Diddy’s ex-assistant “Mia” faces tough court grilling, defends abuse claims as defense accuses her of lying in emotional sex trafficking trial.
In the ongoing federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial against Sean “Diddy” Combs, his former assistant—testifying under the pseudonym “Mia”—wrapped up three days on the stand Monday after a tough and emotional cross-examination from defense attorney Brian Steel.
Steel aggressively challenged Mia’s claims of abuse, manipulation, and sexual assault, repeatedly pointing to her past social media posts and texts that praised Combs during and after her time working for him from 2009 to 2017.
He questioned why, if she had been abused as she claimed, there were no written records or messages documenting it, and even asked her outright if she was lying. Mia firmly denied that, stating, “I would not lie in this courtroom.”
The intense questioning prompted prosecutor Maureen Comey to accuse Steel of trying to humiliate Mia, but Judge Arun Subramanian allowed the defense to proceed, while acknowledging the line of questioning was becoming argumentative.
Mia explained that fear and emotional control from Combs prevented her from reporting abuse at the time. She also testified that her trauma became clearer over time through therapy and that she still struggles with PTSD.
She described feeling trapped in a chaotic environment where her job included protecting Combs’ image, including hiding his whereabouts from then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura—also a victim in the case.
Mia admitted she never told Ventura about her own alleged assaults but maintained they shared a strong bond. She confirmed Combs had full control over Ventura’s music and film projects, excluding a 10-album deal Ventura signed with Bad Boy Records at just 19 years old.
Mia also revealed she initially sought a $10 million settlement after being fired, which was ultimately mediated down to $400,000, with lawyers taking half. After leaving Combs’ company, she worked for Madonna for eight months, claiming she got that job independently. She also testified that Combs failed to follow through on a promise to help her develop a TV show.
Despite the emotional toll, Mia said that hearing from other survivors helped her find the strength to speak out. Her testimony reflects broader allegations in the case, where multiple women have accused Combs of serious misconduct. If convicted, Combs could face 15 years to life in prison.
Source THR
