jury grappling with questions like Can someone 442 00:29:22,319 --> 00:29:24,880 say I'm always ready to freak off in a text 443 00:29:25,119 --> 00:29:28,160 and still be a victim of trafficking? The law says yes, 444 00:29:29,079 --> 00:29:32,440 if that consent was not truly freely given, coerced by 445 00:29:32,519 --> 00:29:37,599 fear or intoxication. The prosecution will hammer home that initial 446 00:29:37,680 --> 00:29:41,599 apparent consent can be manufactured by yours of grooming and intimidation. 447 00:29:42,119 --> 00:29:45,519 The defense will cling to any evidence of autonomy. Cassie 448 00:29:45,519 --> 00:29:48,799 showed to say she wasn't held captive, she had free 449 00:29:48,880 --> 00:29:54,240 will and used it e g. She eventually found another partner, etc. 450 00:29:55,240 --> 00:29:59,960 Power and control is another theme. Cassie's testimony illuminated how 451 00:30:00,119 --> 00:30:04,279 Colmbs dominated every aspect of her life, career, clothing, who 452 00:30:04,319 --> 00:30:07,640 she talked to. The prosecution will use this to show 453 00:30:07,680 --> 00:30:11,759 the entire relationship with steeped in a power imbalance, essentially 454 00:30:11,880 --> 00:30:15,519 arguing that Cassie's agency was stripped away. The defense might 455 00:30:15,519 --> 00:30:18,920 pivot to say Cassie was actually savvy and leveraged the 456 00:30:19,039 --> 00:30:22,400 relationship for her own benefit when it suited her. They 457 00:30:22,440 --> 00:30:25,559 suggested as much by highlighting she wanted more from her 458 00:30:25,599 --> 00:30:30,240 career and eventually found someone else. Trauma aftermath is a 459 00:30:30,279 --> 00:30:33,799 theme that came out strongly too Cassie's mental health struggles 460 00:30:33,839 --> 00:30:38,519 attempted suicide therapy, I'll underscore that something horrific happened to her. 461 00:30:39,440 --> 00:30:42,599 The defense didn't really counter that, except by noting she 462 00:30:42,680 --> 00:30:46,160 has a family and implying she's fine now. But trauma 463 00:30:46,200 --> 00:30:49,920 doesn't vanish, and jurors may sympathize deeply with her efforts 464 00:30:49,960 --> 00:30:55,039 to heal. Finally, mutual abuse, the phrase itself is controversial 465 00:30:55,079 --> 00:30:58,480 among domestic violence experts. Many say it's very rare for 466 00:30:58,559 --> 00:31:02,279 abuse to be truly mutual. Usually one person is the 467 00:31:02,319 --> 00:31:06,599 primary aggressor. If the defense goes further down that path, 468 00:31:07,000 --> 00:31:10,559 agnafilo already uttered hitting on both sides. In count in court, 469 00:31:11,039 --> 00:31:14,839 the prosecution might bring in an expert to explain react 470 00:31:14,839 --> 00:31:18,519 to violence e g. Victims sometimes strike back or go 471 00:31:18,599 --> 00:31:22,359 along with abuse as a survival mechanism, which doesn't make 472 00:31:22,359 --> 00:31:26,359 it mutual. They might also point out Cassie weighed maybe 473 00:31:26,359 --> 00:31:28,839 one hundred and twenty pounds to colmb's one hundred and 474 00:31:28,960 --> 00:31:32,519 ninety and that power dynamics were never equal given as 475 00:31:32,519 --> 00:31:35,880 wealth and control. The jury will have to parse these 476 00:31:35,960 --> 00:31:41,079 dynamics carefully. As the weekend it calms vulnerabilities in the 477 00:31:41,119 --> 00:31:45,119 trial as stark, multiple accusers, hard evidence like the video 478 00:31:45,400 --> 00:31:49,039 and physical items, and a narrative that, if believed, takes 479 00:31:49,079 --> 00:31:53,480 every box for sex trafficking, interstate travel, payments to escorts, 480 00:31:53,640 --> 00:31:59,319 psychological