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Sean "Diddy" Combs (Getty Images)

Bryana Bongolan had a difficult time remembering parts of the alleged 2016 balcony incident.

While on the stand Wednesday in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal trial for sex crimes, Bryana (who used the nickname "Bana"), confirmed she spoke about allegedly being dangled off a balcony by Diddy during various government meetings.

Allegations about the incident were detailed in a November 2024 lawsuit Bana filed against Diddy where she requested $10 million in damages.

Diddy's lawyer, Nicole Westmoreland, said that Bana told the government during the first meeting that the balcony incident happened at a party. Bana said she didn't remember, looked at the document, and reaffirmed that she didn't remember saying the incident was at a party, just that they were hanging out.

She confirmed that the first time she met with the government as they were working on Diddy's case, she made the allegation about the balcony incident. She couldn't remember if she said she told her girlfriend to hide in the bathroom.

She said the allegation about Diddy banging on the door was made in her civil complaint, but did not say if that was the first time she made the claim.

91����' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Sean "Diddy" Combs allegedly threatened to kill Cassie Ventura's friend. (Getty Images)

Bryana Bongolan, Cassie Ventura’s friend, testified Wednesday that the first time she alleged Sean “Diddy” Combs threatened to kill her was in a demand letter.

Nicole Westmoreland, asked about Combs allegedly telling Bongolan “I could kill you.” The defense lawyer claimed Bongolan told the government the threat happened at a party, not a photo shoot. Westmoreland said it was a lie that was repeated. There was an objection from the prosecution that was sustained followed by a brief sidebar.

Bongolan then agreed that the first time she alleged Diddy said he could kill her was in a demand letter from her lawyers.

After the demand letter went out with inaccuracies, Bongolan said she let her attorney go.

She testified she does not remember when she first told the government about Combs allegedly threatening he could kill her.

91����' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Sean "Diddy" Combs allegedly threw a knife at Cassie Ventura, her friend testified. (Getty Images)

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ defense asked prosecution witness Bryana Bongolan why she couldn’t remember details of multiple events, including when the rapper allegedly threw a knife at Cassie Ventura.

Nicole Westmoreland, Diddy’s defense attorney, asked Bongolan several questions about Cassie’s 29th birthday. Bongolan replied, “I don’t remember” to most of the questions, which included if she was on drugs.

Westmoreland then asked about the knife incident. Earlier in her testimony, Bongolan testified that Diddy once showed up to Cassie’s apartment banging on her door. He allegedly came in and threw a knife towards Cassie. Bongolan told Diddy’s defense attorney she doesn’t know how it happened.

Westmoreland asked if Bongolan told the government that Combs and Cassie would get into knife fights often. She claimed she doesn’t remember. She looked at a document to refresh her memory, but continued to say, “I don’t remember.”

Westmoreland asked Cassie’s friend if she told the government the fight happened in the kitchen. Bongolan clarified, saying she was suggesting where the knife came from. Westmoreland said, “You really don’t remember this?”

Bongolan testified she saw a knife get thrown. She told the jury she did not call the police or leave the house.

“You weren’t worried he would come back?” Diddy’s lawyer asked. Bongolan replied, “Guess not.” She claimed that she doesn’t remember how she felt then.

91����' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Sean "Diddy" Combs (Getty Images)

Bryana Bongolan most recently worked with her friend Cassie Ventura in November 2023, she testified Wednesday in the Sean "Diddy" Combs federal trial.

Bongolan, testifying under the nickname "Bana," admitted she didn't tell anyone about the lawsuit she filed against Diddy that same year.

During cross-examination with the rapper's lawyer, Nicole Westmoreland, Bana said she was not working on lawsuits with Cassie the last time they were together. She added that she didn't tell any of her friends she was thinking about suing the Bad Boy Records founder.

She told Westmoreland that she and Cassie spoke about the balcony incident before the lawsuit was filed. They discussed the location (hotel versus apartment), specific dates and who was there.

Bana said Cassie told her she saw Diddy dangling her over the balcony, and Bana insisted that Cassie was there. Bana hired a civil lawyer in January 2024.

91���� Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

�����DzԳ�é and Rihanna were mentioned during Bryana Bongolan's testimony. (Getty Images)

Rihanna and �����DzԳ�é were mentioned during Wednesday’s testimony in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking and racketeering trial.

