Thread by @innercitypress

OK - US v Sean Combs Day 7, from personal assistant through exotic dancer to Cassie's mother and a chef - Inner City Press is covering the trial matthewrussellleeicp.substack.com/p/extra-in-sea… & civil cases patreon.com/posts/diddy-do… audio/book of Week 1
& will live tweet, thread below x.com/innercitypress…

[Before jurors come in]
Combs' Agnifilo: We oppose David James testifying about the incident with Suge Knight. He's going to mention D-Roc, say he was a friend of Biggie Smalls - that's decades ago, not relevant.
Judge: Seems you are previewing your cross

[Witness / personal assistant David James takes the stand]
Judge Subramanian: Good morning. Welcome back.
[Then]
Courtroom deputy: We are missing four jurors. It may be the subways.

Judge: OK, we'll reconvene
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[OK, jurors have belatedly arrived]
AUSA Slavik: What about physical violence between Mr. Combs and Cassie - did you personally observe it?
David James: No, I did not.
AUSA: Do you remember a blog post-
David James: Yes. I was in LA when he came back from a club

AUSA Slavik: What did Mr. Combs say?
David James: That someone was lying on him, saying he hit Cassie at the club. He went through my browser history. No one had ever done that to me.

AUSA: Did Mr. Combs give you instructions about Cassie?
David James: To bring her food at the London Hotel - some Roscoe's
AUSA: What is Roscoe's?
David James: Some delicious fried chicken in Los Angeles

AUSA Slavik: What did you do for Mr. Combs in NY?
David James: I'd bring him apple sauce, jello, Fiji water. His toiletry bag with ointments, Just for Men, we bought 40 items so he wouldn't call us later. I'd get a key, like at the Trump International

David James: I'd set up the medicine bag in the personal LV bag.
AUSA Slavik: What was in it.
David James: A Viagra, Ecstasy, percs-
AUSA: How did you go about replenishing these supplies?
David James: I'd use my personal credit card, Bad Boy paid me back

AUSA Slavik: Who paid you back?
David James: Usually Bonds.
AUSA: Did Mr. Combs ever stay alone in a hotel?
David James: Never. Usually Cassie, sometimes other women.
AUSA: Did he ask you for things during a stay?
David James: He'd text me for an iPod or food

AUSA Slavik: Did anything strange every happen?
David James: Yes, in Miami. He asked for an iPod from his house on Star Island. I drove it to his hotel & knocked - no answer. I had the key, I'd set up the room
AUSA: What did you see?
David James: Cassie on the bed

David James: There was an other person, who sort of scurried away. And the shower was on, I thought Mr. Combs was in there.
AUSA: How was she sleeping?
David James: On her back
Combs' Agnifilo: Objection
Judge: Sustained.

AUSA Slavik: What about the other person?
David James: He was about 5'8'' with long hair and a large endowment. He scurried away.
AUSA: Did you ask anything?
David James: I wasn't hired to ask about their personal affairs

AUSA Slavik: Did you ever pick up drugs for Mr. Combs?
David James: Yes, Percocets at a pharmacy, sometimes in my name.
AUSA: Did you give him permission to use your name?
David James: I don't recall that.
AUSA: Was there a drug dealer?
David James: Yes, One Stop

AUSA Slavik: He met with a lot of people?
David James: Yes... even former presidents.
AUSA: Which one?
David James: Former President Obama...
AUSA: What was your understanding would've happened if you hadn't done these things?
Combs' Agnifilo: Objection.
Sustained

AUSA Slavik: Did you ever take Ecstasy?
David James: Yes. I was drinking Ciroc, I took Ecstasy, I was Diddy-bopping
AUSA: What do you mean?
David James: I was vibing.
AUSA: Did you speak with Mr. Combs about it?
David James: He was reviewing footage of the party