coercion. The defense vulnerabilities are equally real. They are 481 00:31:59,440 --> 00:32:03,400 essentially admitting Calms did awful things, but asking jurors to 482 00:32:03,480 --> 00:32:07,359 either excuse it as not criminal or blame the victim too. 483 00:32:08,119 --> 00:32:10,759 That's a tough sell and oppost me to era, but 484 00:32:10,839 --> 00:32:13,559 not impossible if they can get jurors hung up on 485 00:32:13,640 --> 00:32:19,240 technical definitions or disliking Cassie's choices. The trial is set 486 00:32:19,279 --> 00:32:23,039 to continue for several more weeks, and we anticipate testimony 487 00:32:23,079 --> 00:32:26,759 from the remaining accusers to show Colms didn't just do 488 00:32:26,799 --> 00:32:30,799 this to Cassie. From former staff, to establish the enterprise 489 00:32:30,839 --> 00:32:35,839 of enablers, possibly from medical experts. Cassie's therapists might testify 490 00:32:36,160 --> 00:32:41,039 to her PTSD diagnosis, which bolsters her credibility, and perhaps 491 00:32:41,039 --> 00:32:44,720 from character witnesses from Colms. The one wonders who would 492 00:32:44,799 --> 00:32:48,440 dare in this climate. Maybe old friends who will say 493 00:32:48,480 --> 00:32:51,720 they never saw him hurt anyone, which prosecution can counter 494 00:32:52,240 --> 00:32:55,319 by you weren't in private with them and Cassie were you. 495 00:32:56,599 --> 00:33:01,400 In terms of likely strategic pivots, the prosecution will probably streamline. 496 00:33:01,440 --> 00:33:04,799 Now that Cassie, their big gun has been deployed, they 497 00:33:04,880 --> 00:33:08,319 might pivot to build the mountain of evidence mode piling 498 00:33:08,359 --> 00:33:12,160 corroboration so that the jury cannot dismiss Cassie as an outlier. 499 00:33:12,960 --> 00:33:16,079 Will see more digital evidence, perhaps texts from other women 500 00:33:16,319 --> 00:33:20,720 to Combs, maybe alleger or payments to escorts or travel 501 00:33:20,720 --> 00:33:24,599 itineraries showing women being flown in. There was mentioned men 502 00:33:24,880 --> 00:33:28,880 were flown to freak offs in La Miami, Vegas. Presumably 503 00:33:29,240 --> 00:33:33,200 they have receipts and tickets. They will also reinforce the 504 00:33:33,279 --> 00:33:37,559 legal elements deliberately asking an FBI agent or analysts to 505 00:33:37,599 --> 00:33:41,799 testify that Combs organizations spent x amount on paying people 506 00:33:42,039 --> 00:33:44,960 for sex to trigger man act, or that he communicated 507 00:33:45,039 --> 00:33:49,640 via interstate channels about these encounters. This can be very dry, 508 00:33:49,720 --> 00:33:53,640 but it's necessary to bulletproof the charges. The defense, seeing 509 00:33:53,640 --> 00:33:57,319 the impact Cassie's testimony, might adjust how aggressive they are 510 00:33:57,319 --> 00:34:01,359 with upcoming witnesses. With Cassie, they tread lightly. If Jane 511 00:34:01,440 --> 00:34:06,039 testifies anonymously, they might be more aggressive, arguing that anonymity 512 00:34:06,119 --> 00:34:09,519 prevents a fair cross, maybe a motion to compel her name, 513 00:34:09,880 --> 00:34:14,039 which has already been denied multiple times. The defense could 514 00:34:14,039 --> 00:34:17,679 also pivot to more legal arguments. For instance, by week's end, 515 00:34:17,960 --> 00:34:21,519 Agnafilo hinted at a theme He said both sides and 516 00:34:21,599 --> 00:34:26,400 opening acknowledged the relationship was volatile, meaning even the prosecution 517 00:34:26,559 --> 00:34:29,960 framed it as tumultuous rather than one side of captivity. 