Emily A. Johnson

Trial 12025 Federal TrialMay 5, 2025 – Jul 2, 2025

Emily A. Johnson was an Assistant United States Attorney who examined prosecution witnesses, including Casandra Ventura, Scott Mescudi, and Enrique Santos, and participated in evidentiary hearings during the trial.

Jury Selection Day 4

May 9, 2025

ProceduralPretrial Evidentiary Rulings7lines spoken

Summary

The court denied a pseudonym request for victim 5, excluded 3Q-105 under Rule 403, and allowed B-105 after argument over its context and potential prejudice.

ProceduralPrior Consistent Statement Admissibility Argument10lines spoken

Summary

The court deferred ruling on prior consistent statements, sought further authority, and heard the defense stress context and Rule 106 completeness concerns.

ProceduralEmployee Statement Admissibility Ruling3lines spoken

Summary

The court overruled an objection to a proposed employee statement and recorded agreements on opening demonstratives and limits on certain cross-examination.

ProceduralVictim 1 Cross-Examination Admissibility Argument17lines spoken

Summary

The court deferred ruling on proposed cross-examination of victim number 1 about prior incidents, invited further briefing, and resolved the parties' agreement on specified InterContinental Hotel videos.

Day 5

May 12, 2025

OpeningGovernment Opening StatementEmily A. Johnson7lines spoken

Summary

The government previewed its alleged enterprise and coercion theory and the evidence it said would support the charges.

Day 6

May 13, 2025

ProceduralSealed-Exhibit Access Hearing6lines spoken

Summary

The court heard arguments over public and press access to planned sexually explicit exhibits and requested further briefing.

ProceduralVentura Evidence Admissibility Ruling4lines spoken

Summary

The court allowed limited use of a reported bar-fight incident in a text-message exchange while excluding the other proposed incidents.

RedirectDaniel Phillip — RedirectDaniel PhillipMaurene R. Comey6lines spoken

Summary

Phillip explained his purpose in sending a text message, and the court deferred a Rule 615 dispute over Alex Fine's presence until the jury briefly left.

sidebarPotential Witness ExclusionDuring Daniel Phillip — Redirect6lines spoken

Summary

The parties discussed whether Cassie Ventura's husband should be excluded as a potential defense witness while she testified.

ProceduralRule 615 Witness-Exclusion Hearing6lines spoken

Summary

The court set a Rule 615 process for Ventura's husband, ordered advance notice for future exclusion requests, and directed counsel to seek a sidebar before the 2018 questioning.

DirectCasandra Ventura — DirectCasandra VenturaEmily A. Johnson717lines spoken

Summary

Ventura described alleged abuse, control, and freak-offs involving escorts, drugs, hotels, and Combs's staff; the court admitted multiple related exhibits.

sidebarLimiting Repetitive Supply QuestionsDuring Casandra Ventura — Direct1line spoken

Summary

At sidebar, the parties discussed limiting repetitive questioning while the government outlined further testimony about supplies.

DirectCasandra Ventura Direct — Return to Open CourtCasandra VenturaEmily A. Johnson588lines spoken

Summary

Ventura described alleged control of freak-offs, escort arrangements, drugs, recordings, and a Century City hotel incident; the court provisionally restricted press access to video exhibits.

Day 7

May 14, 2025

DirectCasandra Ventura — DirectCasandra VenturaEmily A. Johnson698lines spoken

Summary

Ventura testified about the InterContinental incident, escort arrangements, alleged threats involving recorded sexual material, alleged violence, and related exhibits.

sidebarSealed Exhibit Display SafeguardsDuring Casandra Ventura — Direct2lines spoken

Summary

The parties discussed safeguards for showing six sealed still images only to the well, Court, and jury without transmission to the gallery or overflow rooms.

DirectCasandra Ventura — Direct (Resumed)Casandra VenturaEmily A. Johnson378lines spoken

Summary

Ventura testified about alleged assaults, injuries, staff and security involvement, threats involving recorded sexual material, and exhibits including photographs, messages, and sealed video stills.

sidebarClarifying Abuse-Testimony QuestionsDuring Casandra Ventura — Direct (Resumed)6lines spoken

Summary

Counsel objected that generalized questions about physical abuse over an 11-year relationship were vague, cumulative, and difficult to address without identifying particular events.

sidebarBona Conversation EvidenceDuring Casandra Ventura — Direct (Resumed)1line spoken

Summary

The parties discussed proposed testimony about a post-complaint conversation that prompted a correction to the recalled date of the balcony incident.

