Sean Combs trial updates: 'Jane' testifies on 'hotel nights' with Combs

Defense attorneys attempted during their continued cross-examination of the witness testifying under the pseudonym "Mia" to establish that she met with federal prosecutors a total of 28 times, beginning in January 2024. They contended that "Mia" did not appear to tell prosecutors about her claim that Combs sexually assaulted her until June 2024.

After leaving Combs' employment in March 2017, "Mia" testified that she went to work for Madonna for eight months.

"Did Mr. Combs assist you in getting that job?" defense attorney Brian Steel asked.

"Absolutely not," Mia testified.

"Do you have any evidence to show this jury that you were somehow blacklisted?" Steel followed up.

"No, of course not," Mia told the court. She did, however, repeat her assertion that she experienced retribution by Combs.

"He took away the TV show that I created. He took away the credit I was promised in the documentary," "Mia" testified.

Steel questioned the reason for "Mia's" departure from her employment with Sean Combs, following up on her testimony that she was surprised her job was eliminated.

"Isn't it true that you were let go for failing to arrive on time and for drinking?" Steel asked.

"Absolutely not," "Mia" testified.

When "Mia" wrote in a text message previously shown to the court that she was going to kill herself after she lost her job with Combs, Steel said it was "because you loved that job."

"Mia" took issue with that characterization. "My entire world was being ripped away from me. In hindsight that world was awful. I didn't know it at the time," she told the court.

"You wanted to work and continue to work for Mr. Combs and his business?" Steel asked.

"I wanted to follow my dreams and I had a separation from them," "Mia" testified in response.

"You made the decision to continue to work for Sean Combs and his businesses, right?" Steel asked.

"I didn't think I had a choice," "Mia" told the court.

The defense also sought to discredit earlier testimony that Combs controlled his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura.

"Is it true that Mr. Combs promoted Ms. Ventura more than any other artist in the label?" Steel asked "Mia."

"I don't know," "Mia" testified.

During cross-examination, defense attorney Brian Steel attempted to argue that "Mia" timed her disclosure of alleged sexual assaults on her by Sean Combs with the civil lawsuit filed against Combs by his former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura.

Steel questioned why "Mia," the former Combs assistant testifying under a pseudonym, did not tell federal prosecutors about her claim that Sean Combs allegedly sexually assaulted her until June 2024, six months after "Mia" began meeting with them and seven months after Ventura's civil lawsuit was filed.

"Do you remember the first time you ever made a claim Mr. Combs ever sexually assaulted you was on June 18, 2024?" Steel asked.

"I don't remember the dates but I do remember that horrible conversation," "Mia" testified.

"That is seven months after Ms. Ventura's lawsuit went viral," Steel said.

Federal prosecutors repeatedly objected when Steel started to ask about "Mia's" choice of legal representation. The judge sustained the objections and called a sidebar.

The jury did not hear that "Mia" is represented by Shawn Crowley and Michael Ferrara, two lawyers who represented E. Jean Carroll during her lawsuits against President Donald Trump.

Steel also questioned "Mia's" prior testimony that she escaped Combs with Ventura in Turks and Caicos by paddle-boarding out to sea. Steel asked whether there were any text messages, emails or photographs referring to the alleged event. "Mia" testified that there were not.

"Was that just made up by you?" Steel asked.

"No," Mia testified.

Steel's next question earned a sustained objection: "How is it that all these events have no photograph or text message or email from you?"

Steel also earned a sustained objection when he asked "Mia" whether she hired a lawyer in 2024 because she wanted to join what he called the "#MeToo money grab against Mr. Combs."

Steel asked if "Mia" met with federal prosecutors 27 times in advance of her testimony. She told the court that she did not recall a specific number but knew that it was "quite a bit."

The court then took a lunch break. Cross-examination will continue after lunch.

"Mia," the former Sean Combs assistant testifying under a pseudonym, has endured a "humiliating" cross-examination that borders on harassment and embarrassment and could have a detrimental effect on witnesses in other cases, a federal prosecutor said Monday outside the jury's presence.

"We are crossing the threshold into harassing and unduly embarrassing," prosecutor Maurene Comey said.

Aaron Katersky shares more details on the posts from 'Mia's' social media during the defense cross-examination.

Comey accused defense attorney Brian Steel of yelling at "Mia," using a sarcastic tone and being argumentative.

"Eyes are on this trial. Victims in other cases are going to see how victims are treated," Comey said. "Our concern is that if this victim is not protected from further harassment it will deter other victims in other cases."

Judge Arun Subramanian responded that he heard no yelling and saw no improper treatment from the defense but he did caution Steel regarding the form of his questions.

For years after her employment at Sean Combs' company Bad Boy ended in 2018, his former assistant, testifying under the pseudonym "Mia," sent text messages to Combs that expressed love and admiration.

"Everything is positive and loving from you to Mr. Combs. Would you agree with that?" defense attorney Brian Steel asked after showing the jury pages of texts.

"Yes, of course," "Mia" testified.

"Mia" continued to message Combs through the end of 2022, the defense showed the court.

"Hey. Saw our doc on Netflix top 10. Congrats I miss you," one text from July 2022 read.

Combs responded, "Love, love, love, love." "Mia" wrote back, "And I love, love, love you."

Just after Christmas 2022, Mia texted Combs, "Happy Holidays. I hope it's filled with love and happiness. Tell your fam and crew I love them."

Steel asked, "Years later, you're still communicating with Mr. Combs, true?"

"True," "Mia" told the court in response.

Steel followed up, "You hold your position, 'Mia,' that you were scared to see Mr. Combs?"

"True," "Mia" testified. "I was scared of him when he was scary."

Steel played a short video of "Mia" wishing Combs a happy 44th birthday in 2013. She is seen applying lip gloss and then saying, appearing bubbly and upbeat, "Puff Daddy, the living legend himself!"

"Mia's" video message continued: "Thank you for being one of the biggest inspirations in my life."