Mitzi Steiner

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

Mitzi Steiner represented the prosecution and examined Dawn Richard, Capricorn Clark, and Eddy Garcia during the government's case. She also participated in evidentiary and procedural exchanges, including a Day 12 hearing on witness testimony and exhibits.

Day 9

May 16, 2025

DirectDawn Richard — DirectDawn RichardMitzi Steiner100lines spoken

Summary

Dawn Richard described an alleged 2009 assault on Cassie at Sean Combs's Los Angeles home and a later conversation she said left her afraid to speak.

sidebarThreat-Testimony ObjectionDuring Dawn Richard — Direct1line spoken

Summary

The defense objected that testimony about an alleged threat was barred, irrelevant, and prejudicial, while the government argued it explained the witness's response and related to alleged obstruction.

Day 10

May 19, 2025

ProceduralPretrial Evidentiary Rulings16lines spoken

Summary

The court made evidentiary rulings on proposed testimony from Dawn Richard, Kerry Morgan, and David James, excluding several statements while permitting others subject to foundation.

DirectDawn Richard — DirectDawn RichardMitzi Steiner210lines spoken

Summary

Dawn Richard described alleged violence against Cassie, threats to employees, drug deliveries, and firearms during her direct examination.

CrossDawn Richard — CrossDawn RichardNicole Westmoreland23lines spoken

Summary

Defense cross-examined Dawn Richard on prior interview accounts, her civil lawsuit, and later contact with Sean Combs, while the court required further foundation before a text-message exhibit could be used for impeachment.

sidebarFoundation for Impeachment DocumentDuring Dawn Richard — Cross1line spoken

Summary

The sidebar addressed whether a document could be introduced for impeachment when the prerequisites had not yet been satisfied.

sidebarRedirect Scope on Lawsuit Reasons5lines spoken

Summary

The sidebar addressed the permissible scope of redirect after cross-examination challenged the witness's credibility and motives for communicating with and suing the defendant.

RedirectDawn Richard — RedirectDawn RichardMitzi Steiner87lines spoken

Summary

Dawn Richard addressed memory and prior-account challenges, reaffirmed allegations of violence against Cassie and threats to keep quiet, and faced several sustained objections.

sidebarQuestioning About Civil Demand4lines spoken

Summary

At sidebar, counsel discussed whether the witness could be questioned about her awareness of money sought in a civil lawsuit, including a proposed $22 million demand.

Day 12

May 21, 2025

ProceduralEvidentiary Hearing on Witness Testimony and Exhibits15lines spoken

Summary

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

DirectDawn Hughes — DirectDawn HughesMitzi Steiner164lines spoken

Summary

Dr. Hughes was qualified as a trauma expert and gave general, non-case-specific testimony on abusive relationships, coping, delayed disclosure, and trauma memory.

sidebarExpert Qualification and OpinionsDuring Dawn Hughes — Direct1line spoken

Summary

At sidebar, defense counsel stated no objection to the witness's qualifications before discussion moved to the expert's opinions.

sidebarLimits on Hughes TestimonyDuring Dawn Hughes — Direct3lines spoken

Summary

At sidebar, counsel clarified a question concerning the witness's understanding of limits on interviewing case witnesses or victims.

CrossDawn Hughes — Cross ResumesDawn HughesJonathan Bach11lines spoken

Summary

Hughes confirmed that her testimony was general rather than case-specific as the defense tested its limits and pursued an alleged-bias exhibit at sidebar.

sidebarExpert-Bias Exhibit DisputeDuring Dawn Hughes — Cross Resumes3lines spoken

Summary

The parties disputed whether a presentation listed on an expert witness’s résumé could be used to explore alleged bias and whether a foundation or review was required before it could be introduced.

CrossDawn Hughes — Cross ResumesDawn HughesJonathan Bach22lines spoken

Summary

Hughes was questioned about her expert-preparation meetings and consultation on filings; the court allowed general questioning but barred the briefs' contents.

sidebarExpert Preparation QuestioningDuring Dawn Hughes — Cross Resumes2lines spoken

Summary

The sidebar addressed questioning about the expert's preparation meetings and how the government could provide context for those meetings.

sidebarExpert Consultation on Government BriefsDuring Dawn Hughes — Cross Resumes12lines spoken

Summary

The parties debated whether cross-examination could address Dr. Hughes's consultation on government filings and whether that consultation showed bias.