DirectCasandra Ventura — Direct (Resumed)Casandra VenturaEmily A. Johnson184lines spoken

Summary

Ventura described alleged 2018 rape, drug dependency, texts, treatment, and a $20 million civil settlement; the court addressed Rule 412 issues before cross.

sidebarRule 412 and Cross TimingDuring Casandra Ventura — Direct (Resumed)1line spoken

Summary

The parties discussed potential Rule 412 objections to questions about the witness's relationships and whether cross-examination should continue that day.

Day 8

May 15, 2025

CrossCasandra Ventura — CrossCasandra VenturaAnna M. Estevao64lines spoken

Summary

Ventura was cross-examined with admitted messages about her relationship with Combs and freak-offs; she qualified the defense's characterizations, denied wanting recordings, and described keeping the encounters secret.

sidebarStreamlining Text-Message Exhibit ReviewDuring Casandra Ventura — Cross1line spoken

Summary

The sidebar addressed streamlining the review and admission of text-message exhibits while conserving jury time.

CrossCasandra Ventura — Cross ResumesCasandra VenturaAnna M. Estevao70lines spoken

Summary

Defense cross-examined Ventura with messages about freak-offs, drug use, and relationship conflicts; she gave several qualified answers and the court set limits for completing the cross.

Day 9

May 16, 2025

ProceduralPre-Cross Exhibit Admissibility Conference21lines spoken

Summary

The court resolved several exhibit-handling issues before cross-examination resumed and deferred argument over a disputed text message.

CrossCasandra Ventura — CrossCasandra VenturaAnna M. Estevao89lines spoken

Summary

Defense cross-examined Casandra Ventura with messages and recordings about the relationship, alleged 2018 rape chronology, later contact with Mr. Combs, and exhibit procedures.

sidebarExhibit Display and Refreshing ProcedureDuring Casandra Ventura — Cross1line spoken

Summary

The sidebar addressed how to display documents for authentication or refreshing recollection and raised concern about materials not previously provided.

sidebarWillow House Questioning ObjectionsDuring Casandra Ventura — Cross5lines spoken

Summary

The sidebar addressed anticipated objections to questioning about Willow House, references to sex trafficking, and what Ms. Ventura was or was not in rehab for.

sidebarObjection to Question CharacterizationDuring Casandra Ventura — Cross1line spoken

Summary

Defense counsel objected that the question mischaracterized the witness's earlier testimony about whether prosecutors had shown her a message.

ProceduralMidday Evidentiary Hearing6lines spoken

Summary

The court resolved disputed exhibit redactions, sustained an objection to part of Government Exhibit B-426, and set procedures for additional exhibits and video presentation.

CrossCasandra Ventura — CrossCasandra VenturaAnna M. Estevao3lines spoken

Summary

Defense counsel examined Ventura on post-relationship messages, treatment, the 2023 settlement and canceled tour, and a 2012 message about a freak-off.

RedirectCasandra Ventura — RedirectCasandra VenturaEmily A. Johnson269lines spoken

Summary

Ventura said freak-offs and Sean's moods affected her career and sense of self, reaffirmed key allegations of violence and rape, and described why she said she did not feel able to refuse freak-offs.

RecrossCasandra Ventura — RecrossCasandra VenturaAnna M. Estevao21lines spoken

Summary

Defense recrossed Casandra Ventura on messages, freak-off videos, Combs's drug use, her career, and an anticipated InterContinental settlement.

RedirectCasandra Ventura — RedirectCasandra VenturaEmily A. Johnson6lines spoken

Summary

Ventura denied a financial stake and said she kept broken devices because she feared they contained explicit videos.

Day 11

May 20, 2025

ProceduralAdmissibility of Regina Ventura's $20,000 Payment Testimony9lines spoken

Summary

The court deferred a final ruling on proposed testimony about a $20,000 payment, directing the government to lay its foundation before the defense renewed its objection.

DirectRegina Ventura — DirectRegina VenturaEmily A. Johnson157lines spoken

Summary

Regina Ventura described a 2011 email, a $20,000 wire transfer, photographs of Casandra's bruising, and a 2016 dispute involving Sean Combs.

