Live updates: Sean ‘Diddy' Combs trial, Cassie Ventura's friend Bryana Bongolan to testify

CNN

2 days ago

Update:
Date:
Title: Court is back from lunch
Content:
Judge Arun Subramanian is on the bench. The jury is entering now.
Assistant US Attorney Maurene Comey said they intend to call Enrique Santos to the stand before Jane.
Update:
Date:
Title: Judge warns Combs could be excluded from courtroom for repeatedly nodding at jury during Bongolan's testimony
Content:
Judge Arun Subramanian warned the defense that Sean 'Diddy' Combs could be excluded from the courtroom if he continues to attempt to interact with the jury.
The judge said he saw Combs on two different occasions during Bryana Bongolan's testimony, looking at the jury and 'nodding vigorously.' Combs was previously seen nodding during the testimony of George Kaplan, his former assistant.
Subramanian said he already warned the defense that Combs can't be making any facial expressions or attempts to have any interaction with or influence the jury. 'I could not have been any clearer in terms of what I said,' the judge said.
'Well, there was a line of questioning when your client was nodding vigorously and looking at the jury,' Subramanian said.
During a sidebar, the judge said he saw Combs doing it a second time. 'I looked and I saw your client looking at the jury and nodding vigorously.'
'It is absolutely unacceptable,' Subramanian said.
He asked defense attorney Marc Agnifilo, 'Is it going to happen again?' Agnifilo assured him it wouldn't.
'It cannot happen again,' the judge said.
And if it does, Subramanian said he'll let the government make an application to give the jury an instruction on the issue and will consider more severe measures, such as excluding Combs from the courtroom.
Update:
Date:
Title: This is what it takes to prove racketeering conspiracy
Content:
Prosecutors have charged Sean 'Diddy' Combs with racketeering conspiracy and are currently laying out their case on how the music mogul's conduct meets the criteria for the charge.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to the racketeering charge as well as sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. If convicted on all counts, he could face up to life in prison.
What is racketeering? Racketeering is 'not a specific crime — it's a way of thinking about and prosecuting a variety of crimes,' attorney G. Robert Blakey told CNN.
Racketeering means engaging in an illegal scheme. It's used in the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, known as RICO, to describe 35 offenses, including kidnapping, murder, bribery, arson and extortion. Prosecutors must prove a pattern involving at least two instances of racketeering activity to convict someone under the law.
RICO criteria: According to the US Justice Department, to convict someone of racketeering, prosecutors must prove five different criteria:
The minimum sentence for racketeering varies by jurisdiction and severity of the crime. Convicted racketeers can also face fines.
Prosecutors in Combs' case are using witness testimony, like from Cassie Ventura, Bryana Bongolan and 'Mia,' to prove RICO charges against him. Legal analysts have said witness testimony is key to proving the various aspects of the RICO charge against Combs, including establishing the workings of a criminal enterprise and coercion.
Other cases: The federal government has used racketeering to go after a dozen college athletic figures and test administrators in the largest college admissions scandal ever prosecuted, former President Donald Trump and musicians like R. Kelly and Young Thug.
Update:
Date:
Title: The jury is taking a short break. Catch up on what has happened in court so far
Content:
Bryana Bongolan, a friend of Cassie Ventura's who is testifying under an immunity order, completed her testimony this morning. Enrique Santos is expected to be called to the stand when the jury returns from break.
Here's what she testified this morning:
Update:
Date:
Title: "I care about justice," Bongolan says, when questioned on her motives for accusing Combs
Content:
The defense briefly addressed Bryana Bongolan one more time before her testimony concluded, with attorney Nicole Westmoreland asking if her lawsuit against Combs is Bongolan's 'opportunity to become a millionaire.'
'I can't agree with that,' Bongolan said.
Westmoreland pointed out that Bongolan is seeking $10 million in her civil lawsuit and asked if Bongolan cared about becoming a millionaire.
'I care about justice,' Bongolan said.
She is now off the stand and court is going to a break. The jury was dismissed until 1:30 p.m. ET.
Update:
Date:
Title: Bongolan testifies she's certain Combs held her on balcony
Content:
Assistant US Attorney Madison Smyser asked Bryana Bongolan if she had testified truthfully to the best of her recollection about the alleged incident with Sean 'Diddy' Combs on Cassie Ventura's balcony.
Bongolan said yes and acknowledged she doesn't remember every single detail, but said she'll never forget some parts of that altercation.
Bongolan said she was terrified in that moment and said, 'I will never forget him holding me on that balcony.'
Smyser also asked Bongolan, 'Do you yourself know the exact date of when the balcony incident occurred?'
'No,' Bongolan said.
'Why do you not know that exact date?'
'Because it was a while ago,' Bongolan said.
In closing the redirect examination, Smyser asked Bongolan, 'Regardless of the exact date, do you have any doubt that Mr Combs held you up on that balcony on the 17th floor?'