518 00:34:30,719 --> 00:34:33,039 They might seize on that to argue that the government 519 00:34:33,320 --> 00:34:37,360 is overreaching by painting a domestic situation as a federal 520 00:34:37,400 --> 00:34:40,719 crime spree. We might also see the defense push a 521 00:34:40,719 --> 00:34:43,039 bit more on the lack of police reports or third 522 00:34:43,039 --> 00:34:45,719 party intervention at the time. Why did no one call 523 00:34:45,800 --> 00:34:49,880 nine one one? Flores didn't either, he handled the bride 524 00:34:49,880 --> 00:34:53,480 attempt internally. Don Richard didn't call police when she saw 525 00:34:53,519 --> 00:34:57,000 the skilled incident, presumably out of loyalty or fear. In 526 00:34:57,079 --> 00:34:59,800 that moment. The defense could argue that if it were 527 00:34:59,840 --> 00:35:02,519 so so bad, surely someone would have gone to the 528 00:35:02,559 --> 00:35:07,159 authorities earlier. The prosecution will rebut because Colmbs was so 529 00:35:07,239 --> 00:35:11,960 powerful and intimidating, that's why. And indeed Cassie's long silence 530 00:35:12,239 --> 00:35:17,920 until she felt safe is typical of abuse cases. Legally, 531 00:35:17,960 --> 00:35:21,440 by Friday, Judge Submaranean denied the media's request to see 532 00:35:21,480 --> 00:35:24,920 the explicit videos, making it less of a public spectacle 533 00:35:25,119 --> 00:35:28,360 than it could have been. However, transcripts the testimony or 534 00:35:28,400 --> 00:35:31,519 a public and the details are out. The trial is 535 00:35:31,519 --> 00:35:34,920 making waves. Many note that Comb's a man who has 536 00:35:34,960 --> 00:35:38,199 dominated every room he's in for decades, is now reduced 537 00:35:38,199 --> 00:35:41,880 to watching others tell his story, largely without his control. 538 00:35:42,920 --> 00:35:46,880 He occasionally confers with lawyers, but he's mostly impassive, except 539 00:35:46,880 --> 00:35:49,159 for moments like making a herd sign to his daughter 540 00:35:49,440 --> 00:35:52,719 during her break Tuesday. That gesture a father is seeking 541 00:35:52,760 --> 00:35:56,880 comfort or giving reassurance was poignant. It shows another side 542 00:35:56,920 --> 00:35:59,599 of him to the jury, and they also see a 543 00:35:59,639 --> 00:36:03,840 family man who is loving in his own way. Perhaps 544 00:36:03,880 --> 00:36:06,559 one defense strategy later could be to have one of 545 00:36:06,559 --> 00:36:10,360 his children or family members testify to his character. It's 546 00:36:10,400 --> 00:36:13,880 doubtful they'd risk it, but if they feel desperate, they might. 547 00:36:15,079 --> 00:36:17,920 As the sun sets on Friday, one can almost feel 548 00:36:17,960 --> 00:36:21,360 the collective exhale of everyone involved. Week one of the 549 00:36:21,360 --> 00:36:27,719 Shandittycomb's trial was intense and illuminating. The narrative momentum currently 550 00:36:27,760 --> 00:36:31,079 favors the prosecution, having set the tone that this trial 551 00:36:31,400 --> 00:36:35,559 is about alleged horrors behind closed doors, finally dragged into 552 00:36:35,599 --> 00:36:40,159 the light. The defense, however, has signaled their counter narrative 553 00:36:40,199 --> 00:36:43,920 effectively enough to keep a door open for doubt. Next week, 554 00:36:43,960 --> 00:36:47,800 the trial moves from primarily Cassie's chapter to the accounts 555 00:36:47,840 --> 00:36:51,320 of others and the nitty gritty of establishing each charge. 