Bryana "Bana" Bongolan wrapped up both direct and cross in the Combs trial today - and wow. It was tense, murky, and loaded. Immunity granted, trauma unpacked, memory selectively fuzzy. Let’s break it down...
2. First bombshell: She claims Combs lifted her over a balcony railing while yelling “Do you know what the f**k you did?” She says she didn’t. She also says he groped her. But... she never called the police. “I was scared.” Fair. But still - no 911?
3. Then there’s the beach shoot incident. She says Combs got in her face and said, “I’m the devil and I could k-ll you.” Asked why she stuck around after that? She shrugged: “Honestly, I don’t know.” Not very convincing. Or maybe too real.
4. Drugs? Oh yes. Bongolan admits she used Molly, G, cocaine, ketamine, weekly, with Cassie and Diddy. They tried to sober up by cooking together. Cute. Didn’t last. “We had a problem,” she said. That part felt honest.
5. About that $10 million lawsuit: In 2024, Bongolan lawyered up and demanded cash from Combs. Says she fired that lawyer when she saw “errors” in the paperwork. But then, 6she filed a NEW lawsuit for the same incident. Justice? Or a redo?
6. And get this: She says a music producer called on behalf of Combs to discuss a “settlement.” Hush money vibes? Maybe. She says that call pushed her to finally sue. But her own words make it sound a little... strategic?
7. Memory trouble? Conveniently placed. She didn’t recall what drugs she took. Didn’t recall what set Combs off. Didn’t recall what she said two days ago to prosecutors. But she remembers dangling over a balcony. Vividly.
8. Her contact with Ventura? “Sporadic” since 2018. But they talked in 2023, after the lawsuit. She told Cassie some lawsuit details were wrong. Like the date. And the location. Wait, how do you get those details wrong in a $10 million suit?
9. Defense attorney Nicole Westmoreland isn’t done with her yet. Cross-examination resumes tomorrow. Expect sharper knives and deeper cuts. Will Bongolan hold up? Or fold under fire? We'll see.
10. Bottom line: Bongolan’s testimony gave the jury drama, danger, and doubt. She's clearly been through something. But was it assault, confusion, drugs—or all three? Tomorrow could be decisive. Stay tuned.
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2. Brendan Paul was checked in by court security some minutes ago.
Judge: One of the jurors experienced a bout of vertigo on their way to court this morning and won't be able to join us today.
Sidebar called
So what's next? 👀
3. Judge Subramanian: We'll be making inquiries to learn more about the juror’s condition. In the meantime, some exhibits related to D-Roc have been flagged. Mr. Driscoll?
Combs' Driscoll: There’s no foundation showing this is linked to One Stop."
2. Judge Subramanian ripped into lawyers today: “Someone is lying.” Details of a sealed proceeding in a news item which violated court orders. He said he'll be launching an investigation and threatened criminal contempt or sanctions.
3. Subramanian warned both sides: any more violations, and he’ll seize devices and compel testimony under oath. Defense and prosecution scrambled to deny leaking sealed info from Friday’s proceeding.
2. As of yesterday's court adjournment, Judge Subramanian had not yet ruled on a potential breach involving a juror suspected of discussing the case with a former colleague. If verified, the incident could undermine the integrity of the jury. A decision is still pending.
3. Prosecutors just confirmed that Brendan Paul will still take the stand under an immunity order.
Today, for the first time, jurors in the U.S. vs. Sean P Diddy Combs trial were shown actual videos of explicit s-xual encounters and their reactions were quite interesting. Until now, they had only seen still images and heard audios.
2. The clips came from 3 separate recordings in October 2012, October 2014, and December 2014. In order to make sure no one in the public gallery watched them, prosecutors kept their monitors off, while the jury, the judge, and all parties wore headphones.
3. Most jurors stayed stone-faced. But one female juror put her hand over her eye, just as she had during previous evidence. Another visibly winced.
The risk now? Juror desensitization. In cases like this, repeated exposure to graphic content can dull emotions.
Final week for prosecutors, witnesses left include Brendan Paul, Diddy's former assistant, summary witnesses: Ananya Sankar and DeLeassa Penland.
Expected resolution on juror #6
2. Judge Arun Subramanian is now seated. He said on Friday that he would use the weekend to determine if he would dismiss juror #6 or not
3. Judge: Last week, the defense objected to any additional questioning of the juror. I took time to reflect on the matter. The record revealed significant concerns that the juror may have tailored his responses to secure a spot on the jury.
X logged me out for 8 hours today. Not a pleasant experience at all.
With that said, let me continue and do what I do best here 😊
2. This morning defense and prosecutors clashed over the next witness, a special agent who joined the March 2024 search of Sean Combs LA home and was set to testify about guns found in the security room.