'I have no doubt,' Bongolan said.
Update:
Date:
Title: Bongolan says Ventura asked to name her in lawsuit before filing
Content:
Assistant US Attorney Madison Smyser is beginning redirect.
Bryana Bongolan testified that she and Cassie Ventura had only one conversation about Ventura's lawsuit before it was filed in November 2023. Ventura asked Bongolan if she could name her in the complaint in connection with the balcony incident, according to Bongolan. Bongolan said she did not know what information would be included in Ventura's suit.
Bongolan said that at some point after Ventura's lawsuit was filed, she told Ventura that some details about the balcony incident were incorrect. Bongolan testified that during that conversation, she told Ventura 'exactly what happened to me.'
Update:
Date:
Title: Defense asks Bongolan directly if she's lying to the jury before wrapping up cross-examination
Content:
Defense attorney Nicole Westmoreland asked Bryana Bongolan to confirm that 'Mr. Combs did not cause you the injuries that you showed us that we saw on your phone with the metadata from September 26, 2016.'
'I can't agree with you,' Bongolan said.
In her final question, Westmoreland pressed further, saying: 'You came in here and you lied to the ladies and gentlemen of the jury.'
'I can't agree with you,' Bongolan replied once again.
Westmoreland's cross examination is over.
Update:
Date:
Title: Combs' attorney questions Bongolan's timeline of alleged balcony incident
Content:
Defense attorney Nicole Westmoreland suggested the alleged balcony incident couldn't have happened when Bryana Bongolan says it did because Sean 'Diddy' Combs was traveling on the East Coast to perform in the Bad Boy Family Reunion Tour and Cassie Ventura was with him.
Combs performed in Newark, New Jersey, on September 25 2016, Westmoreland said, and Combs and Ventura went to an event in New York City on September 26.
In her testimony, Bongolan linked the alleged balcony altercation to a photo of a bruise on her leg that she said was taken hours after the incident. According to metadata from Bongolan's phone, the photo was taken on the morning of September 26.
Westmoreland also showed the jury records for 'Frank Black' from the Trump International Hotel in New York City, which included dining receipts for September 25 and 26, 2016.
Records from the Trump Hotel stay showed the check-in date was September 24, 2016, and the check-out date was September 29, 2016.
'You agree that one person can't be in two places at the same time,' Westmoreland asked.
Bongolan responded, 'In theory, yeah,' and 'I can't answer that one.'
Update:
Date:
Title: Combs messaged Bongolan about friends stopping each other from making mistakes while high
Content:
Sean 'Diddy' Combs sent Bryana Bongolan a message saying that friends should try to stop each other from making mistakes when they get high together. 'If you're gonna do k with her at least have her back,' Combs wrote, according to the message read aloud in court.
Defense attorney Nicole Westmoreland asked Bongolan if she believed Combs wanted her to stop using so many drugs with Cassie Ventura. 'I can't speak for him,' Bongolan said.
Update:
Date:
Title: Defense questions why Bongolan maintained contact with Ventura and Combs after alleged attack
Content:
The defense is pressing Bryana Bongolan over her continued friendship with Cassie Ventura and proximity to Sean 'Diddy' Combs in the time after he allegedly held her over a 17-story balcony in 2016.
Defense attorney Nicole Westmoreland pointed out that in the weeks following the alleged attack, Bongolan texted Ventura offering to get Combs a hoodie.
'We were trying to be cool,' Bongolan said.
According to text messages from October 9, 2016, between Ventura and Bongolan, she also agreed to sleep over at Ventura's apartment about two weeks after the balcony incident took place, according to her testimony.
'Isn't it true that you continued to hang out with Mr. Combs and you continued to spend the night at Ms. Ventura's house because Mr. Combs did not cause you those injuries?' Westmoreland asked Bongolan.
'Part of that statement is correct and part of that statement I can't agree with,' Bongolan replied.
Update:
Date:
Title: Bongolan says she kept her distance from Combs after alleged incident
Content:
Bryana Bongolan testified that she continued to see Sean 'Diddy' Combs occasionally after the balcony incident in late September 2016. Defense attorney Nicole Westmoreland asked if she was afraid to be around Combs. 'I kept my distance,' Bongolan said.
Bongolan confirmed that she went to one of Combs' concerts on October 4, 2016. 'I don't think I was around him most of the time,' she said.
She also confirmed that she went to a club that Combs rented out the following day, on October 5. Westmoreland asked if she wore her neck brace to the private party.
'I probably should have but didn't,' Bongolan said.
Update:
Date:
Title: Defense presses Bongolan on whether Cassie Ventura saw balcony incident
Content:
Defense attorney Nicole Westmoreland asked Bryana Bongolan if her longtime friend Cassie Ventura witnessed the moment Sean 'Diddy' Combs allegedly dangled her over a balcony, which has been central to Bongolan's testimony in Combs' federal criminal trial.