556 00:36:51,760 --> 00:36:56,239 The prosecution's vulnerability maybe if the accusers are less compelling, 557 00:36:56,519 --> 00:37:02,920 or if cross examination exposes inconsistency. The defense vulnerability is frankly, 558 00:37:03,000 --> 00:37:05,360 the shear a weight of evidence and risk of looking 559 00:37:05,440 --> 00:37:09,679 like they're excusing abuse. They'll likely continue the measured tone, 560 00:37:10,000 --> 00:37:13,480 maybe pivot to technical arguments in some nation, like even 561 00:37:13,480 --> 00:37:16,760 if you believe Cassie, the government didn't improve a commercial 562 00:37:16,800 --> 00:37:20,239 sex element beyond a reasonable doubt, or there is no 563 00:37:20,400 --> 00:37:23,719 enterprise because it was all one man's private life. But 564 00:37:23,880 --> 00:37:28,480 those can sound like excuses if jurors are emotionally convinced. 565 00:37:28,920 --> 00:37:31,480 In the end, this trial is not just determining Shawn's 566 00:37:31,559 --> 00:37:35,480 legal fate. It's a referendum on accountability for the powerful. 567 00:37:36,679 --> 00:37:39,079 Week one set a high bar for drama and depth, 568 00:37:39,599 --> 00:37:42,559 and during this narrative we've journeyed from the opening gavel. 569 00:37:42,639 --> 00:37:46,280 Through five days of wrenching testimony, we've seen a powerful 570 00:37:46,320 --> 00:37:51,400 man's secret life exposed, a survivor reclaiming a revoice, and 571 00:37:51,480 --> 00:37:54,679 a justice system grappling with how to qualify a decade 572 00:37:54,800 --> 00:37:59,480 of decade and abuse in legal terms. The first week 573 00:37:59,519 --> 00:38:03,280 absolutely least at the trial's tone, one of seriousness, respect, 574 00:38:03,519 --> 00:38:09,480 and unflinching examination of dark allegations. The jurors of felt shock, sympathy, 575 00:38:09,559 --> 00:38:14,639 and possibly skepticism. They've heard phrases like cycle of abuse, violence, 576 00:38:14,880 --> 00:38:18,519 and sex trafficking used in court to describe Colmb's relationship 577 00:38:18,559 --> 00:38:22,519 with Cassie. They've seen a celebrity seemingly reduced to tears 578 00:38:22,559 --> 00:38:26,000 in sketches, and in contrast, glimpsed them as an alleged 579 00:38:26,000 --> 00:38:30,760 tyrant on video. The foundation is laid. As we end 580 00:38:30,760 --> 00:38:34,400 this week's recap, the courtroom stands adjourned, but the story 581 00:38:34,760 --> 00:38:38,559 is far from over. The defense will find its counter attack. 582 00:38:38,840 --> 00:38:43,519 The prosecution will fortify its positions. Will Mora Colmbs in 583 00:38:43,559 --> 00:38:47,199 our circle break their silence? Will Colmbs himself take any 584 00:38:47,239 --> 00:38:51,239 gambles in his defense? The coming weeks hold the answers, 585 00:38:51,639 --> 00:38:54,440 and if Week one is any indication, it will be 586 00:38:54,480 --> 00:38:59,639 a battle of narratives as much as facts. Stay tuned 587 00:38:59,639 --> 00:39:03,280 for next week's proceedings, because as this trial unfolds, it's 588 00:39:03,320 --> 00:39:05,519 not just the fate of Sean Didty Combs on the line, 589 00:39:05,960 --> 00:39:08,960 but a spotlight on the music industry's dark as corners 590 00:39:09,239 --> 00:39:12,400 and a message that no amount of fame puts anyone 591 00:39:12,800 --> 00:39:16,320 above the law. All right, folks, that's gonna do it 592 00:39:16,360 --> 00:39:19,800 for this week's recap. Now, remember, if you want to 593 00:39:19,800 --> 00:39:22,559 make sure you don't miss anything, click on that subscribe 594 00:39:22,599 --> 00:39:25,320 button so you get all of the details as they 595 00:39:25,360 --> 00:39:29,719 become available as the government continues to try and make 596 00:39:29,760 --> 00:39:34,880 its case against Sean Didty Combs. All of the information 597 00:39:34,960 --> 00:39:37,880 that goes with this episode can be found in the 598 00:39:37,960 --> 00:39:38,880 description box.