Day 12

May 21, 2025

ProceduralEvidentiary Hearing on Witness Testimony and Exhibits2lines spoken

Summary

The court set limits for Dr. Hughes's expert testimony, preserved the defense objection, and deferred rulings on disputed exhibits.

Day 13

May 22, 2025

ProceduralPretestimony Evidentiary Rulings15lines spoken

Summary

The court set limits on anticipated Mescudi testimony, deferred a text-message ruling pending foundation, and resolved several defense-exhibit issues.

DirectScott Mescudi — DirectScott MescudiEmily A. Johnson232lines spoken

Summary

Scott Mescudi described his 2011 relationship with Cassie Ventura, a reported break-in at his home, fire damage to his Porsche, and later meetings with Sean Combs.

CrossScott Mescudi — CrossScott MescudiBrian Steel24lines spoken

Summary

Scott Mescudi's cross-examination addressed the Porsche fire investigation, his relationship with Ms. Ventura, and the limits of his personal knowledge about the alleged incidents.

sidebarRule 412 Relationship QuestionsDuring Scott Mescudi — Cross2lines spoken

Summary

At sidebar, the court considered whether questions about a witness's intimate relationship were relevant and permissible under Rule 412.

sidebarCalifornia Investigation Question LimitsDuring Scott Mescudi — Cross5lines spoken

Summary

The sidebar addressed the permissible scope and foundation for questioning about the California investigation into the car arson.

RedirectScott Mescudi — RedirectScott MescudiEmily A. Johnson43lines spoken

Summary

Mescudi reinforced his account of Ventura's reported fear and abuse allegations; the court later struck a Rule 412 question and ruled on disputed defense photographs.

sidebarMistrial Motion Over Fear TestimonyDuring Scott Mescudi — Redirect1line spoken

Summary

Defense objected to anticipated testimony about why a witness feared Mr. Combs, while the government said its questioning concerned the end of the relationship.

DirectJoshua Croft — DirectJoshua CroftEmily A. Johnson78lines spoken

Summary

HSI forensic agent Joshua Croft described extracting and verifying data from three laptops associated with Cassie Ventura, including recovery limits and how chat data could appear in forensic reports.

RedirectJoshua Croft — RedirectJoshua CroftEmily A. Johnson3lines spoken

Summary

Croft said a separate user partition on B-200 was preserved but not searched until a warrant was obtained; the court then addressed scheduling and defense-access requests.

Day 14

May 27, 2025

ProceduralPretrial Evidentiary Rulings3lines spoken

Summary

The court resolved and deferred several evidentiary disputes before Capricorn Clark testified.

Day 17

May 30, 2025

ProceduralCounsel Access and Summary-Exhibit Rulings13lines spoken

Summary

The court set additional counsel-access arrangements for Mr. Combs and ruled on revisions and permitted uses of proposed summary exhibits.

Day 18

Jun 2, 2025

RedirectMia — RedirectMiaMadison R. Smyser5lines spoken

Summary

Mia said favorable social-media posts were part of her work and did not reflect her private fear; the court overruled several objections and admitted additional exhibits.

Day 19

Jun 3, 2025

ProceduralVideo Compilation Admissibility Hearing12lines spoken

Summary

The court deferred a ruling on admitting a surveillance-video compilation until after testimony and cross-examination about its sequence, timestamps, and edits.

ProceduralGX A-905-A Admissibility Discussion4lines spoken

DirectDerek Ferguson — DirectDerek FergusonMary C. Slavik4lines spoken

Summary

Former Bad Boy CFO Derek Ferguson identified Combs-controlled accounts, internal transfers to a property account, and a December 2011 wire directed to Casandra Ventura.

ProceduralJane Testimony Privacy Measures4lines spoken

Summary

The court set privacy measures for Jane's testimony, preserved a video-compilation dispute, clarified two defense exhibits' admission, and granted same-day courtroom access for defense review.

Day 20

Jun 4, 2025

CrossBryana Bongolan — CrossBryana BongolanNicole Westmoreland5lines spoken

Summary

Defense counsel challenged Bongolan's recollection and prior accounts of the balcony incident through government-interview materials and civil filings; the court repeatedly required clearer questioning before continuing the cross the next day.