The rapper’s lawyer, Nicole Westmoreland, questioned Bryana Bongolan about Cassie Ventura’s clothing lines. Bongolan, who is friends with Cassie, confirmed the singer-songwriter’s clothing lines didn’t work out because they were competing against �����DzԳ�é and Rihanna.

Westmoreland asked if it’s hard to be productive in business when you are getting high every day. There was an objection from the prosecution that was sustained, meaning the jury was told to disregard.

91����' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Cassie Ventura's friend testified June 4. (Getty Images)

Cassie Ventura’s friend claimed she got hundreds of pills for the singer-songwriter over the course of their friendship.

Diddy’s defense lawyer Nicole Westmoreland asked about Bongolan and Cassie doing drugs together.

Bongolan admitted on the stand the two did drugs together often. According to Bongolan, they did marijuana, edibles, cocaine and ketamine. She described how she felt after taking each drug. Cassie’s friend also admitted to being stuck in “a K hole.”  Other drugs she allegedly did with Cassie included ecstasy and MDMA. Bongolan also described a “coco puff,” which is opening a blunt and putting cocaine in there. Bongolan agreed with Diddy’s defense team that they had a serious drug problem.

Bongolan told the jury she sold drugs and likely went to get hundreds of pills for Cassie throughout their friendship.

91����' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Sean "Diddy" Combs and Cassie Ventura (Getty Images)

Bryana Bongolan filed a $10 million lawsuit against Sean "Diddy" Combs two years ago to "seek justice" for the alleged 2016 balcony incident.

Bongolan, who used the nickname Bana, claimed on the stand that her first attorney sent Diddy demand letters asking for compensatory damages. She said she did not approve the letters before they were sent out, and had been contemplating suing Diddy.

She claimed Rob Holladay reached out on behalf of Diddy to settle with Bana. She allegedly declined what was offered. There is an objection that is sustained.

Bana filed a lawsuit against Diddy in 2024 to "seek justice for what happened to me," she told the court. She said her lawyer wrote the complaint, and that the words are not the same as what she has testified to.

She also claimed that she would give the money back to not have been dangled over a balcony.

91����' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Sean "Diddy" Combs and Cassie Ventura allegedly did drugs with the singer's friend, Bryana Bongolan. (Getty Images)

Cassie Ventura’s friend, Bryana Bongolan, testified that she is now sober after doing drugs with the singer-songwriter throughout their friendship.

While on the stand, Bongolan recalled Jan. 2, 2018 as the last day she hung out with Diddy and Cassie. She revealed the date is tattooed on her neck because it’s the day she decided to get sober.

Bongolan said there had been a New Year’s Eve party in Miami. She claimed they did ketamine together for eight hours. Bongolan said she couldn’t do it anymore and left.

She testified she is now sober.

91����' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Cassie Ventura and Diddy (Getty Images)

Bryana Bongolan, Cassie Ventura's friend, claimed on the stand Wednesday that she didn't report the 2016 balcony incident to authorities.

While testifying in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal trial, Bryana (who goes by Bana) admitted the "Victory" rapper reached out a few days after he allegedly held her over a balcony.

She claimed to tell Diddy that she didn't want any problems, and didn't report the incident to police because she "was scared."

Bana admitted she still hung out with Cassie and Diddy after the incident.

Bana said she met Diddy about one year into her friendship with Cassie. She wasn't fond of what she saw in their relationship.

She described their romance as "volatile" with a lot of ups and downs. At one point, Bana claimed she witnessed Cassie with a black eye.

91����' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Sean "Diddy" Combs and Cassie Ventura met in 2005 after she signed to his label. (Getty Images)

Bryana Bongolan, Cassie Ventura’s friend, wore a neck brace after Sean “Diddy” Combs allegedly held her off a balcony.

Bongolan testified that after allegedly dangling her off the balcony, Diddy threw her on the balcony furniture.

Bongolan said she left Cassie’s apartment and went home after the incident in 2016. She went to take a shower because she felt “disgusting” and noticed a bruise on her leg. She said she also had back and neck pain.

The jury was shown photos, which were taken on the day of the alleged incident, of Bongolan's legs with a visible bruise.

Bongolan claimed she went to the chiropractor the same day as the incident because she “was freaked out.” According to her, one of her managers said to go to the chiropractor. Bongolan claimed the chiropractor asked, “Who did this to you?” She said she did not tell the chiropractor. “I was scared,” Bongolan explained to the jury.

The jury was then shown a photo of Bongolan’s back and neck. There were bandages where the pain was, according to her testimony. Bongolan was wearing a neck brace from the chiropractor.

