The federal sex-trafficking and racketeering trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs entered its third week in Manhattan, delivering explosive testimony from his former assistant, Capricorn Clark. On May 27, 2025, Clark took the stand, tearfully recounting a chilling 2011 incident in which Combs allegedly kidnapped her at gunpoint and threatened to kill rapper Kid Cudi (Scott Mescudi) after discovering Cudi’s relationship with Combs’ ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura. Clark’s testimony, reported by NBC News and People.com, also detailed Combs’ volatile behavior, including physical abuse toward Ventura and threats against Clark herself. Here’s a comprehensive recap of this pivotal moment in the ongoing trial, its implications, and the broader context of Combs’ legal battles.
Capricorn Clark’s Emotional Testimony
Capricorn Clark, who worked on and off for Combs’ Bad Boy Entertainment from 2004 to 2018, served as a personal assistant and later as global brand director and creative director for Ventura. Her testimony painted a picture of a controlling and violent Combs, whom she often referred to as “Puff.” Clark’s account focused on a December 2011 incident triggered by Combs learning that Ventura was dating Cudi.
According to Clark, Combs arrived at her home in a disheveled state, with his pants ripped at the crotch, brandishing a gun. He was furious that Clark had not informed him about Ventura’s relationship with Cudi, which Clark had helped conceal by assisting Ventura in purchasing a burner phone. Combs allegedly said, “Get dressed, we’re going to go kill this n*a,” referring to Cudi, and forced Clark to accompany him and a security guard to Cudi’s Hollywood Hills home, despite her protests. “I don’t give a fk what you want to do,” Clark recalled Combs saying, per NBC News.
While Combs and his bodyguard entered Cudi’s residence, Clark remained in the car and called Ventura, warning her, “Puff came and got me with a gun and brought me to Cudi’s house to kill him.” She overheard Cudi in the background saying, “He’s in my house?” and urged Ventura to stop him, fearing he could get hurt. Clark also briefly called actress Lauren London for “protection,” wanting someone to know her whereabouts, according to CNN.
Clark’s testimony corroborated earlier accounts from Ventura and Cudi. Cudi, who testified on May 22, 2025, described the break-in, noting that his Christmas gifts were opened and his dog was locked in the bathroom, leaving it “jittery” afterward. He also alleged that his Porsche 911 Cabriolet was set on fire the next day, which he attributed to Combs.
Alleged Abuse of Cassie Ventura
Clark further testified about witnessing Combs’ violent reaction toward Ventura after the Cudi incident. She described picking Ventura up from the Sunset Marquis hotel and bringing her to Combs’ Los Angeles mansion, where he immediately began “kicking Cassie with full force” while she crouched in a fetal position, crying silently. Clark said Combs threatened to “f**k me up too” if she intervened. This account aligns with Ventura’s earlier testimony, which detailed years of alleged physical and sexual abuse by Combs from 2007 to 2018.
Ventura, the prosecution’s star witness, had previously shared a December 2011 email sent under the alias “Veronica Bang” to Clark and her mother, Regina Ventura, alleging that Combs threatened to release explicit sex tapes and have “someone hurt me and Scott Mescudi physically.” Posts on X also highlighted Regina Ventura’s testimony, claiming Combs demanded $20,000 from her family to keep a sex tape private after learning of Cassie’s relationship with Cudi.
Additional Allegations: Threats and Lie Detector Tests
Clark’s testimony revealed other disturbing incidents. On her first day working for Combs in 2004, he allegedly threatened to kill her, warning that her prior work with other rappers, like Suge Knight and 50 Cent, “better not become a problem.” She also recounted being subjected to five days of lie detector tests in 2004 over missing jewelry—a diamond necklace, bracelet, and watch—during which Combs’ associates threatened to throw her into the East River if she failed.
Despite these experiences, Clark described a complex relationship with Combs, admitting she felt like his “protector” and wanted to remain in his circle. During cross-examination by defense attorney Marc Agnifilo, Clark was questioned about her motives, with Agnifilo suggesting she accompanied Combs to Cudi’s house to prevent him from “doing something stupid.” Clark firmly denied this, stating, “I went because he told me he didn’t care that I didn’t want to go.” She also discussed a 2014–2015 email exchange where she sought Combs’ forgiveness and later met with him in April 2024 to discuss returning as his chief of staff, during which she advised Ventura to leave him. Ventura’s response, per People.com, referenced Jay-Z, saying, “Jay-Z was taken,” humorously questioning who else she could date.
The Trial’s Broader Context
Combs, 55, faces charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution, with a potential sentence of 15 years to life if convicted. Prosecutors allege he led a two-decade criminal enterprise that relied on threats, violence, and coercion to maintain control, particularly over Ventura. Clark’s testimony supports two kidnapping charges in the indictment, bolstering accounts from Ventura, Cudi, and other witnesses like Dawn Richard and George Kaplan.
The defense has challenged Clark’s credibility, pointing to her settlement with Combs’ attorneys in 2012 over wrongful termination, which she believed was retaliation for her knowledge of the Ventura-Cudi relationship. Agnifilo also questioned whether Clark explicitly mentioned Combs’ gun during her call to Ventura, which she insisted she did.
Public Reaction and Ongoing Developments
The trial has drawn significant attention, with posts on X describing it as a “horror movie” due to its shocking allegations. Clark’s testimony, which wrapped on May 27, 2025, has intensified scrutiny of Combs’ alleged behavior, with some users on X speculating about connections to other celebrities like Rihanna and Justin Bieber, though these remain unconfirmed. Prosecutors indicated the trial, initially expected to last six weeks, may conclude in five, with four more witnesses scheduled for May 28.
What’s Next?
As the trial progresses, Clark’s testimony underscores the prosecution’s narrative of Combs as a controlling figure who used violence and intimidation to maintain power. With additional witnesses expected, the case continues to unravel a complex web of allegations.
For the latest updates, follow trusted sources like NBC News, CNN, and The Guardian. What are your thoughts on this dramatic testimony? Share below!
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