Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal sex trafficking trial took a dramatic turn as a key witness testified that he physically assaulted her and threatened her life, adding to the mounting allegations against the music mogul.
At a Glance
- Bryana Bongolan testified that Combs dangled her over a 17th-story balcony and slammed her onto furniture
- She also claimed Combs threw a knife at his then-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, during a violent altercation
- Combs faces charges including sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation for prostitution
- The trial is in its fourth week, with prosecutors presenting a pattern of abuse and coercion
- Combs has pleaded not guilty to all charges and denies the allegations
Harrowing Testimony Unveiled
In a gripping courtroom session, Bryana “Bana” Bongolan recounted a terrifying incident from September 2016. She alleged that Combs entered Cassie Ventura’s apartment, where Bongolan was staying, and became violently enraged. According to her testimony, Combs groped her, lifted her over the balcony railing of the 17th floor, and threatened her life, declaring, “I am the devil and I can kill you.” The incident reportedly ended when Ventura intervened, prompting Combs to slam Bongolan onto patio furniture.
Bongolan also described a separate altercation in which Combs allegedly threw a knife at Ventura during a heated argument. These disturbing accounts support the prosecution’s narrative of Combs using violence and coercion to dominate and exploit women throughout his career.
A Pattern of Alleged Abuse
The trial has featured multiple witnesses who paint a picture of systematic abuse. Ventura herself previously testified that she was forced into drug-fueled sex parties — dubbed “freak-offs” — organized and controlled by Combs. Prosecutors argue that these acts formed part of a broader criminal scheme leveraging wealth and power to traffic and exploit women.
Another witness, referred to as “Mia,” described years of emotional and sexual abuse while working for Combs. She expressed fear when his associates contacted her after she had left his employment, interpreting it as an attempt to influence her potential involvement in Ventura’s lawsuit.
The government has also introduced claims that Combs sought to suppress evidence. A security guard testified that Combs paid $100,000 to obtain and destroy hotel security footage showing him assaulting Ventura in 2016, during a “freak-off” at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles.
Defense and Ongoing Proceedings
Combs’ attorneys have acknowledged past misconduct but maintain that all relationships and encounters were consensual. The defense argues the case is inflated by celebrity bias and sensationalism, and that the allegations are based on misinterpreted or exaggerated events.
Held in the Southern District of New York, the trial is now entering its fifth week. Prosecutors are expected to rest their case soon, at which point the defense will present its arguments. If convicted on all charges, Combs could face life imprisonment.
As the legal drama unfolds, the trial continues to draw intense public attention, with each witness revealing new layers of an alleged pattern of abuse behind the celebrity façade.