David James: We had a videographer who filmed the parties. He asked me, Hey Playboy, was that you dancing around at the party? I said yes and he said, I'm going to keep the video in case I ever need it.
AUSA: Meaning?
David James: That I'd be embarrassed

AUSA Slavik: Did anything ever go missing?
David James: They said a bracelet was missing. Uncle Paulie came to my hotel room and searched my belonging and those of my girlfriend at the time
AUSA: Could you have said no?
Agnifilo: Objection
Judge: Move on

AUSA Slavik: Did you ever had to take a lie detector test?
David James: Yes.
AUSA: Who was present?
David James: Just me and this gentleman. It was very intimidating. They put monitors on my head, my chest and my hand.
AUSA: Could you refuse?
A: Not to keep my job

AUSA Slavik: Did this happen again?
David James: Yes when Mr. Combs said a watch of his had been stolen.
AUSA: What was the result?
David James: The gentleman told me I seemed nervous. I said sure I am...

David James: Once Capricorn Clark had to take a lie detector to prove she wasn't part of a heist of Mr. Combs' jewelry.
AUSA Slavik: Was there an incident at Mel's Diner with Suge Knight?
David James: Yes. I drove the silver Navigator to get cheeseburgers there

David James: D-Roc said, That's motherf*cking Suge Knight. He went over and said, What's up? Suge didn't recognize him. D-Roc said, I'm Biggie's boy
AUSA Slavik: What happened next?
David James: We noticed four black SUVs to different sides of the parking lot

David James: I saw someone hand Suge Knight a gun. D-Roc said, We gotta get out of here. We drove back to the house.
AUSA Slavik: What did you find there?
David James: Cassie was crying. Mr. Combs got in the vehicle. I saw three guns on his lap.

David James: I felt calm because we'd been in a silver vehicle, now a black one - they wouldn't see us coming
AUSA Slavik: What did you find at Mel Diner's?
David James: Suge Knight had left. Mr. Combs said, Drive around he block

AUSA Slavik: What did you decide?
David James: To leave the company. They offered me other positions. But I just wanted to leave - my life was at risk.
AUSA Slavik: No further questions.
Judge: Mr. Agnifilo?
Combs' Agnifilo: You didn't tell all this the first time

David James: They told me to stop, to not say anything that would incriminate me
Agnifilo: Look at the notes from your interview - read it to yourself then look up at me.
David James: OK
Agnifilo: How'd you recognize Suge Knight?
David James: I listened to hip hop

Combs' Agnifilo: Were you drinking or smoking pot?
David James: No sir.
Agnifilo: Your mind was clear?
David James: As clear as it could be, working 20 hours a week, at 4 am.
Agnifilo: D-Roc opens the door - Suge Knight is a few cars over?
David James: Window open

David James: D-Roc says, I'm Biggie's boy and then Suge recognizes him, gives him a dab.
Combs' Agnifilo: What's a dab?
David James: Handshake.
Agnifilo: Did you leave D-Roc at the diner? Why are you smiling?
David James: 'Cuz that's a crazy question. Why would I?

Combs' Agnifilo: Didn't you leave D-Roc at the diner?
David James: That makes no sense.
Agnifilo: I'm not asking what makes sense - I'm asking, Did you?
David James: No.
Agnifilo: You saw you saw Cassie and Mr. Combs?
David James: Yes. Mr. Combs told me to drive

Agnifilo: You don't know where Mr. Combs got the guns, do you?
David James: I didn't know we had guns, until then.
Agnifilo: Have you ever been in a situation like that?
David James: No.
Agnifilo: You didn't say, I don't want to drive to Suge Knight with guns?
No

Combs' Agnifilo: What exacted did you do before you got this job?
David James: I was a door to door salesman, then personal assistant.
Agnifilo: Now you were going with guns to confront someone?
David James: It was not ideal.

Combs' Agnifilo: You knew how to get to Mel's Diner, right?
David James: I frequent there all the time.
Agnifilo: You've never seen guns before, right?
David James: No.