RedirectGeorge Kaplan — RedirectGeorge KaplanMitzi Steiner69lines spoken

Summary

The prosecution used redirect to clarify the expert testimony's limits, qualifications, and general discussion of trauma, memory, and malingering.

RecrossGeorge Kaplan — RecrossGeorge KaplanJonathan Bach4lines spoken

Summary

The defense emphasized the limits of Dr. Hughes's case-specific review and the distinction between clinical experience and forensic evaluation.

Day 14

May 27, 2025

ProceduralPretrial Evidentiary Rulings6lines spoken

Summary

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

DirectCapricorn Clark — DirectCapricorn ClarkMitzi Steiner835lines spoken

Summary

Capricorn Clark described her employment under Combs, alleged threats and confinement, and December 2011 events involving Mescudi and Ventura.

sidebarObjection to Threat TestimonyDuring Capricorn Clark — Direct2lines spoken

Summary

Defense challenged threat-related testimony as prejudicial because it had not yet been connected to the defendant, while the government argued prior testimony supported an inference of that connection.

sidebarObjection to Drug TestimonyDuring Capricorn Clark — Direct1line spoken

Summary

Defense objected that testimony about the witness’s mother’s death was not sufficiently tied to the charges, while the government said it explained one occasion when the witness declined a directive.

sidebarSettlement Terms TestimonyDuring Capricorn Clark — Direct5lines spoken

Summary

Counsel discussed whether settlement details, including nonfinancial agreement terms, should be addressed during the witness examination.

CrossCapricorn Clark — CrossCapricorn ClarkMarc A. Agnifilo46lines spoken

Summary

Defense cross-examined Capricorn Clark about her relationship with Mr. Combs, Cassie's career, and records used to challenge her account of the December 2011 events.

sidebarText Message Authentication DisputeDuring Capricorn Clark — Cross3lines spoken

Summary

The parties discussed whether a stipulated text message could be offered when the witness did not recall the conversation or definitively identify its participants.

RedirectCapricorn Clark — RedirectCapricorn ClarkMitzi Steiner83lines spoken

Summary

Clark explained her employment-related decisions, reaffirmed her account of an armed 2011 incident, and testified about Combs' approval over Ventura's career.

sidebarSettlement Agreement Terms ExcludedDuring Capricorn Clark — Redirect6lines spoken

Summary

The sidebar addressed whether cross-examination about a recommendation letter permitted evidence of the settlement agreement and its payment terms.

Day 18

Jun 2, 2025

DirectEddy Garcia — DirectEddy GarciaMitzi Steiner8lines spoken

Summary

Garcia acknowledged his intended invocation of the right against self-incrimination and his understanding of a proposed immunity order.

Day 19

Jun 3, 2025

ProceduralGarcia Supervisor Statements Ruling8lines spoken

DirectEddy Garcia — DirectEddy GarciaMitzi Steiner550lines spoken

Summary

Garcia testified about requests for InterContinental footage, a USB transfer, $100,000 in cash, and his later admissions about deleted messages and initial dishonesty.

sidebarKhorram Video Statements AdmittedDuring Eddy Garcia — Direct5lines spoken

Summary

The parties disputed whether testimony about Ms. Khorram's communications concerning a video could be admitted as agency or co-conspirator statements and whether related detail was necessary.

sidebarGarcia Money-Directions TestimonyDuring Eddy Garcia — Direct4lines spoken

Summary

At sidebar, the parties debated whether Garcia could testify about his understanding of directions concerning money paid for a video and their relevance to bribery intent.

RedirectEddy Garcia — RedirectEddy GarciaMitzi Steiner14lines spoken

Summary

The court limited redirect about Garcia's understanding of the nondisclosure agreement, and Garcia clarified that he spoke with federal law enforcement in 2024, not March 2016.

ProceduralGX A-905-A Redaction Hearing3lines spoken

Summary

The court addressed proposed hearsay redactions, adjusted witness order for video-compilation revisions, and admitted a digital-device extract and stipulated bank records.

Day 22

Jun 6, 2025

ProceduralPretestimony Evidentiary Rulings3lines 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 27

Jun 13, 2025

ProceduralJuror Residence Inquiry and Potential Dismissal4lines spoken

Summary

The court deferred a decision on further inquiry of a seated juror, then admitted government exhibits and published message excerpts.

Day 30

Jun 18, 2025

ProceduralJuror Absence and Evidentiary Objections6lines spoken

Summary

A juror's absence halted trial for the day as the court provisionally overruled objections to two disputed message exhibits and preserved a jury-charge objection.

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