Bongolan explained she did not seek other medical attention right away because she “was scared” and had drugs in her system. She later sought medical treatment when she decided to get sober.

91����' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Cassie Ventura and Diddy (Getty Images)

Bryana Bongolan testified Wednesday that her friend, Cassie Ventura, confronted Sean "Diddy" Combs after he allegedly held Bryana over a balcony in 2016.

Bryana, who used the nickname Bana for short, told the court that after Diddy allegedly held her over the balcony, he then threw her on balcony furniture. She testified that she wasn't sure if she was injured or not.

Cassie was allegedly in her bedroom during the incident, but came out of the room in disbelief.

Bana claimed Cassie said, "Did you just hang her over the balcony?" Diddy and the "Me & U" singer allegedly spoke directly after the incident.

She claimed that Cassie told him that Bana's girlfriend was in the house, and Diddy then "swiftly left."

91���� Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Cassie's friend testified in Sean "Diddy" Combs' trial. (Getty Images)

Cassie Ventura’s friend Bryana Bongolan testified she thought she was going to fall when she was allegedly "held over a 17 story balcony" by Sean “Diddy” Combs in late September 2016.

Bongolan said Diddy arrived early in the morning, banging loudly on the door. Cassie’s friend testified she was “stressed out.” During her testimony, the jury was shown a photo of the balcony at Cassie’s apartment.

According to Bongolan, she was close to the ledge when Diddy allegedly came up from behind her, lifted her up and held her up on the balcony. Bongolan claimed she weighed about 100 to 115 lbs at the time. Bongolan explained her feet were on the rail and she was trying not to slip. She said she was pushing back on Diddy because she was afraid of falling. “For a split second, I was thinking I was going to fall,” she told the jury.

Bongolan said Combs was yelling at her loudly, “You know what the f--- you did.”  She testified to this day, she doesn’t know what the rapper was referring to.

Cassie’s friend claimed Diddy was holding her over the balcony for about 10 to 15 seconds as he repeated “You know what the f--- you did” multiple times.

91����' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Teny Giragos (Rashid Umar Abbasi for 91���� Digital)

Sean "Diddy" Combs may benefit in court by having a woman lead his defense, criminal defense lawyer Jo-Anna Nieves previously explained to 91���� Digital.

Teny Geragos, the daughter of famed lawyer Mark Geragos, signed on to represent the disgraced music mogul shortly after Diddy was arrested and charged with federal sex crimes in September.

Her presence in the courtroom defending Diddy "sends an unspoken messaged to the jury that 'if a smart, credible woman like Geragos doesn't believe these allegations, maybe you shouldn't either,'" 

"This can especially impact jurors who are on the fence."

Teny graduated from Loyola Law School Los Angeles in 2016 and worked with Brafman & Associates for eight years before becoming a founding partner of Agnifilo Intrater.

She serves on the Board of Directors of the New York Criminal Bar Association and is certified to practice law in both New York and California. Mark Geragos was in court May 12 for opening statements.

While not representing Diddy, Mark explained to Judge Arun Subramanian during the week of jury selection that he represents the rapper's mother, Janice Combs, and also speaks to Diddy "with great frequency."

Mark is known for his Rolodex of celebrities, and has represented several high-profile clients, including Michael Jackson, Scott Peterson, Jussie Smollett, Colin Kaepernick, and most recently, the Menendez brothers in their pursuit for a new trial or resentencing.

Sean 'Diddy' Combs (Getty Images)

A friend of Cassie Ventura testified Wednesday in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal trial for sex crimes.

Bryana Bongolan, or Bana for short, told the court that Diddy once threatened to kill her.

The jury was shown evidence of Bana and Cassie on the beach during a photo shoot. She became emotional as she recalled when Diddy allegedly came up to her and said, "I'm the devil and I could kill you."

Bana, 33, couldn't tell if Diddy was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, but said she was probably taking cocaine.

She testified that she was terrified, but that cocaine helped her brush off the incident. Bana couldn't say why she didn't stop seeing Diddy after the threat. "I honestly don't know why," she told the court.

91����' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Cassie Ventura and Sean "Diddy" Combs ended their relationship in 2018. (Getty Images)

Cassie Ventura’s friend, Bryana Bongolan, testified in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ trial Wednesday. She told the jury about her perception of Diddy and Cassie’s tumultuous relationship and a time she witnessed the rapper throw a knife at the “Me & U” singer.