Agnifilo: This is a radical departure from your job description, is that an understatement?
David James: It's the understatement of the day. So far.
Agnifilo: Do you have immunity?
David James: Ask my lawyer. I have some kind of offer agreement.
Agnifilo: Proffer

Combs' Agnifilo: You didn't tell anyone about this?
David James: Only my wife.
Agnifilo: Did you meet with the Government this morning?
David James: Yes, briefly. About what might come up in cross.

Combs' Agnifilo: Did the Mel's Diner incident come up?
David James: Not that I recall
Agnifilo: It's this morning. What did you talk about?
David James: Your style
[some laughter]
Agnifilo: I'm dying to ask what they said, but I won't
[See X for Subscribers later]

Combs' Agnifilo: I have a few more mundane questions.
David James: I love mundane questions.
Agnifilo: Where did you travel with Mr. Combs?
David James: Ibiza, London, St. Tropez
Agnifilo: Were these vacations?
David James: Business oriented

Combs' Agnifilo: What were you hired as?
David James: Personal liaison. But I was a personal assistant.
Agnifilo: He met a high level roster of people
David James: Second understatement of the day
Agnifilo: Why?
David James: He met with a who's who

Combs' Agnifilo: It was important that he be prepared for these meeting, right?
David James: Yes.
Agnifilo: It was important that he be on time-
David James: No. We'd change meetings to fit his schedule all the time, when he didn't want show up at a certain time

Combs' Agnifilo: He had security because people wanted to touch him, right?
David James: Yes. In the airport. In McDonald's.
Agnifilo: Was he gracious?
David James: I don't think gracious is a word I'd use for Sean Combs.
Agnifilo: Did he sign autographs?
A: No

Combs' Agnifilo: You said he'd stay in the studio until 3 or 4 am and you'd stay with him?
David James: Yes, it was common.
Agnifilo: What sort of things would he want to always have with him?
David James: Ketchup, for example.

Combs' Agnifilo: Did you know he put apple sauce on cheeseburgers?
David James: No but I knew he likes apple sauce.
Agnifilo: He liked Astroglide, condoms and baby oil - but you didn't expense it through the business?
David James: Usually not

David James: I was told he didn't want to run them through the company. He didn't want a record of them.
Combs' Agnifilo: When you bought the 8-ball of coke on St Tropez [pronounced San Tro-PEZ] you didn't tell Mr. Combs, did you?
David James: He was asleep

Combs' Agnifilo: Tell me about your relationship with Roger Bonds
David James: We talked about Bad Boy as a family
Agnifilo: What do you mean?
David James: Mama Combs called me her son, many times.
Agnifilo: What was the mission?
David James: Make sure he's happy

Combs' Agnifilo: Was it fun?
David James: I enjoyed it from time to time.
Agnifilo: What was your relationship with Chef Jourdan?
David James: Professional.
Agnifilo: Did you choke her?
David James: No.
AUSA: Objection
Judge: Sidebar

Combs' Agnifilo: Tell me what happened.
David James: We were on Star Island. She told me where to take him - I grabbed her 2 wrists & said, Stay in your f*cking lane
Agnifilo: Was there fall-out?
David James: It was reported to corporate HQ. Mr. Combs called me in

David James: Mr. Combs told me, You can't be putting your hands on women. He told me to give her a gift.
Combs' Agnifilo: What did you give her?
David James: I rolled up a blunt and gave it to her.
Agnifilo: Did she like it?
David James: It appeared she did

Combs' Agnifilo: You were in a car with Mr. Combs and who?
David James: Chris Lighty...
Agnifilo: You have taken Ecstasy?
David James: I'd party, sure.
Agnifilo: What were things like in the studio - drugs?
David James: Yes. It's a creative environment

David James: I didn't smoke when working, with Mr. Combs.
Agnifilo: But he caught you smoking once?
David James: I thought he was in for the light. I lit up; he came out. He said, What are you doing. I said, nothing.

