Diddy's defense cross-examines witness after explosive allegation rapper held her over balcony

Fox News

2 days ago

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Sean 'Diddy' Combs appeared in court Thursday for the continued cross-examination of Bryana Bongolan.
Diddy sat at the defense table wearing a light colored sweater. Before testimony began, his lawyers, the prosecution and Judge Arun Subramanian spoke about pending issues regarding witnesses and exhibits. The judge reminded the courtroom and press of the pseudonym rule for the upcoming witness, "Jane." Subramanian emphasized nobody is allowed to document Jane 'in any way, shape, or form' in notes or sketches.
Bongolan, a friend of Diddy's ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, took the stand Wednesday afternoon as she told the jury about her friendship with the singer-songwriter and the alleged violence she often witnessed from Combs. Bongolan testified that Diddy once dangled her off the 17-story balcony of Cassie's apartment. She also claimed Diddy allegedly threw a knife at Cassie after showing up to the singer-songwriter's apartment in another violent outburst.
Her friendship with Cassie was also scrutinized, including their drug use. Bongolan claimed she procured hundreds of pills for Cassie throughout their relationship. She testified that she got sober in 2018 after doing ketamine with Diddy and the 'Me & U' singer for eight hours.
As Diddy's defense began her cross-examination, Nicole Westmoreland focused on the inconsistencies between Bongolan's statements to the government and her civil lawsuit filed against the rapper in 2024.
Bongolan couldn't seem to remember multiple details of the alleged balcony incident, including what drugs she was on at the time.
Cassie Ventura's friend, Bryana Bongolan, returned to the stand Thursday morning after court took a late start in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' trial.
Diddy's defense lawyer, Nicole Westmoreland, picked up the cross-examination of Bongolan by showing the jury a photo from an April 2016 photoshoot where Combs allegedly threatened her.
Yesterday, the rapper's defense team highlighted inconsistencies between Bongolan's testimony and previous statements. Cassie's friend first made allegations against Diddy in a civil lawsuit filed in 2024. Westmoreland questioned Bongolan extensively about what she told prosecutors and accused Bongolan of lying.
Cassie Ventura's friend, Bryana Bongolan, helped bolster the prosecution's theory that Sean 'Diddy' Combs was running a criminal enterprise using violence and threats, according to a legal expert.
Bongolan testified Wednesday that Diddy barged into Cassie's apartment and allegedly dangled her over the ledge. She claimed the entire time he was saying, 'You know what the f--- you did.'
'The balcony incident was important because it was described in both the prosecution's superseding indictment and Bongolan's lawsuit,' former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani explained. 'Ventura had asked Bongolan to join her original lawsuit against Combs, but Bongolan said no. According to Bongolan, Ventura got the date and location wrong. Ventura said it happened at a hotel, and she thought there was a different person present. These inconsistencies could be a problem for the prosecution, which is why they elicited the testimony during direct examination."
"The defense cross-examined Bongolan over her drug use, and she admitted that both she and Ventura had a serious drug problem. They tried to highlight even more inconsistencies in her meetings with prosecutors and her demand letter to Combs. According to the defense, Bongolan told prosecutors that Combs said he could kill her during the balcony incident, not another time, and she said Combs groped her breasts on the balcony.'
The West Coast Trial Lawyers founder explained Bongolan's testimony is important because 'it's evidence of violence against someone he was not in a romantic relationship with."
"This isn't domestic violence. It's run of the mill violence, and shows that Combs was running a criminal enterprise using violence and threats of violence towards others.'
Sean "Diddy" Combs may benefit in court by having a woman lead his defense, criminal defense lawyer Jo-Anna Nieves previously explained to Fox News 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,'" Nieves said.
"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.
High-powered lawyer, Nicole Westmoreland, joined Sean 'Diddy' Combs'
defense team in early May, as the disgraced rapper faced federal charges of sex trafficking and racketeering.
Westmoreland's addition to his legal team is noteworthy, as she herself is an outspoken survivor of sexual assault. She filed charges against the then-president of Cash Money Records, Alfred Cleveland, after he raped her at a party in 2001 while another man stood guard.
According to Westmoreland, Cleveland threatened her to not report the rape, but she did and he later plead guilty for the assault. She also later filed a lawsuit against the music label and Cleveland's brother for failing to keep the party safe.
Westmoreland runs her own law firm, Westmoreland Law LLC, and was notably involved in the YLS racketeering trial in Atlanta, representing defendant Quamarvious Nichols, who ended up taking a plea deal to avoid more serious charges of murder, participation in gang activity and charges of firearm possession.
During day 16 of Diddy's trial on Wednesday, Westmoreland cross-examined Bryana 'Bana' Bongolan, and questioned her about her claims that Diddy dangled her off a balcony in 2016, something she told the government during various meetings.
She also questioned Bongolan about the time Diddy allegedly threw a knife at Cassie Ventura, questioning how she is unable to remember the details of the incident.
Sharay Hayes, who worked as an escort named "The Punisher," testified on May 20 that Sean "Diddy" Combs would give directions during "freak offs."
While on the stand during direct examination by Meredith Foster with the U.S. Attorney's Office, Hayes claimed Diddy would tell his then-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, how to move sexually, "like move to the left or right."
He claimed once during sex, the "Victory" rapper dropped a stack of money on the bed. Cassie allegedly asked if Hayes was OK, to which Diddy responded, "I'm enjoying doing this s---."
Hayes claimed his last encounter with Diddy and Cassie occurred in March 2015.
He alleged that at the final encounter Diddy put two condoms on the couch and said, 'I'm ready to see you f--- her.' This interaction allegedly threw Hayes off and he couldn't get an erection. Hayes claimed Cassie appeared startled and Diddy seemed aggressive.
According to Hayes, Diddy left the room and Cassie followed. When they returned, Hayes was allegedly instructed to finish and he masturbated. Later he was paid and claimed Cassie thanked him for his privacy.
Hayes testified that he 'didn't do the job [he] was there for' and was worried he wouldn't be called back. He claimed he never saw Cassie and Combs
after this encounter.
During cross-examination, Hayes explained why the condoms on the couch threw him off. He claimed they had not previously used condoms often and Hayes had his own anxiety. Hayes said he thought it would be difficult to get an erection with a condom. Hayes said he felt pressured by Combs to have sex, and explained it was 'an aggressive suggestion.'
"Freak offs" were "elaborate produced sex performances that Combs arranged, directed, masturbated during, and often electronically recorded," according to the indictment.
Regina Ventura testified on May 20 that she 'memorialized' Cassie's bruises that she allegedly received from Sean 'Diddy' Combs' beatings.
The jury was shown photos of a bruised Cassie as her mother testified that she took the photos to 'make sure they were memorialized.' Regina testified that Cassie told her that Diddy beat the singer. The jury was then shown more photos of Cassie's bruises.
Regina claimed she first learned of Diddy's alleged beatings in December 2011. She testified that she had previously read an allegation that Diddy hit Cassie in a blog and called her daughter, but Cassie denied it.
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