Mitzi Steiner

Mitzi Steiner conducted prosecution examinations across Days 9, 10, 12, 14, 18, and 19. With Dawn Richard, she developed testimony about Richard's work with Combs, alleged violence against Casandra Ventura, threats, drug deliveries, and firearms. On redirect, Steiner asked Richard to address defense challenges concerning memory and prior accounts. The court sustained several objections and permitted narrower rehabilitation rather than the broader forced-labor presentation Steiner proposed.

Steiner examined trauma expert Dawn Hughes about abusive relationships, coping, delayed disclosure, trauma memory, qualifications, and malingering, while establishing that the testimony was general rather than case-specific. Before and during that testimony, Steiner argued for room to distinguish forms of abuse and objected to a proposed method of refreshing recollection. The court set limits, preserved the defense objection, and barred inquiry into the contents of briefs while allowing more general questioning.

On Day 14, Steiner led Capricorn Clark through her employment relationship with Combs, alleged threats and confinement, and events involving Scott Mescudi and Ventura in December 2011. Her redirect returned to Clark's employment decisions, account of an armed incident, and testimony about Combs' approval over Ventura's career. Steiner also raised Rule 412 concerns about planned defense impeachment materials; the court resolved some evidentiary disputes and deferred others.

Steiner's work with Eddy Garcia first established his intention to invoke the privilege against self-incrimination and his understanding of a proposed immunity order. She then developed his account of requests for InterContinental surveillance footage, a USB transfer, $100,000 in cash, deleted messages, and initial dishonesty. On redirect, she asked about his understanding of whether the nondisclosure agreement permitted him to report the payment. The court limited that inquiry, and Garcia clarified that he spoke with federal law enforcement in 2024 rather than March 2016.

Beyond those examinations, Steiner argued over exhibit scope and admissibility, including trauma evidence, a proposed chart and photographs, and messages she said showed D-Roc obtaining drugs on Combs' behalf. The court reserved decision on proposed summary exhibits on Day 22 and provisionally overruled objections to two message exhibits on Day 30.