The jury was shown a photo of Cassie and Bongolan shopping together in early 2016. According to Bongolan, Diddy was communicating with Cassie that day, sending all the places they had been. Bongolan claimed they did not tell Combs where they had been. She thought, “Oh wow. He really knows where we’re at.”

Bongolan said she often stayed over at Cassie’s apartment. Cassie’s friend testified Diddy would come over in the middle of the night, bang on the door and get into the apartment. She claimed sometimes Cassie would act surprised, other times like it was normal.

Bongolan recalled one time when there was violence between Combs and Cassie while testifying Wednesday. Bongolan claimed she had been sleeping but was woken up by Diddy banging on the door. She added that Cassie had been sleeping but Diddy got into the apartment. His tone was allegedly upset.

She claimed Diddy threw a knife in Cassie’s direction. Bongolan said Cassie threw the knife back, but noted it did not hit Combs. She continued that Diddy “left swiftly.”

Bongonlan said she does not remember if she was doing drugs that night. She claimed she did not call the police because “I was just scared of Puff.” Bongolan testified that she did not see injuries on Cassie that night.

91����' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Cassie Ventura (Getty Images)

Cassie Ventura's friend, Bryana Bongolan, testified Wednesday in the Sean "Diddy" Combs federal trial about her relationship with the "Me & U" singer.

Bryana, who also goes by the name Bana, claimed on the stand that she first met Cassie in 2013 or 2014 at "Young and the Reckless."

At the time, Bana was working as a graphic designer. She then worked for Diamond Designs.

Bana, 33, claimed she and Cassie would get high together. She said they used marijuana, cocaine and ketamine.

"It definitely created like a habit," Bana said on the stand. She testified that Mia, Kerry Morgan, Deonte Nash or Rob Holladay would be there, too.

91���� Digital's Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Diddy and Cassie (Getty Images)

Bryana Bongolan, a friend of Cassie Ventura, testified Wednesday under immunity in the Sean "Diddy" Combs federal trial.

Bryana, who uses the moniker Bana, claimed under oath that she was "held over a 17 story balcony" by Diddy in late September 2016.

She told Madison Smyser with the United States Attorney's Office that Diddy then threw her on the balcony furniture. She said she had a bruise on her leg and experienced night terrors and screaming in her sleep following the incident.

Bana said she met Diddy about one year into her friendship with Cassie. She wasn't fond of what she saw in their relationship. She described their romance as "volatile" with a lot of ups and downs.

At one point, Bana claimed she witnessed Cassie with a black eye.

91����' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

The judge in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking and racketeering trial granted a third witness immunity Wednesday morning.

The second witness of the day, Bryana Bongolan, planned to invoke her Fifth Amendment right. Judge Arun Subramanian granted her immunity before testimony began today. She's the third government witness to be given immunity.

Diddy’s ex-assistant, George Kaplan, and InterContinental Hotel security guard, Eddy Garcia, were both granted immunity before testifying.

91����' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Before finishing his testimony, forensic video expert Frank Piazza claimed the compilation video he created reliably depicted the events of March 5, 2016.

The jury in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking and racketeering trial were shown a compilation video created by Piazza to illustrate the correct timeline of the altercation.

Cassie Ventura previously testified that she was attempting to leave the InterContinental hotel on March 5, 2016 after the rapper became violent during an alleged “freak off.” By the time she made it to the elevator lobby, Diddy attacked her. The moment was caught on surveillance footage.

A forensic video expert confirmed the elevator lobby video timestamp differed from the one hallway video by 5:55. The elevator lobby video also differed from other hallway video by about 5 seconds, he said.

According to Piazza, the compilation video reliably depicted what happened.

91����' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Sean "Diddy" Combs as the 2016 hotel surveillance video was shown in court. (Jane Rosenberg)

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ defense pointed out a “ghostlike” figure in the 2016 surveillance footage from the InterContinental hotel.

Diddy’s defense lawyer pointed out a “translucent” or “ghostlike” figure in the video while cross-examining forensic video expert Frank Piazza. Attorney Teny Geragos asked if the figure appeared on the cell phone video. Piazza explained the cell phone video does not show it because the quality of the footage did not allow for that kind of detail.

Geragos also questioned why Piazza switched between the surveillance video and cell phone videos of the footage when putting together the compilation video. According to the expert, the cell phone video was used as a bridge of time added to connect the surveillance videos.

91����' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Janice Combs and Justin Combs outside the courthouse on June 4. (Getty Images)

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ family continued to show up in support of the disgraced music mogul Wednesday.

