Sean “Diddy” Combs’ former executive assistant took the stand on Wednesday, after an apparent agreement was made that he would sign an immunity agreement in exchange for his testimony.
CNN reported that George Kaplan invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination after being subpoenaed to testify. Judge Arun Subramanian said he will sign an immunity order that would require Kaplan’s testimony.
Kaplan said he started working at Combs Enterprises in 2013 as an executive assistant to the chief operating officer. He also stated that he was paid $125,000 to work 80 to 100 hours a week.
According to CNN, Kaplan recalled stocking Combs’ hotel rooms with various items — including candles, liquor, baby oil, and personal lubricant. Kaplan said he was also responsible for cleaning up the hotel rooms, which included discarding bottles of liquor and baby oil.
Kaplan also alleged that he was tasked with picking up drugs for Combs. One of the instances reportedly involved retrieving MDMA for Combs, while the other time he picked up an unknown substance.
Kaplan’s testimony is expected to continue on Thursday.
Combs’ ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, previously testified that Combs “stifled” her music career while forcing her to participate in “freak offs,” which often entailed her having sex with other men in Combs’ presence. Ventura said the drug-fueled ordeals left her sleep-deprived and dehydrated, as they would last for days on end.
Ventura said Combs “often” injured her during these rendezvous.
Another witness, Daniel Phillip, said he was a male stripper when he was paid to have sex with Ventura at a New York hotel while Combs watched and masturbated. The alleged arrangement lasted about a year or two, and Phillip testified that Ventura appeared to “be on drugs” during at least one of the encounters.
Phillip stated that he watched Combs throw a liquor bottle at Ventura when she did not walk over to him fast enough. Phillip then dragged her to another room and possibly smacked her. He recounted another instance where he overheard Combs hitting Ventura as she said, “I’m sorry.” Phillip said Combs left the hotel, and Ventura ran to him and sat on his lap.
Additionally, Danity Kane singer Dawn Richard testified that she witnessed Combs punching Ventura in the stomach at a restaurant in 2010. Richard alleged that various celebrities were present when Combs assaulted Ventura — including singers Usher and Ne-Yo, and Beats Electronics CEO James lovine. She also claimed she saw Combs try to throw a skillet filled with eggs at Ventura in 2009.
Combs was arrested on September 16, 2024, outside a Manhattan hotel on federal charges of racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. Combs has been denied bail three times, as Judge Andrew L. Carter determined there was a “serious risk” of witness tampering in this case.
Federal authorities raided Combs’ homes in Holmby Hills, California, and Miami in March 2024. Reports indicated that the raids were connected to an ongoing sex trafficking investigation that resulted in his arrest months later.
The reported raids also occurred four months after Ventura accused him of sex trafficking and abuse. In a multimillion-dollar lawsuit, she alleged that Combs drugged her and forced her to have sex with other men. The pair settled the lawsuit a day after its filing.
However, in May, the video surfaced showing Combs assaulting Ventura. After the video was released, Combs put out a video expressing remorse for his behavior.
Two more accusers came forward a week after Ventura’s lawsuit. One of the women claimed Combs drugged and raped her at Syracuse University in New York in 1991. Combs denied those allegations before a third accuser, Liza Gardner, levied similar allegations against him.
Combs turned down a plea deal days before jury selection began. His trial is expected to last two months.
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[Featured image: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP]
