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Sean Combs— Case Archive
2025 Federal Trialtrial-daytrial-dayMaurene R. ComeyMadison R. SmyserMitzi SteinerJonathan BachTeny R. GeragosDawn HughesGerard GannonGeorge KaplandirectcrossredirectrecrossDay 12 - May 21, 2025Gannon described search evidence and documentation limits; Hughes gave general trauma testimony; Kaplan testified after receiving immunity.
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Day 12 - May 21, 2025

Search Evidence, Trauma Testimony, and Kaplan

Judge Arun Subramanian
16Proceedings
7Pages
3Witnesses
2,732Lines
7Sidebars
Day 12 of 39
Appearing:
Maurene R. Comey Madison R. Smyser Mitzi Steiner Jonathan Bach Teny R. Geragos Dawn Hughes Gerard Gannon George Kaplan

Gannon described search evidence and documentation limits; Hughes gave general trauma testimony; Kaplan testified after receiving immunity.

Full day summary

HSI Special Agent Gerard Gannon continued identifying items recovered during the 2 Star Island search, including controlled-substance testing materials, bottles of baby oil and lubricant, and a .45-caliber handgun with ammunition. On cross-examination, he addressed the search planning and limits in the photographs and documentation of some recovered items. Dr. Dawn Hughes testified as a blind trauma expert who had not reviewed case-specific evidence or interviewed participants; her testimony addressed abusive relationships, coping, delayed disclosure, and trauma memory, while the court set limits on questioning and on use of a training document. After the court entered an immunity order, former executive assistant George Kaplan testified about preparing and cleaning hotel rooms and obtaining drugs for Combs on two occasions. The court deferred argument on a disputed email-chain exhibit until the following morning.

1. Pretestimony Evidentiary Matters

Before the jury entered, the court limited Dr. Hughes's testimony and addressed exhibit rulings and Mr. Kaplan's potential Fifth Amendment invocation.

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Procedural
Pretrial Matters Before Gerard Gannon Testimony
4 lines
Procedural
Sealed Proceedings
2 lines
Procedural
Evidentiary Hearing on Witness Testimony and Exhibits
82 lines

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

2. Gerard Gannon — Direct/Cross (Part 2)

HSI Special Agent Gerard Gannon identified items recovered from the 2 Star Island search, including a handgun and ammunition, before defense counsel questioned the search's execution and documentation.

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Direct
Gerard Gannon — Direct Gerard Gannon Madison R. Smyser
218 lines

Gannon identified search evidence from 2 Star Island, including stipulated drug-analysis items, cellphones, baby oil and lubricant, and a .45-caliber handgun with ammunition; the court admitted multiple exhibits.

Cross
Gerard Gannon — Cross Gerard Gannon Teny R. Geragos
496 lines

Gannon's cross-examination examined the planning and documentation of the 2 Star Island search, including firearms-related photographs and the limits of the agent's knowledge.

1 sidebar inside this proceeding
  1. Search-Warrant Execution QuestioningAt sidebar, the defense sought to question the manner of the search-warrant execution and whether the family and Mr. Combs were away, while the government objected to family-specific questioning as prejudicial.

Highlights

Gerard Gannon — Directevidence eventGannon testified that a .45-caliber handgun was found in a red suitcase in the guest-house guard area with a magazine inserted and ammunition inside it. The court admitted the handgun, magazine, and nine rounds.Gerard Gannon — Crosstestimony highlightGannon confirmed that the team had not photographed the utility closet before searching it and could not identify the precise cubby from which certain items came.

3. Dawn Hughes — Direct/Cross (Part 1)

Dr. Dawn Hughes gave general trauma testimony as a blind expert, followed by defense questioning about forensic evaluations and malingering.