Justin Combs, Diddy's oldest son with ex Misa Hylton , was seen arriving to the courthouse to listen to testimony on the 16th day of the rapper’s trial.

Hylton previously admitted she was "triggered" upon seeing the video from 2016 showing Diddy abusing Cassie Ventura at the Intercontinental Hotel.

"I am heartbroken that Cassie must relive the horror of her abuse, and my heart goes out to her," Hylton shared on Instagram with two photos including all seven of Combs' children.

"I know exactly how she feels, and through my empathy, it has triggered my own trauma."

Diddy's mother, Janice Combs, was also seen entering the courthouse. She previously defended her son in a statement shared to 91���� Digital.

"It is heartbreaking to see my son judged not for the truth, but for a narrative created out of lies," Janice Combs wrote in part. "To bear witness what seems to be like a public lynching of my son before he has had the opportunity to prove his innocence is a pain too unbearable to put into words. Like every human being, my son deserves to have his day in court, to finally share his side, and to prove his innocence."

Sean "Diddy" Combs and Cassie Ventura broke up in 2018. (Getty Images)

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ defense team spent time during cross-examination highlighting missing time in the 2016 surveillance footage from the InterContinental Hotel.

On March 5, 2016, Diddy can be seen on video attacking his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in the elevator lobby of the hotel. Cassie previously testified that she was attempting to escape a “freak off” after Combs had become violent.

During Frank Piazza’s testimony, the defense played the surveillance footage showing the timestamps jumping around. The video expert claimed the frames were counted in each second, some only have a couple of frames, but the system corrects itself and catches up.

The jury was shown the video from 11:11:57 to 11:12:08 frame by frame to observe the timestamp. In the video, Cassie is on the phone attached to the wall in the elevator lobby. There are 10 seconds of missing time.

Piazza explained that it’s not uncommon for security systems to have sensitivity of motion activation guide whether it’s triggered or not. He said if there is motion, the timestamp will change. According to Piazza, Cassie in the corner and Diddy just standing is not considered moving. He claimed the timestamp didn’t change until there was distinct motion.

91����' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Diddy was seen on surveillance footage attacking Cassie Ventura. (Getty Images)

During cross-examination, a forensic video expert admitted the surveillance footage of Sean “Diddy” Combs attacking his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura could have been recorded on a cheap system.

Diddy’s lawyer, Teny Geragos, asked Frank Piazza about the source of the surveillance videos.  The expert claimed the source is the native system. He explained the  videos were exported and transcoded at some point. According to Piazza, the cell phone video corroborates the surveillance video.

Geragos asked if Piazza researched the system, which the defense attorney labeled cheap. She showed the forensic video expert a document to refresh his memory and he replied possibly.

91����' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Sean "Diddy" Combs is in his 16th day of testimony for his sex trafficking trial. (Jane Rosenberg)

Forensic expert Frank Piazza enhanced some sex videos for Sean “Diddy” Combs’ trial, according to his testimony.

The jury was shown a stipulation between the parties regarding the enhanced sex videos given to the government. Only the jury saw the sex video as it was entered into evidence under seal.

Piazza confirmed he was asked to enhance the sound on one sexually explicit video.

The court then took a short break.

91����' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Diddy shown in court on June 4. (Jane Rosenberg)

Forensic expert Frank Piazza created a compilation of all three surveillance videos to show a timeline of events as they took place on March 5, 2016, the day Diddy attacked Cassie at the InterContinental Hotel.

Piazza said he put the videos together in a way to track the movements of the violent outburst. One of the cell phone videos was also included in the timeline. Piazza used a black screen in between each time the camera was changed.

In the compilation video shown to the jury, Diddy was seen running out of the hallway and assaulting Cassie. The rapper drug her out of the elevator area to the hallway while carrying a bag. On the video, Cassie then picked up the handset mounted on the wall while Diddy walked away and disappeared to the right before reemerging. At first Diddy appeared to have nothing in his hand but eventually a cell phone was visible. Later in the video, Diddy picked up the vase in the elevator lobby and threw it towards Cassie.

In the middle of the compilation video, Piazza used the cell phone video showing security guard Israel Florez emerge from the elevator. The jury watched Florez have a conversation with Cassie. There was a zoom in the video, but Piazza clarified it was not done by him. He said it was done by the person who recorded the video.

Piazza said no video existed showing Diddy and Cassie walking from the elevator lobby to the hallway.