Bongolan said she heard Ventura's voice during the incident, but said she couldn't speak for her.
Westmoreland suggested Bongolan had told prosecutors several times that Ventura saw the incident.
'I spoke to them, but again, I don't recall,' Bongolan said.
Update:
Date:
Title: Bongolan shown texts with drug photos she sent Ventura after alleged threat from Combs
Content:
Defense attorney Nicole Westmoreland showed Bryana Bongolan texts with photos of drugs that Bongolan sent to Cassie Ventura in the month after she alleges Sean 'Diddy' Combs threatened her at a photoshoot in April 2016.
Bongolan testified that the images she sent Ventura appear to be drugs, but said she isn't sure what type.
Bongolan confirmed that she and Ventura continued their friendship as usual at the time, despite the alleged threats from Combs.
Update:
Date:
Title: Bongolan is back on the stand
Content:
Bryana Bongolan, a longtime friend of Cassie Ventura, is on the stand.
The jury is entering now.
Defense attorney Nicole Westmoreland is continuing cross-examination.
Update:
Date:
Title: Judge questions relevance of Bongolan's alleged balcony incident in Combs case
Content:
Judge Arun Subramanian asked the prosecution why Bryana Bongolan's alleged balcony incident is relevant to the charges against Sean 'Diddy' Combs in the indictment.
Assistant US Attorney Christy Slavik said the incident with Bongolan in Cassie Ventura's apartment shows the jury how Combs' violence extended beyond Ventura to other people close to her, which helps prove Combs' alleged coercion of Ventura.
Bongolan's testimony will continue shortly.
Update:
Date:
Title: Combs accuser expected to read text messages aloud in court during her closely watched testimony
Content:
Jane, one of Sean 'Diddy' Combs' accusers who is testifying under a pseudonym, will read text message conversations aloud in the courtroom when she takes the stand, prosecutors said this morning.
The discussion arose as a group of media outlets argued for access to the exhibits admitted into evidence during Jane's testimony. As of now, the judge has said no exhibits will be shown to the public in the courtroom and the prosecution will eventually release the exhibits to the press.
While Judge Arun Subramanian denied the media application, Assistant US Attorney Maurene Comey said she'll have Jane read text messages aloud, so they'll be heard in open court and captured on the record in the daily transcript.
When to expect Jane on the stand: The defense's cross-examination of Bryana Bongolan, a longtime friend of Cassie Ventura, is expected to continue this morning.
Prosecutors have said they'll call Enrique Santos next. His time on the stand is expected to be short, and afterward, Jane's closely watched testimony is expected to begin.
Update:
Date:
Title: Balcony incident testimony shows "mob-like behavior" prosecutors need to prove case, legal expert says
Content:
A woman's testimony that Sean 'Diddy' Combs' dangled her over a 17-story balcony demonstrated the 'mob-like behavior' that prosecutors need to prove racketeering conspiracy, former federal prosecutor Alyse Adamson said today.
Bryana Bongolan testified yesterday that Combs held her over a balcony and threw her onto balcony furniture in September 2016. The incident was previously mentioned in a civil suit filed by Bongolan against Combs in November 2024.
'I think it's extremely impactful, if the jury ultimately believes it,' Adamson said on 'CNN This Morning with Audie Cornish.'
'That's mob-like behavior,' Adamson said. 'And that's what prosecutors need' to prove the racketeering conspiracy aspect of the case. 'He needs to be behaving in a pattern of abuse, threats, and violence. That's the theme.'
Adamson said it was notable that Bongolan was not an intimate partner of Combs.
'I think the prosecution scored points eliciting this testimony, but now we're going to see how she holds up on cross,' Adamson said.
Bongolan is set to return to the stand for more cross-examination at 11 a.m. today.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to charges that include racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. If convicted on all counts, he could face up to life in prison.
Adamson noted 'it only takes one juror' for there to be a hung jury.
'The defense seems to be extremely strategic in how they are doing things,' Adamson said. 'Sometimes the strategy isn't always, 'Well, let's just get a straight acquittal.' … Sometimes we need to be more surgical, more strategic' and focus on jurors who are 'feeling our narrative.'
Update:
Date:
Title: This is a recap of what happened in court yesterday
Content:
A forensic video expert and a woman who said Sean 'Diddy' Combs dangled her over a balcony took the stand yesterday in the hip-hop mogul's federal criminal trial.
Here's what we learned in testimony Wednesday:
Hotel surveillance video was not manually altered, expert says
Woman says Combs held her over a balcony
Bongolan talks threats and drug use
Update:
Date:
Title: Here's who has taken the stand so far in the Combs' trial
Content:
Bryana Bongolan, a longterm friend of Cassie Ventura, and a forensic audio and video editor took the stand yesterday in the criminal trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs.
Bongolan is expected to testify again this morning.
Here's a look at who else has taken the stand: