The courtroom was electric with tension on May 20, 2025, as Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal sex-trafficking trial reached its seventh day, with former personal assistant David James delivering bombshell testimony that painted a chilling picture of control and coercion within Diddy’s inner circle. Day 7, continuing from the intense proceedings of Day 6 on May 19, saw James return to the stand at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan U.S. Courthouse in New York City, offering a firsthand account of the music mogul’s influence over singer Cassie Ventura and the demanding environment at Bad Boy Entertainment.
As the trial unfolds, James’s revelations are shedding new light on the allegations against Combs, who faces charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and fraud.
David James, who worked as Combs’ assistant from May 2007 to 2009, described a workplace where loyalty to Diddy was paramount. He recalled his job interview, where a Bad Boy executive pointed to a photo of Combs and declared,
“This is Mr. Combs’ kingdom. We’re all here to serve it.”
James testified that he worked grueling 20-hour days, five to six days a week, for a starting salary of $70,000, managing everything from booking reservations to traveling globally with Combs. His role gave him a front-row seat to Diddy’s personal and professional life, including his relationships with Ventura and others, like Kim Porter, whom Combs called his “queen.”
The most gripping part of James’s testimony centered on Cassie Ventura, a key figure in the prosecution’s case. James recounted a conversation with Ventura during a Miami trip, where they smoked cigarettes on Combs’ dock alongside Ventura’s friend Kerry Morgan. Ventura confided,
“This place is crazy,”
hinting at the chaotic lifestyle she was entangled in. James testified that Ventura felt trapped, telling him,
“I can’t get out. Mr. Combs oversees so much of my life.”
He revealed that Combs controlled Ventura’s career, paid her rent, and provided an allowance, creating a dynamic where leaving seemed impossible. In a particularly damning moment, James overheard Combs describe Ventura as “very moldable” and “young,” saying,
“I got her right where I want her.”
These words, delivered with a tone of control, underscored the prosecution’s narrative that Ventura was coerced into participating in Diddy’s alleged “freak-off” sex parties.
James’s emotional testimony wasn’t the only highlight of Day 7. Kerry Morgan, Ventura’s former best friend, also took the stand, testifying about an alleged 2018 assault by Combs. Morgan claimed Combs choked her and hit her with a wooden hanger, leaving her with a concussion that required urgent care. She said Ventura offered her $30,000 to sign a nondisclosure agreement (NDA) to keep the incident quiet, with the money allegedly coming from Combs. Morgan’s testimony ended with a poignant note: her friendship with Ventura dissolved after the incident, as she felt unsupported.
“I draw my line at physical abuse,”
Morgan told the court.
The trial, now in its second week, is expected to last eight weeks, with Combs facing a minimum of 15 years in prison if convicted. Day 6 on May 19 featured testimony from Dawn Richard, a former Danity Kane singer, who alleged witnessing Combs physically assault Ventura multiple times.
Day 7 built on this momentum, with James’s testimony continuing into May 20 as prosecutors aimed to establish a pattern of control and abuse. Upcoming witnesses include Ventura’s mother, Regina Ventura, a former chef, and a male escort, promising more revelations in this high-stakes case.