David James: He said, If you're man enough to smoke, you're man enough to tell me. I said, OK, I'm smoking. He said if I did it again he'd fire me.
Combs' Agnifilo: How about when you picked up two prostitutes and had sex with one?
AUSA: Objection! 403!

Judge: Overruled.
David James: She asked for $200. I called Bonds, and asked, what the hell. She asked to take a shower. I said, that's $200
[laughter]
Combs' Agnifilo: On that note, no further questions

Judge: Re-direct?
AUSA Slavik: What about the incident in Alpine, New Jersey?
David James: To file a police report and say that Chef Jourdan had been the aggressor. But I didn't file it. I drove around and told him I'd made the report.

AUSA: What have we asked you to do?
David James: Tell the truth.
AUSA: Nothing further.
Re-cross
Combs' Agnifilo: You lied to Mr. Combs about filing the police report?
David James: Yes
Agnfilo: Nothing further. Could we have a break?

Judge: Break.
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[They've back]
Judge: Jurors, I'm going to try to get the temperature turned up in here. I'm told it's complicated. But I'm freezing right along with you
[some laughter]
AUSA: The Government calls Regina Ventura

AUSA: Where do you live?
Regina Ventura: New London, Connecticut.
AUSA: How many children do you have?
Regina Ventura: Two, Rodrick and Casandra.
AUSA: Who is this?
Regina Ventura: Sean Combs. He dated my daughter

AUSA: When did you meet Sean Combs?
Regina Ventura: 2006. My daughter signed with his Bad Boy Records. He was her boss. Then they started dating. They moved to LA.
AUSA: Read this message from December 2011.
Regina Ventura: Casandra wrote to me

Regina Ventura: She said Sean Combs threatened to release a sex tape and go after her and Mr. Mescudi.
AUSA: How did you react?
Regina Ventura: It made me sick. Sean Combs demanded $20,000, he said to recoup losses due to Mr. Mescudi, from my husband and myself

AUSA: Why did you take a loan to pay Sean Combs?
Regina Ventura: For the safety of my daughter.
AUSA: Look in the binder next to you.
Regina Ventura: These are the photos I took of my daughter's bruises, from Sean Combs.

AUSA: Do you know Mia?
Regina Ventura: She was an employee of Sean Combs.
AUSA: What happened?
Regina Ventura: We were in his kitchen, laughing - Sean asked her why she was laughing. She stopped and looked plane
AUSA: Now to August 2016, we're done with the binder

AUSA: While in LA, did you call the police?
Regina Ventura: Yes. Sean Combs stole Cassie's, Casandra's, phone. They had a bitter argument outside her apartment building. She lived on the 17th floor. They argued at the roundabout.

AUSA: Who else was there?
Regina Ventura: D-Roc.
AUSA: Is Damian Butler his government name?
Regina Ventura: He was standing between us. I tried to hit him. Sean Combs took Casandra's car, a Jaguar.
AUSA: No further questions
Judge: Cross
Defense: No questions

Judge: Next witness.
AUSA: The Government calls Mr. Sharay Hayes.. Where are you from?
Sharay Hayes: Harlem, New York.
AUSA: What was your work?
Sharay Hayes: Male exotic dancer. I was known as The Punisher.

AUSA: Do you recognize these two?
Sharay Hayes: I do. Mr. Sean Combs and Cassie Ventura. I was hired in 2012 to create a sexy erotic scene for them
[These photos shown]

AUSA: Why were you called The Punisher?
Sharay Hayes: Playing basketball on West 4th Street.
AUSA: The woman who called you, what time did she book you for?
Sharay Hayes: Midnight at Trump Tower, Central Park West. Striptease for a small group of friends.