The video skipped forward to show Diddy and Florez talking while Cassie walked down the hallway, carrying the bag. The jury then saw Florez inspecting the floor.

Diddy can then be seen in the video, either making or receiving a call.

Piazza confirmed he put the videos in order and found them to be reliable depictions of what the hotel surveillance recorded.

91����' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Sean "Diddy" Combs attacked Cassie in 2016 at a hotel. (Getty Images)

Frank Piazza, a forensic video expert, explained why the timestamps on surveillance footage of Sean “Diddy” Combs attacking Cassie Ventura at the InterContinental Hotel in 2016 were inaccurate during his testimony Wednesday.

The expert first told the jury why there was pixilation in the file. He said there the file and video stream became corrupted. According to Piazza, the pixilation is not evidence of video altering or tampering.

The surveillance video from the InterContinental Hotel featured inaccurate timestamps.

He also testified that timestamps can skip. Piazza said the timestamp is recorded by the same system and affected the same way that pixelations happen to the visuals. According to Piazza, the timestamp can suffer from the export process.

Piazza explained the motion activity affects the timestamp. He said if there is no motion, the timestamp will remain where it left off or reflect the motion. He confirmed the time stamp can jump forward. Piazza said he could not make changes because it was embedded in the video. He told the jury he would not rely on the timestamp for the accurate time of day.

91����' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Photo evidence shows damage done to the InterContinental Hotel by Diddy. (SDNY)

According to a forensic video expert, the original surveillance video from the InterContinental hotel showing Diddy beating his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura was not tampered with.

Frank Piazza, who analyzed three surveillance videos and two cell phone videos of the same footage, explained there was a speed playback issue and there were distortions throughout. He said the timestamps of the surveillance footage behaved the same way the video behaved. Piazza noted he was able to correct the speed issue. However, the expert testified the motion activity was embedded into the file itself and cannot be changed.

The jury was shown the corrected surveillance footage videos.

Piazza said they watched and counted the frames to see the surveillance was faster and slow them down. He said at the reduced speed, the cell phone video and surveillance video are in sync.

Piazza explained there is a process where the original system records in a native format and then transcodes the file and in that process is where the errors take place. It does not mean there is human alteration or tampering with the file, he testified.

Piazza determined the surveillance videos were not manually altered because after identifying the speed issue and fixing it, the cell phone videos and surveillance videos played exactly in sync. He also determined the videos accurately playback as the underlying footage.

91����' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Sean "Diddy" Combs and Cassie Ventura dated from 2007 until 2018. (Getty Images)

Frank Piazza, a forensic video expert, testified that cell phone footage capturing the surveillance video of Sean “Diddy” Combs attacking Cassie Ventura was not manually altered.

Piazza analyzed a total of five phone videos for the prosecution, two cell phone videos and three surveillance videos. According to the expert,  the cell phone videos are videos a cell phone recorded off a computer screen or a video of a video. The surveillance videos he analyzed were videos taken by a security system with three different camera angles.

Piazza claimed the cell phone that did the recording was an iPhone 6. He said there could be distortion issues, shaking issues, color, lighting and reflection issues. He explained they can be common with cell phone videos. Piazza said the cell phone videos were recorded on March 5, 2015.

That day Diddy was seen on surveillance footage attacking Cassie at the InterContinental Hotel.

The jury was shown a cell phone recording of the surveillance video. In the video, Diddy is seen kicking Cassie.

Piazza said he determined the cell phone videos were not manually altered. According to the forensic video expert, the cell phone recorded the surveillance off the system and captured a clean version.

91����' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Sean "Diddy" Combs in the courtroom. (Jane Rosenberg)

The prosecution called forensic video expert Frank Piazza as their first witness on Wednesday in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking and racketeering trial.

Piazza told the court he works as a forensic audio and video editor for Legal Audion Video. He said he has been doing this since 1995 and is a certified video technician. Piazza explained he also does video enhancements and has spent thousands of hours analyzing videos for edits.

He has previously testified in both criminal and civil cases.

The jury in Diddy’s trial has been shown surveillance video of the rapper attacking his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura on March 5, 2016.

91����' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

This image provided as evidence in Federal court shows damage allegedly caused by Sean "Diddy" Combs at the InterContinental Hotel on March 5, 2016. (SDNY)

Photos of the damage Sean “Diddy” Combs left in the elevator lobby of the InterContinental Hotel were released May 14, after being shown to the jury during Cassie Ventura’s testimony.

