Latest news with #BrianSteel
Globe and Mail
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Globe and Mail
Sean (Diddy) Combs's ex-assistant says she was ‘brainwashed' when she sent loving texts years after rape
A former personal assistant to Sean (Diddy) Combs who says he raped her testified Monday that she continued sending him loving text messages for years after her job ended in 2017 because she was 'brainwashed.' The woman, testifying for a third day under the pseudonym 'Mia' at the music mogul's federal sex trafficking trial, used the word as defence lawyer Brian Steel confronted her with skepticism and even suggested she fabricated her claims. Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and racketeering charges. His lawyers concede he could be violent, but he denies using threats or his powerful position in the music industry to commit abuse. Steel had Mia read aloud for the jury numerous loving text messages she sent to Combs, including one in 2019 in which she said she had a nightmare that she was trapped in an elevator with the singer R. Kelly and Combs rescued her. 'And the person who sexually assaulted you came to your rescue?' Steel asked incredulously. He rephrased, asking if she really dreamed of being saved by a man 'who terrorized you and caused you PTSD?' Prosecutors objected and the judge sustained it. It was one of many objections during a combative cross-examination of Mia at the trial, now in its fourth week, during which several government witnesses have been treated more gently by defence lawyers and have even spoken positively of Combs. Explainer: What to know about the Sean (Diddy) Combs sex-trafficking trial In an Aug. 29, 2020, message to Combs, Mia recalled happy highlights from her eight years working for him – such as drinking champagne at the Eiffel Tower at 4 a.m. and rejecting Mick Jagger's offer to take her home – saying she remembered only 'the good times.' In the same message, Mia mentioned once feeling 'bamboozled' by a woman. Steel asked why she didn't say Combs had bamboozled her as well, given her accusations. 'Because I was still brainwashed,' Mia answered. Asked to explain, Mia said that in an environment where 'the highs were really high and the lows were really low,' she developed 'huge confusion in trusting my instincts.' When Steel suggested her assault claims were made up, Mia responded: 'I have never lied in this courtroom and I never will lie in this courtroom. Everything I said is true.' She said she felt a moral obligation to speak out after others came forward with allegations against Combs. 'It's been a long process. I'm untangling things. I'm in therapy,' Mia said. Mia remained composed days after testifying Combs forcibly kissed her and molested her at his 40th birthday party soon after she started working for him in 2009, and months later raped her in a guest room at his Los Angeles home. She testified last week that his subsequent sexual assaults were 'random, sporadic, so oddly spaced out where I would think they would never happen again.' Prosecutors criticized Steel's two-day cross-examination, which has relied heavily on Mia's social media history. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen Comey accused him of yelling at and humiliating the witness, and argued that picking apart years of her social-media posts – including birthday greetings and praise for Combs's business successes – was excessive and largely irrelevant. 'We are crossing the threshold into prejudice and harassing this witness,' Comey told the judge during a break, while jurors were out of the courtroom. She warned that Steel's approach during the high-profile trial could deter victims from testifying in other cases in the future. Judge Arun Subramanian said: 'I have not heard any yelling from Mr. Steel and I have not heard anything that was sarcastic in the questions.' Still, he cautioned Steel about overusing questions about Mia's social media posts praising Combs.
The Independent
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' ex-aide says she was 'brainwashed' when she sent loving texts years after rape
A former personal assistant to Sean 'Diddy' Combs who says he raped her testified Monday that she continued sending him loving text messages for years after her job ended in 2017 because she was 'brainwashed.' The woman, testifying for a third day under the pseudonym 'Mia' at the music mogul's federal sex trafficking trial, used the word as defense attorney Brian Steel confronted her with skepticism and even suggested she fabricated her claims. Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and racketeering charges. His lawyers concede he could be violent, but he denies using threats or his powerful position in the music industry to commit abuse. Steel had Mia read aloud for the jury numerous loving text messages she sent to Combs, including one in 2019 in which she said she had a nightmare that she was trapped in an elevator with the singer R. Kelly and Combs rescued her. 'And the person who sexually assaulted you came to your rescue?' Steel asked incredulously. He rephrased, asking if she really dreamed of being saved by a man 'who terrorized you and caused you PTSD?' Prosecutors objected and the judge sustained it. It was one of many objections during a combative cross-examination of Mia at the trial, now in its fourth week, during which several government witnesses have been treated more gently by defense lawyers and have even spoken positively of Combs. In an Aug. 29, 2020, message to Combs, Mia recalled happy highlights from her eight years working for him — such as drinking champagne at the Eiffel Tower at 4 a.m. and rejecting Mick Jagger 's offer to take her home — saying she remembered only 'the good times.' In the same message, Mia mentioned once feeling 'bamboozled' by a woman. Steel asked why she didn't say Combs had bamboozled her as well, given her accusations. 'Because I was still brainwashed,' Mia answered. Asked to explain, Mia said that in an environment where 'the highs were really high and the lows were really low," she developed 'huge confusion in trusting my instincts.' When Steel suggested her assault claims were made up, Mia responded: 'I have never lied in this courtroom and I never will lie in this courtroom. Everything I said is true.' She said she felt a moral obligation to speak out after others came forward with allegations against Combs. 'It's been a long process. I'm untangling things. I'm in therapy,' Mia said. Mia remained composed days after testifying Combs forcibly kissed her and molested her at his 40th birthday party soon after she started working for him in 2009, and months later raped her in a guest room at his Los Angeles home. She testified last week that his subsequent sexual assaults were "random, sporadic, so oddly spaced out where I would think they would never happen again.' Prosecutors criticized Steel's two-day cross-examination, which has relied heavily on Mia's social media history. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen Comey accused him of yelling at and humiliating the witness, and argued that picking apart years of her social media posts — including birthday greetings and praise for Combs's business successes — was excessive and largely irrelevant. 'We are crossing the threshold into prejudice and harassing this witness,' Comey told the judge during a break, while jurors were out of the courtroom. She warned that Steel's approach during the high-profile trial could deter victims from testifying in other cases in the future. Judge Arun Subramanian said: 'I have not heard any yelling from Mr. Steel and I have not heard anything that was sarcastic in the questions.' Still, he cautioned Steel about overusing questions about Mia's social media posts praising Combs.