AUSA: When you got there, how did Ms. Ventura appear?
Sharay Hayes: In a bathroom with nothing underneath, and a wig. I was expecting a crowd but there was no one else. She told me she and her husband wanted to create a sexual scene with baby oil

AUSA: What did she hand to you?
Sharay Hayes: Eight hundred dollars
AUSA: How was the room?
Sharay Hayes: Dimly lit. Electric candles. Bowls of water with bottles of baby oil in them. She told me not to acknowledge her husband, not to look at him when he came out

AUSA: Did he come out?
Sharay Hayes: Yes. He was naked but I could not see his face - it was like what a Muslim woman wears, you see only the eyes. He had a bottle of Astroglide.
AUSA: How did you recognize it?
Sharay Hayes: I use it. The purple top

AUSA: How did it end?
Sharay Hayes: She went into the other room with him. When she came back she asked if I wanted to finish. I said no, if they were happy, I was happy. She gave me more money.
AUSA: Did you do it again?
Sharay Hayes: Yes. 8 or 12 times

AUSA: How did you end up recognizing her?
Sharay Hayes: I was a fan of Mr. Combs and followed him on Instagram. I saw her on it.
AUSA: This would be a good place to break.

Judge: Break.
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We're back
AUSA: How were these session scheduled?
Sharay Hayes: I'd be reached out to at 5 or 7 pm, for later. They'd ask for a sexy scene but I knew it would be more.
AUSA: How would it start?
Sharay Hayes: Baby oil. A sexy atmosphere. Mr. Combs would direct

AUSA: How did the direction work?
Sharay Hayes: Mr. Combs might say, sit forward. Move the camera. Or what would happen sexually... you know... One time during sex he dropped a stack of money. He said, I like this sh*t

AUSA: How much baby oil did you use?
Sharay Hayes: A lot. We were supposed to be glistening. As much as possible.
AUSA: How long would they last?
Sharay Hayes: Four hours, a lot of waiting, maybe 40 minutes or so. I was supposed to finish in a specific spot

AUSA: Then what?
Sharay Harris: She would leave with Mr. Combs, ten or fifteen minutes. She'd return in a bathrobe and pay me, two thousands or 1200 dollars, cash.
AUSA: Did you think Ms. Ventura was enjoying herself?
Combs' Xavier Donaldson: Objection!
Sustained

AUSA: Did you use drugs?
Sharay Hayes: I am not a marijuana smoker but I did pull a Bill Clinton, I was handed a joint...
AUSA: Did you have performance issues?
Sharay Hayes: Having the woman's partner there, yes.
AUSA: Did the issues effect your pay?
Objection!

Judge: Overruled.
Sharay Hayes: I wasn't sure how they calculated it. One time Mr. Combs threw condoms on the couch next to us. I struggled. It was a failure.
AUSA: What happened?
Sharay Hayes: They went out, I finished. She came back and thanked me for privacy

AUSA: What did you think would happen next?
Sharay Hayes: I was worried I would not be used again. I hadn't done my job. He has said, I want to see you f*ck her. And I couldn't.
AUSA: Are you writing a book?
Sharay Hayes: Yes. Self-help about my e.d. It's advice

AUSA: In you book, do you write about your time with Mr. Combs and Ms. Ventura?
Sharay Hayes: Yes. I call them a married, wealthy couple.
AUSA: How long is it?
Sharay Hayes: Six pages out of 186... I sensationalize it. I wanted it to be enjoyable. Highs & lows

AUSA: No further questions.
Judge: Mr. Donaldson?
Combs' Xavier Donaldson: I'll try to make this as harmless as possible. Congratulations on your book. What's it called?
Sharay Hayes: In Search of Freezer Meat. What's harder than that?
Donaldson: Good title.

Combs' Donaldson: You have a website?
Sharay Hayes: Yes. Now I'm a co-owner. All the male dancers are independent contractors.
Donaldson: You've been doing this for 25 years?
Sharay Hayes: 30 years - coming up on a big anniversary.