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Direct
Dawn Hughes — Direct Dawn Hughes Mitzi Steiner
384 lines

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

2 sidebars inside this proceeding
  1. Expert Qualification and OpinionsAt sidebar, defense counsel stated no objection to the witness's qualifications before discussion moved to the expert's opinions.
  2. Limits on Hughes TestimonyAt sidebar, counsel clarified a question concerning the witness's understanding of limits on interviewing case witnesses or victims.
sidebar
Motion to Strike Hughes Testimony
10 lines

The defense sought to strike Dr. Hughes's direct testimony, arguing it exceeded the disclosure and improperly bolstered Ms. Ventura, while the government defended it as within the permitted scope.

Cross
Dawn Hughes — Cross Resumes Dawn Hughes Jonathan Bach
211 lines

Hughes described the multi-method approach to forensic psychological evaluations and defined malingering during cross-examination.

Highlights

Dawn Hughes — Directtestimony highlightHughes described herself as a blind expert with no knowledge of the case or its participants and outlined four general subjects for her testimony: remaining in abusive relationships, coping, disclosure, and trauma memory.Dawn Hughes — Direct“So my role here today is to provide expert witness testimony as a blind expert.”— Dawn HughesHughes defined the non-case-specific role of her testimony.

4. George Kaplan — Direct

George Kaplan invoked his constitutional right against self-incrimination after confirming he had received a subpoena and had counsel.

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Direct
George Kaplan — Direct George Kaplan Maurene R. Comey
11 lines

Kaplan said he intended to invoke the right against self-incrimination and acknowledged the terms of a possible immunity order.

5. George Kaplan Immunity Hearing

The court executed George Kaplan's immunity order and deferred argument over a proposed redacted government exhibit until counsel could review it and relevant cases.

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Procedural
Immunity Hearing for George Kaplan
62 lines

The court executed George Kaplan's immunity order and deferred argument over the proposed admission of Government Exhibit 629-A after the defense raised a hearsay objection.

Highlights

Immunity Hearing for George KaplanrulingAfter Kaplan's attorney reviewed the proposed materials and reported no issues, the court executed the immunity order and made it part of the record.

6. Dawn Hughes — Cross; Hearing on Expert-Bias Training Document (Part 2)

Cross-examination of Dr. Dawn Hughes continued, followed by a hearing outside the jury’s presence on a training document the court excluded from admission.

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Cross
Dawn Hughes — Cross Resumes Dawn Hughes Jonathan Bach
269 lines

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.

1 sidebar inside this proceeding
  1. Expert-Bias Exhibit DisputeThe 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.
Procedural
Hearing on Expert-Bias Training Document
23 lines

The court excluded Dr. Hughes's training document but allowed the defense to use it in questioning her and to refresh her recollection.

Cross
Dawn Hughes — Cross Resumes Dawn Hughes Jonathan Bach
311 lines

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

2 sidebars inside this proceeding
  1. Expert Preparation QuestioningThe sidebar addressed questioning about the expert's preparation meetings and how the government could provide context for those meetings.
  2. Expert Consultation on Government BriefsThe parties debated whether cross-examination could address Dr. Hughes's consultation on government filings and whether that consultation showed bias.

7. George Kaplan — Redirect/Recross/Direct (Recall, Part 1)

George Kaplan testified about his executive-assistant work for Sean Combs, including preparing and cleaning hotel rooms and obtaining drugs on two occasions.

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Redirect
George Kaplan — Redirect George Kaplan Mitzi Steiner
145 lines

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

Recross
George Kaplan — Recross George Kaplan Jonathan Bach
87 lines

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

Direct
George Kaplan — Direct George Kaplan Maurene R. Comey
417 lines

Kaplan described hotel setups, cleanup, and two drug pickups he said he performed while working as Combs's assistant.

Highlights

George Kaplan — Directtestimony highlightKaplan described expanding from executive-assistant work into preparing hotel rooms with a bag containing clothes, a speaker, candles, liquor, baby oil, and Astroglide; he said he often bought supplies with a Combs Enterprises corporate card.George Kaplan — Direct“He never asked me specifically to get a certain kind of drug. There were two occasions where I picked up drugs on his behalf.”— George KaplanKaplan qualified the scope of his testimony about obtaining drugs while confirming two pickups.
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