The photos showed the damage done after Diddy attacked his ex-girlfriend Cassie. The assault was caught on video surveillance and was shown to the jury in the rapper’s sex-trafficking trial.

The photos show a broken vase, the shattered pieces scattered across the floor. Dirt from the plant that had been potted in the vase can be seen on the wall of the elevator lobby.

Cassie testified May 13 that she had been trying to leave a “freak off” when the attack occurred.

The jury also heard from former hotel security guard Israel Florez on Monday, May 12. Florez testified he responded to the hotel room following the assault. He claimed Cassie only wanted to leave and did not want to call the police.

91����' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Over a period of three days, the jury in Sean "Diddy" Combs' trial heard from his ex-assistant. The woman, who worked for Diddy from 2009 until 2017, testified under the pseudonym “Mia.”

The ex-assistant told the jury she was “psychologically” trapped by the rapper even after she stopped working for him in 2017. During her cross-examination, Mia pushed back on the defense. “I never lied in this courtroom and I never will lie in the courtroom,” she said. “Everything I said is true.”

Mia claimed that Diddy sexually assaulted her multiple times throughout her employment for the now-disgraced music mogul. According to the former employee, she was often physically and emotionally abused by Diddy and had tried to run away from him on at least one occasion.

The intense questioning of Mia by Diddy’s defense led the prosecution to put on record that the cross-examination was humiliating and embarrassing.

“Mia’s testimony is critical for the prosecution, as it seeks to establish elements of the alleged criminal enterprise: control, exploitation, and intimidation,” criminal defense attorney Nicole Blank Becker, who has worked with R. Kelly, told 91���� Digital.

“Typically, defense counsel might take a softer approach with a witness alleging sexual abuse to avoid appearing unsympathetic to the jury,” she explained. “However, Mia’s unique position within the alleged enterprise and the breadth of her allegations demand a firmer hand from the defense. They are required to be both tough and strategic, aiming to introduce reasonable doubt by emphasizing Mia’s voluntary employment choices, her responsibilities, and her ability to leave the situation at any time. This line of questioning is crucial to counteract the government’s framing of the events as non-consensual and orchestrated abuse.”

“In R. Kelly’s case, we saw similar government tactics, using witnesses who were positioned close to the accused to establish authority and enterprise elements, even if those witnesses were not themselves victims of physical or sexual abuse. Here, with Mia, the defense must meticulously confront her claims and reframe her actions and motivations, while walking the fine line between challenging her credibility and maintaining respect.”

“In summary, the defense’s assertive, business-like cross-examination style is both a response to the high-stakes nature of Mia’s testimony and a strategic effort to shift the narrative from exploitation and coercion to autonomy and consent. It’s a delicate balance, but under RICO allegations, the defense must do everything within reason to disrupt the government’s portrayal of a calculated criminal enterprise.”

91����' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Sean “Diddy” Combs appeared in the courtroom Wednesday as the prosecution prepares to introduce a forensic video expert.

Diddy sat at the defense table wearing a dark colored sweater while the government, defense and judge went over issues with exhibits and upcoming witness testimony.

The forensic video expert is set to testify about the 2016 InterContinental surveillance footage showing Diddy attack his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura.

The jury heard from Bad Boy Entertainment CFO Derek Ferguson on Tuesday. During Ferguson's testimony, the jury was shown a 2011 bank statement from Combs' company Bad Boy Entertainment Worldwide. The bank statement showed an outgoing wire transfer of $20K to Cassie and a few weeks later an incoming wire transfer of the same amount from the singer-songwriter's father.

Cassie previously testified that Diddy threatened to release sex tapes of her with other men if her family didn't pay him back $20K that she allegedly owed. At the time, Diddy allegedly had found out that Cassie was dating the rapper Kid Cudi. Regina Ventura, Cassie's mom, testified the family took out a home equity loan to pay the rapper in 2011. The money was allegedly returned.

Earlier Tuesday, the jury heard from an Intercontinental Hotel security guard. Eddy Garcia testified that Diddy paid him $50,000 to sell the rapper hotel security footage showing his attack on Cassie in March of 2016. Garcia claimed after signing an NDA, the “Finna Get Loose” rapper paid him an additional $100,000.

91����' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Diddy at the Met Gala (Photo by Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

Sean “Diddy” Combs is currently on trial for charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution.

In addition to facing life in prison, the rapper is also at risk of losing the many assets he has built up since becoming a music mogul, including his mansions, cars, a private jet, and even his Bad Boy Records label.