Combs' Donaldson: You dance with them?
Sharay Hayes: A professional dry-hump.
Donaldson: For 30 years... Thousands of ladies. You try to not develop feeling for them, right?
Sharay Hayes: You try not to. It's a job.
Donaldson: But you talked with Cassie
A: Cordial

Combs' Donaldson: She asked to be able to call you?
Sharay Hayes: Just to set the sessions up. We were never asked to talk.
Donaldson: She was comfortable with you?
Sharay Hayes: She said so.
Donaldson: You had feelings for her?
Sharay Hayes: Incorrect.

Combs' Donaldson: But you thought she was only doing this with you?
Sharay Hayes: That is correct. She'd said it was a special occasion.
Donaldson: You did develop feelings for her?
Sharay Hayes: That's not correct.
Donaldson: You told the Government....

Combs' Donaldson: The Government's notes say you developed feelings for her.
Sharay Hayes: That may have been taken out of context.
Combs' Donaldson: You used your 25 years experience-
Sharay Hayes: This was a different scene. Usually I aim for humor

Combs' Donaldson: You wouldn't try to dry hump someone who didn't want to be dry humped, correct?
Sharay Hayes: Yes it is important to read the room.
Donaldson: So you read the room with Cassie and she wanted -
AUSA: Objection!
Judge: Sustained.

Combs' Donaldson: Was Mr. Combs' request that you penetrate
Sharay Hayes: It was a demand. A strong suggestion.
Donaldson: Cassie paid you even when she canceled, right?
Sharay Hayes: Yes, five hundred dollars.

Combs' Donaldson: Mr. Hayes, I wish you success with your book.
Sharay Hayes: Thank you.
Judge: Re-direct.
AUSA: What made you think Ms. Ventura was enjoying herself?
Sharay Hayes: It was the first time unprotected-
AUSA: Without the details.
Donaldson: Objection!

[With Sharay "The Punisher" Hayes still on the stand, here is a sketch of him graciously gifted to Inner City Press by court artist Elizabeth Williams

@sdnylive AUSA: No further questions.
Judge: Anything, Mr. Donaldson?
Donaldson: What do you mean by steamy?
Sharay Hayes: I felt it was enjoyable for Ms. Ventura and Mr. Combs.

@sdnylive [For those who like Elizabeth Williams sketches, graciously gifted to Inner City Press, here's David James

@sdnylive Judge: Next Government witness.
AUSA: The Government calls Special Agent Gerard Gannon
AUSA: Where do you work?
Agent Gannon: HSI in Miami in the National Security group.
AUSA: In March 2024?
Agent Gannon: The HSI Human Trafficking group, sex and labor in Miami

@sdnylive AUSA: What time did the search begin?
Agent Gannon: After 3 pm.
AUSA: Why so late?
Agent Gannon: We learned Mr. Combs and his family were flying out of the country.
AUSA: Was there a pier on the property on Star Island?
Agent Gannon: Yes we had to monitor it

@sdnylive [Photos of 2 Star Island shown]
AUSA: Why did you have to break open the gate?
Agent Gannon: To make sure bad actors wouldn't have time to put those who would search in danger.
AUSA: What's this a photo of?
Agent Gannon: The pool and the pier.

@sdnylive [After review of 2 Star Island floor plan]
AUSA: What did you find here?
Agent Gannon: Parts of AR-15 rifles, sex toys and Astroglide.
[photos of guns shown to jury]

@sdnylive Agent Gannon: These magazines were loaded with bullets.
AUSA: What do these show?
Agent Gannon: The serial numbers have been cut out.

@sdnylive AUSA: Let's turn to two more exhibits. What are these?
Agent Gannon: The ammunition we found.
AUSA: And these platform high heels, how high are they?
Agent Gannon: Seven inches.
AUSA: This may be good place to break for the day.

@sdnylive Judge: Break for the day.
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