The Sun
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Diddy judge scolds lawyer & shouts ‘take it down!' as new video evidence shown in court & ex-assistant returns to stand
WEEK four of Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal trial began with the judge scolding the defense about video evidence of the disgraced music exec's former assistant that is expected to be shown in court. The victim, who is being referred to as Mia, painted a disturbing picture for jurors last week about the sleep deprivation and violent environment she allegedly endured while working for Combs, 55. 2 2 Mia, who worked for Combs from 2009 to 2017, is back on the stand to begin week four after testifying about the three instances where Combs allegedly raped her. Mia testified that she had never disclosed the alleged sexual assaults to anyone, saying "I was going to die with it." She underwent a grueling cross-examination by defense attorney Brian Steel, who tried to suggest to her that she made up the sexual assault allegations against Combs. However, Mia took firm on her accusations, saying, "What I said in this courtroom is true. I have not lied to anyone at all." Mia told the courtroom how during her years working for Combs she sometimes felt like he was a best friend and working partner, but other times he treated her like a "worthless piece of crap." Steel challenged the victim to explain why she continued working for Combs despite the years of abuse and after the allegedly being raped. "In an abusive relationship there's a cycle of violence," Mia said. "I was young and manipulated and eager to survive. I'm unraveling a lot of this now in therapy. "Nobody was there to say these things that were happening were wrong. There was nobody around us that ever even flinched at his behavior." Judge Arun Subramanian is expected to allow a last-minute video evidence by the defense, which they claim discredits Mia's testimony about her former boss' years-long abuse. "We found this video on the internet," Combs' lead attorney Marc Agnifilo told the judge on Friday. "I think there were people on the internet who figured out who Mia is... we received emails from random people with the same video." The video showed Mia wishing Combs a happy birthday in 2013. If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call RAINN (Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network) at 800-656-HOPE (4673).
BBC News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Diddy On Trial Diddy's ex-assistant tells court she ‘hasn't lied to anyone at all'
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' former employee, who has given evidence under the pseudonym 'Mia', has been questioned by Diddy's defence lawyer. In court on Thursday, 'Mia' told the court she had been raped and sexually assaulted by Diddy. Today, defence lawyer Brian Steel suggested 'Mia' had made up sexual assault allegations. He questioned her about a scrapbook she had made for Sean 'Diddy' Combs birthday, as well as videos and multiple Instagram posts she had made, which all painted Diddy in a glowing light. Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty speaks to BBC New York correspondent Nada Tawfik about the day in court, as week three of the trial ends. Sean 'Diddy' Combs is on trial in New York, facing federal charges of sex trafficking, racketeering with conspiracy and transportation for prostitution. He denies all the charges. The Diddy on Trial podcast is here to investigate the rumours, confront the theories, and give you the answers that you need. We also want YOU to be part of the conversation. Have you any questions about the case? Heard a theory that doesn't sit right with you? Get in touch now via WhatsApp: 0330 123 555 1. Details of organisations in the UK offering information and support with some of the issues raised are available at Presenter: Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty Series Producer: Laura Jones Sound Design: Mark Burrows Senior Digital Producer: Matthew Pintus Executive Producer: Richard Fenton-Smith Production Coordinator: Hattie Valentine Editor: Clare Fordham Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale Commissioning Producer: Adam Eland Commissioning Assistant Producer: Rechmial Miller
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
What we know about the conditions of the Mifflin Township officers who were shot
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Two Mifflin Township police officers were shot while conducting a traffic stop on Wednesday night on the northeast side, just outside of Columbus city limits. The officers were both rushed to the hospital. One was released from the hospital just a day after the shooting while the other has a long road to recovery. 'When bullets hit your body, it's not like the movies. A bullet hits your body and it completely destroys anything in its path,' Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #9 President Brian Steel said. One officer was shot in the arm and released from Grant Medical Center on Thursday, according to Steel. That officer will have to return to get surgery, but Steel said he is eager to get back to work. Suspect in fatal southeast Columbus shooting over Memorial Weekend arrested He said this shows the dedication of police officers, even after getting shot. 'The officers that were shot, they knew what they were doing. They knew there was a danger,' Steel said. 'They do that because the community is worth it and that's why they signed up for it.' The other officer was brought to Grant in critical condition, but Steel said he was changed to stable. 'He's alive by the grace of God, by the aid that was rendered by the medical staff at Grant. He is still with us. He's got a long road,' Steel said. 'I just ask your viewers to continue to pray for him. He is fighting.' Police officers from multiple jurisdictions were in and out of Grant Medical center on both Wednesday and Thursday. Mifflin Township Police Chief David Briggs said Columbus police and the Franklin County Sheriff's Office have been a great help during this tough time. 'They had two officers outside their rooms at all times. They had several officers downstairs in the lobby outside the emergency room everywhere to escort family and friends to where they needed to go. It was overwhelming support,' Briggs said. Steel said right now, the officers and their families need to focus on rest and recovery. 'You have emotional injuries you're going to have from these events. You're going to have physical injuries,' Steel said. 'Time will tell for both of them.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