The mogul owns several homes in the U.S., including a nearly $40 million home in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Holmby Hills, another one he bought near Los Angeles in Toluca Lake for $5.25 million, two side-by-side waterfront homes on Miami Beach's Star Island that he paid $35 million and $14.5 million for, as well as a nearly $3 million Miami condo, according to 

"The properties themselves could be included or referenced in the indictment as a means that served the ends of those alleged crimes, and they could be seized," Priya Sopori, Partner at Greenberg Glusker and a member of the firm’s litigation group, told 91���� Digital last year.

Diddy also owns a Gulfstream G550 jet through his LoveAir LLC valued at around $25 million, as well as a luxury car collection estimated to be worth around $1.6 million last year.

In addition to his material belongings,  could also be at risk, including Big Boy Records, which he started in 1993. The company still makes money through music and publishing rights, but its value has plummeted because of his allegations, according to USA Today.

His other businesses under the parent company, Combs Global, are also at risk of being seized. These include Combs Wines and Spirits, Revolt Media, Sean John fashion and fragrances brand and his nonprofit, the Sean Combs Foundation.

91���� Digital’s Brie Stimson contributed to this report.

Teny Geragos Diddy split (Rashid Umar Abbasi for 91���� Digital; Photo by Amanda Edwards/WireImage)

Sean “Diddy” Combs has surrounded himself with a female-driven defense team, including Teny Geragos, daughter of famed lawyer, Mark Geragos.

Teny was the one who presented the opening arguments on day one of the federal trial against Diddy on charges of racketeering and sex trafficking during which she argued that the case was about "voluntary adult choices," which the government was attempting to skew into a narrative to fit a sex trafficking charge.

The lawyer has argued the media has been pushing the wrong narrative when it comes to his case since his arrest in September 2024.

"There's no minors, there's no celebrity sex tapes. The civil lawsuits here are not driving the allegations that we're defending against, but it is driving the vitriol against him in the media," Teny said on an episode of "2 Angry Men."

During opening statements of Diddy's trial on May 12, Teny asked the jury to consider the federal charges, not the choices of an at-times violent man.

"Sean Combs is a complicated man, but this is not a complicated case," Teny told the court. "This case is about love, jealousy, infidelity and money. This case is about voluntary adult choices made by capable adults and consensual relationships. This case is about those real-life relationships, and the government is trying to turn those relationships into a racketeering case, a prostitution case and a sex trafficking case. It will not work."

She later noted that Diddy "is not charged with being a jerk. He's charged with running a racketeering enterprise. And though there was violence that you are going to hear about, you already have, that violence is not part of any RICO. That violence is not connected to sex trafficking and that violence is not prostitution."

91���� Digital's Tracy Wright contributed to this report.

Cassie Ventura sketch (Jane Rosenberg)

Cassie Ventura testified in week one of the federal trial against Sean “Diddy” Combs for sex crimes, giving crucial testimony as the government’s “star witness,” says criminal defense attorney, Phil Harvey. She was on the stand for four days.

Diddy’s former girlfriend of over a decade testified about the alleged abuse she experienced at the hands of the disgraced rapper, claiming she was physically abused and forced to participate in “freak offs” where Diddy would coerce her into having sex with a male escort while he watched.

Cassie also testified to using drugs to disassociate during the “freak offs,” which she claimed would sometimes last for days.

The prosecution finished the direct examination of Cassie on May 14. That same day, Cassie told the jury she chose to testify against Diddy because she could no longer carry the guilt.

Harvey also pointed out the wins from Diddy’s defense team, saying Anna Estevao, who cross examined Cassie, "did a good job staying on track,” and got Cassie to say she “willingly participated” in the “freak offs” and focused on the “consensual nature of their relationship.”

The defense also showed the jury texts featuring Combs congratulating Cassie on her pregnancy and checking in on her.

Cassie also testified about the assault at the hotel in 2016, alleging she was trying to leave a “freak off” when Diddy attacked her.

On May 12, former hotel security guard Israel Florez, who responded after Diddy’s violent attack on Cassie at the InterContinental Hotel, testified that he tried to call police after intervening, but Cassie told him not to.

To end the first week, the jury also heard from former Danity Kane singer, Dawn Richard, who testified that she witnessed Diddy assaulting Cassie in 2009. Richard told the court that after she "observed Cassie being attacked," the "Last Night" rapper told her it was par for the course in a normal relationship.

91���� Digital’s Tracy Wright contributed to this report.