Day 21

Jun 5, 2025

DirectEnrique Santos — DirectEnrique SantosEmily A. Johnson70lines spoken

Summary

Investigative analyst Enrique Santos explained the extraction and interpretation of data from three phones attributed to Casandra Ventura, including deleted records and Cellebrite report metadata.

Day 22

Jun 6, 2025

ProceduralPretestimony Evidentiary Rulings4lines spoken

Summary

The Court ruled on Jane-related notes and assistant communications, reserved on proposed summary exhibits, and admitted a group of sealed government exhibits.

Day 24

Jun 10, 2025

CrossJane — Cross ResumedJaneTeny R. Geragos4lines spoken

Summary

Defense used messages, recordings, and exhibits to test Jane's account of hotel nights and relationship pressure; Jane said she often acted from love and a desire to please Mr. Combs while maintaining that the dynamic harmed her.

sidebarCell-Site Records Confusion ObjectionDuring Jane — Cross Resumed4lines spoken

Summary

The parties discussed whether cell-site records could confuse the jury because they do not capture all phone communications, including Wi-Fi calls and text messages.

Day 27

Jun 13, 2025

ProceduralEvidentiary Hearing on Khorram Communications and Victim 3 Evidence4lines spoken

Summary

The court issued a series of exhibit rulings, admitting some Khorram and assistant communications while excluding or narrowing others, including alleged Victim 3 and Mia-related messages.

Day 28

Jun 16, 2025

CrossAnanya Sankar — CrossAnanya SankarTeny R. Geragos4lines spoken

Summary

Defense counsel examined gaps and omissions in the communications charts; redirect clarified the source devices and chat participants for material used on cross.

DirectDeLeassa Penland — DirectDeLeassa PenlandEmily A. Johnson140lines spoken

Summary

Penland authenticated summary charts and underlying 2009 communications and travel records; the Court limited characterizations of what the records established.

sidebarRecord-Based Meeting CharacterizationsDuring DeLeassa Penland — Direct1line spoken

Summary

Counsel challenged characterizations of record-based meeting attendance and travel as lacking the witness's personal knowledge.

DirectDeLeassa Penland — Direct ResumedDeLeassa PenlandEmily A. Johnson314lines spoken

Summary

Penland reviewed summary-chart sources including travel, hotel, card, message, and video records; a sidebar led the Court to require a stipulation for device-user identification.

sidebarWitness Sequestration and Device IdentificationDuring DeLeassa Penland — Direct Resumed10lines spoken

Summary

The sidebar addressed whether a sequestered witness could rely on reviewed testimony to identify the local user of certain devices.

Day 29

Jun 17, 2025

DirectDeLeassa Penland — DirectDeLeassa PenlandEmily A. Johnson510lines spoken

Summary

Penland authenticated financial-record charts and a March 2016 communications timeline, which the Court allowed as a demonstrative.

CrossDeLeassa Penland — CrossDeLeassa PenlandTeny R. Geragos8lines spoken

Summary

Penland said she verified cited chart items rather than adding records as the defense challenged the chart's scope with messages and video clips.

RedirectDeLeassa Penland — RedirectDeLeassa PenlandEmily A. Johnson73lines spoken

Summary

Penland’s redirect revisited chart sources and March 2016 messages, clarified the limits of her review, and ended with corrected exhibit admissions and a sealed courtroom matter.

Day 31

Jun 20, 2025

RedirectBrendan Paul — RedirectBrendan PaulMary C. Slavik11lines spoken

Summary

Paul clarified the limits of his knowledge of wild king nights and described assistant duties; the court later allowed completing text messages to be read to the jury.

Day 33

Jun 24, 2025

ProceduralEvidentiary Objections and Rulings43lines spoken

Summary

The court resolved objections to several proposed defense exhibits, excluding some messages, allowing others, and admitting a redacted Exhibit 1417A.

Day 37

Jun 30, 2025

Jury InstructionFinal Jury Instructions and Verdict Sheet6lines spoken

Summary

Jurors received final instructions on all five counts, the burden of proof, deliberations, and the verdict sheet before retiring to deliberate.

Day 38

Jul 1, 2025

ProceduralJury Request for Testimony Excerpts24lines spoken

Summary

The Court resolved disputes over testimony excerpts requested by the jury, including material concerning Ventura, Phillip, and the InterContinental Hotel incident.

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