The Diddy Trial Goes the Depp v. Heard Route

For weekly updates on all the most pivotal and dramatic moments from Diddy’s trial, sign up for our newsletter: Court Appearances: United States v. Diddy, and check out the rest of our trial coverage here.

In Sean “Diddy” Combs’s sex-trafficking trial, the disgraced rapper’s defense has tried to cast violence between him and ex Casandra “Cassie” Ventura as symptomatic of a volatile relationship and not evidence of a federal crime. Diddy was a “complicated man,” defense attorney Teny Geragos said in her opening statement, but physical fights between couples do not constitute crimes that carry a potential life sentence, the most serious charge Diddy faces. “Domestic violence is a very serious matter. I want to say that now. It is a bad, illegal problem, and it is something that the law addresses,” Geragos said. “We take full responsibility that there was domestic violence in this case.”

“Domestic violence is not sex trafficking. I want to say it again: Domestic violence is not sex trafficking,” she continued. “Had he been charged with domestic violence, had he been charged with assault, we would not be here right now.” Despite admitting to domestic violence, Diddy’s defense intimated that maybe whatever went on between the couple wasn’t so bad. During cross-examination of Cassie — whose allegations that Diddy coerced her into sexual encounters with escorts for a decade comprise the core of prosecutors’ case — defense lawyer Anna Estevao asked: “You don’t still hate him now, right?” “I don’t hate him,” she replied.

“In fact, you still have love for him?” Estevao pressed.

“I have love for the past and what it was,” Cassie responded.

Cassie also said that she had sex with Diddy about one month after he allegedly raped her. The defense is focused on Cassie’s behavior after the alleged coercion and abuse to frame her as a willing participant in the sex acts that went on during their 11 years together.

On Wednesday, the prosecution called psychologist Dawn Hughes to dispel myths about domestic violence — namely, why survivor actions might seem counterintuitive and, crucially, why they might stay in the relationship. Hughes may be a familiar name to some as an alum of a few recent well-publicized trials, including Depp v. Heard. During Johnny Depp’s 2022 defamation trial against Amber Heard, the actress’s team called Hughes as a witness. Hughes testified that she diagnosed Heard with PTSD from domestic violence endured during her years with Depp. She also took the stand at the trials of NXIVM leader Keith Raniere and R. Kelly. Hughes, who spoke generally about domestic violence and not specifically about Cassie, said it’s “very common” for domestic-violence survivors to remain in abusive relationships. Hughes explained that a survivor might feel “entrapped” or psychologically incapable of leaving. This might be intertwined with love and attraction that can be present even in abusive relationships.

When someone is abused, it can hamper higher-level thinking. They live “day to day in this micro way, to avoid being hit, to avoid being yelled at, to avoid being hurt,” Hughes said. She also explained how an abuser might use love-bombing to keep their partner attached. “Love bombing is a term that is used now in the popular media,” Hughes said. “When a victim is trying to extricate themself from a relationship, leave the relationship, the perpetrator, the abuser showers them with love … This is really a tactic to really bring that trust and dependence back, and get them back in the relationship.”

Hughes also discussed how a power differential between an abuser and a victim can keep them stuck. “You begin to think: Who is going to protect me? Who is going to believe me? How am I going to come out of this?” she said.

After Hughes’s testimony wrapped, one of Diddy’s former assistants took the stand. George Kaplan, who worked for Diddy’s company from 2013 to 2015, described how he worked to insulate his demanding boss from scrutiny — and served as a gofer for party drugs. Kaplan said he would set up hotel rooms in advance of Diddy’s arrival — ensuring there were speakers, baby oil, and Astroglide — and checked on them after his departure. “I would return to collect his belongings and make sure that it was in somewhat polished shape, as far as any pillows or garbage or baby oil being around,” Kaplan said of his room-cleanup work. He said that he saw “lots of empty bottles” of Gatorade and baby oil around the room. Asked why he cleaned up the hotel rooms, Kaplan said: “I think it was implied in the role … protecting him and protecting his public image were important.” Hotels might sell pictures of celebrities’ hotel rooms to embarrass them and that was “something I wanted to avoid,” Kaplan told jurors. Kaplan also described what was in Diddy’s “medicine” kit — Advil, Tylenol, Wellbutrin, and ketamine. Kaplan’s testimony resumes Thursday.

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex-trafficking trial continue on Wednesday with prosecutors doubling down on the disgraced rapper’s alleged intimidating tendencies through witness testimony — including an appearance from a Depp v. Heard trial alum. A cop’s testimony about evidence can often prove dull, but prosecutor Madison Smyser quite literally brought out the big guns at the jump when questioning for Special Agent Gerard Gannon with Homeland Security Investigation started late on Tuesday. She asked him about AR-15 components recovered from Diddy’s Magic City mansion in Miami during a spring 2024 search, and asked him to show the jury.

A sizable evidence bag containing these gun parts was put on display on a cart near the stand during the beginning of his testimony. Gannon ultimately stood up, slipped on rubber gloves, cut open the bag, and removed at least one piece from the plastic. Gannon then held up the component for jurors to see. Jurors were also shown close-up photos of gun components where the serial numbers were etched off. One had a skull-and-crossbones logo on it while the other had what looked like a biohazard symbol. Gannon held up more evidence for jurors on day two of his testimony, including a bag with red high-heeled platform shoes and a pouch with ecstasy pills emblazoned with the Tesla symbol on one side. Diddy has pleaded not guilty to charges against him.