‘I Feared His Wrath’: Inside the Explosive Testimony Rocking Sean Combs’ Sex Trafficking Trial

 

Testimony continued Monday in the federal trial of music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs, highlighted by emotional statements from a former employee alleging fear, coercion, and intimidation, alongside hotel records showing unusual cleaning charges associated with Combs' stays.

"Mia," testifying under a pseudonym, concluded her appearance on the witness stand following intense questioning from defense attorney Brian Steel. Mia testified she never reported alleged physical and sexual abuse by Combs to law enforcement or company human resources, fearing immediate termination and public humiliation.

“Human resources only punished me unjustly," Mia said, adding that if she had spoken out, she would have been branded as "a crazy person making everything up."

She detailed being coerced into promoting events and projects on social media as part of her job, explaining that failure to do so would result in being "screamed at, humiliated, made fun of, and my job would be threatened." Mia said that even posting birthday messages for Combs on social media was considered mandatory, and failing to do so would lead to consequences.

Defense attorneys highlighted messages Mia sent to Combs after the alleged abuse, including birthday greetings and expressions of support. Mia testified that maintaining a positive front was part of her survival strategy. “Because when he was happy, I was safe,” she said. She also said she remained psychologically under his control even after she stopped working for him.

Mia said she felt unable to leave her job, fearing retaliation, loss of credibility, and threats to her physical safety. “I just knew his power and his wrath,” she testified.

Following Mia's testimony, Sylvia Oken, director of sales and marketing at the Beverly Hills Hotel, took the stand, presenting records showing unusual cleaning expenses during Combs’ hotel stays. Bills revealed charges such as $500 for “oil damage” and $300 for cleaning drapes. Oken noted Combs frequently used the alias "Frank Black," referencing rapper Notorious B.I.G.'s "Frank White."

In a related development, Marion "Suge" Knight, co-founder of Death Row Records and currently serving a 28-year prison sentence for manslaughter, spoke out after his name was mentioned multiple times during the trial. Knight urged Combs to testify, stating, "I think it'd be a great thing to let Puffy tell his truth. Tell the real truth, and bring everybody accountable."

Knight emphasized that while Combs committed "terrible things," these actions were influenced by the environment and industry culture he was exposed to. He added, "I feel that people in [Combs'] life, going on his journey growing up, they failed him."
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The trial is expected to continue with testimony from Eddie Garcia, a former security employee at the InterContinental Hotel, who is anticipated to testify under an immunity order. Prosecutors have indicated that additional witnesses, including forensic video expert Frank Piazza and Combs' former employees Derek Ferguson and Bryana Bongolan, may also be called to testify in the coming days.

Pardon Power: Trump Clears NBA YoungBoy’s Record

Courtesy Atlantic Records

President Donald Trump granted a full pardon Wednesday to platinum-selling rapper Kentrell Gaulden, known professionally as NBA YoungBoy. The clemency fully absolves the 25-year-old of federal convictions for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and alleged involvement in a prescription-drug fraud ring.

Gaulden pleaded guilty in 2024 and drew a 23-month sentence in federal prison in Utah. He was released in March 2025 after credit for time served and completed a period of home confinement in April.

In an Instagram Story, Gaulden wrote, “I want to thank President Trump for granting me a pardon and giving me the opportunity to keep building — as a man, as a father, and as an artist. This moment means a lot. It opens the door to a future I’ve worked hard for, and I am fully prepared to step into this.”

The pardon follows Trump’s January 2021 clemency actions in the hip-hop community, when he pardoned Lil Wayne (Dwayne Michael Carter Jr.) after a federal firearm conviction and commuted Kodak Black’s (Bill Kapri) sentence for making false statements during a gun purchase.

Trump also commuted Larry Hoover’s federal life sentence; that move does not affect his 150-to-200-year state term in Illinois, which he must still serve. His next state parole hearing is later this year, with eligibility in October 2062.

Fans flooded social media with #FreeYoungBoy, while advocates warned that individual pardons highlight the need for broader criminal-justice reform.

Fingerprint Evidence Sparks Mistrial Request in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' Case, Denied by Judge

This government exhibit shows damage to rapper Kid Cudi's Porsche from an alleged 2012 firebombing. Sean "Diddy" Combs' attorneys unsuccessfully requested a mistrial Wednesday, arguing that prosecutors improperly suggested Combs authorized the destruction of fingerprint evidence collected during the investigation. The judge denied the request, instructing jurors to disregard testimony about the fingerprints.

Sean "Diddy" Combs' request for a mistrial in his sex trafficking and racketeering trial was swiftly denied Wednesday by a federal judge who rejected claims of prosecutorial misconduct involving destroyed fingerprint evidence linked to the alleged firebombing of rapper Kid Cudi’s car.

U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian dismissed arguments from Combs’ attorney Alexandra Shapiro that the prosecution improperly suggested the music mogul authorized the destruction of fingerprint evidence from the 2012 incident. "There was absolutely no testimony from the witness that was prejudicial in any way, shape or form," Subramanian stated, instructing jurors to disregard the testimony in question.

Combs, 55, faces charges including sex trafficking, racketeering, and transporting individuals to engage in prostitution, with potential penalties up to life imprisonment if convicted.

The prosecution alleges Combs orchestrated acts of intimidation and violence, including the alleged January 2012 firebombing of Kid Cudi's Porsche, to silence individuals who might speak against him. Kid Cudi, whose legal name is Scott Mescudi, testified last week he believed Combs orchestrated the attack after learning Mescudi had dated Combs' former partner, singer Casandra Ventura.

Ventura previously testified that Combs explicitly threatened to blow up Mescudi’s car. Additional testimony from former assistant Capricorn Clark supported claims that Combs had violent intentions toward Mescudi.

Fire investigator Lance Jimenez testified that fingerprint evidence from the firebombing scene was destroyed without his knowledge on orders from a Los Angeles police officer not directly involved in the case. Judge Subramanian emphasized to the jury that this detail was irrelevant and should not influence their deliberations.

Combs' defense insists he played no role in the arson, highlighting the absence of physical evidence linking him directly to the act. The trial continues in Manhattan federal court with further testimonies expected.