DIRECT EXAMINATION BY MS. COMEY:
MS. COMEY: Good afternoon.
MYLAH MORALES: Hello.
MS. COMEY: What do you do for work?
MYLAH MORALES: I'm a celebrity makeup artist.
MS. COMEY: Could you, speaking in a slow voice so the court report can pick up what you're saying, please explain to the jury what a celebrity makeup artist is.
MYLAH MORALES: We work with A-list celebrities for their photo shoots, videos, red carpet appearances, editorial, and just about everything.
MS. COMEY: Would you please take a look around the courtroom today and tell us if you see anyone for whom you have worked as a celebrity makeup artist.
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. COMEY: Who do you see?
MYLAH MORALES: Sean Combs.
MS. COMEY: Would you please identify him by an article of clothing that he's wearing?
MYLAH MORALES: The gray sweater with a white collar.
MS. COMEY: Would the record please reflect that the witness has identified the defendant.
MS. COMEY: Do you know Mr. Combs by any other names?
MYLAH MORALES: Puff Daddy, Puffy, P. Diddy, Love.
MS. COMEY: By what name did you usually call him?
MYLAH MORALES: Puff.
MS. COMEY: Approximately when did you work for Mr. Combs?
MYLAH MORALES: 2000 to 2005.
MS. COMEY: And what kind of work did you do for Mr. Combs during that time?
MYLAH MORALES: Mens grooming, light makeup.
MS. COMEY: What's mens grooming?
MYLAH MORALES: It's very light makeup for the camera.
MS. COMEY: Why did you stop working for Mr. Combs?
MYLAH MORALES: I went on to other clients.
MS. COMEY: After you stopped working for Mr. Combs, who is the next artist that you worked with?
MYLAH MORALES: Rihanna and many others.
MS. COMEY: For how long did you work with Rihanna?
MYLAH MORALES: 13 years.
MS. COMEY: During the time you were working with Rihanna, what other artists, if any, did you provide makeup to?
MYLAH MORALES: Cassie Ventura, Jennifer Lopez.
MS. COMEY: Are there others that you're not remembering right now?
MYLAH MORALES: Yeah, there's so many. It's like a long list of names.
MS. COMEY: Ms. Foster, can we please pull up what's in evidence as Government Exhibit 2A-401.
MS. COMEY: Do you see the picture on the screen in front of you?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. COMEY: Do you recognize the person in that photograph?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. COMEY: Who is that?
MYLAH MORALES: Cassie Ventura.
MS. COMEY: About when did you first meet Cassie?
MYLAH MORALES: I met Cassie when she was 16 years old.
MS. COMEY: And how did you meet her when she was 16 years old?
MYLAH MORALES: On a photo shoot in Brooklyn for an editorial.
MS. COMEY: About when did you start more regularly doing makeup for Cassie?
MYLAH MORALES: 2007, I believe.
MS. COMEY: And how did you end up doing makeup for Cassie starting around 2007?
MYLAH MORALES: She was signed to Bad Boy and that's when I started working with her.
MS. COMEY: And what is Bad Boy?
MYLAH MORALES: It's a record label.
MS. COMEY: Whose record label?
MYLAH MORALES: Sean Combs's.
MS. COMEY: About when was the last time that you did makeup for Cassie?
MYLAH MORALES: 2021 during COVID.
MS. COMEY: We can take that down. Thank you, Ms. Foster.
MS. COMEY: Over the years that you worked with Cassie, what was your relationship like with her?
MYLAH MORALES: Well, we were close, she was like a little sister to me.
MS. COMEY: About how much older than Cassie are you?
MYLAH MORALES: A few years, a few years older.
MS. COMEY: Over the years between 2007 and 2018, how often did you see Cassie in person?
MYLAH MORALES: A few times a year.
MS. COMEY: At some point did you learn that Cassie was dating Mr. Combs?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes, I did.
MS. COMEY: And do you remember about when you learned that?
MYLAH MORALES: 2007 or 8. I'm not sure of the exact dates.
MS. COMEY: Focusing on the period between approximately 2007 and 2018, for what types of events did you do makeup for Cassie during that time period?
MYLAH MORALES: I did makeup for Cassie for photo shoots, music videos, editorial.
MS. COMEY: What's an editorial?
MYLAH MORALES: An editorial is a fashion magazine.
MS. COMEY: So a fashion magazine photo shoot?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. COMEY: Where did you usually do Cassie's makeup for those types of events?
MYLAH MORALES: Those types of events I did Cassie's makeup at the studio, in a trailer, at her home. On location, really.
MS. COMEY: What does on location, mean?
MYLAH MORALES: It's where we're shooting the photo shoot or music video. So that's where the trailer is.
MS. COMEY: When you did Cassie's makeup during that same period, 2007 to 2018, what, if any, role did Mr. Combs have in deciding how Cassie should look?
MYLAH MORALES: Well, Sean always made sure that, you know, the look was perfect. So we had to, like, report back to him, you know, with pictures and --
MS. COMEY: Pictures of what?
MYLAH MORALES: Pictures, you know, on a phone.
MS. COMEY: Pictures of who?
MYLAH MORALES: Of Cassie. Sorry.
MS. COMEY: Other than when you were doing Cassie's makeup, how often did you see or interact with Mr. Combs between 2007 and 2018?
MYLAH MORALES: Very few.
MS. COMEY: How many times, if ever, have you seen Cassie with injuries on her face?
MYLAH MORALES: Just once.
MS. COMEY: I want to talk about that one time, please.
MYLAH MORALES: Okay.
MS. COMEY: What year was this?
MYLAH MORALES: That was 2010.
MS. COMEY: What, if any, awards events were going on around this time?
MYLAH MORALES: Grammy Weekend.
MS. COMEY: What, if any, parties were going on that Grammy Weekend in 2010?
MYLAH MORALES: The Prince party.
MS. COMEY: What is a Prince party?
MYLAH MORALES: The artist named Prince, it was a party at his home, I believe.
MS. COMEY: Now, what time of day do you remember seeing injury on Cassie's face over Grammy Weekend in 2010?
MYLAH MORALES: Late at night, early in the morning.
MS. COMEY: What do you remember doing earlier that same day?
MYLAH MORALES: Well, earlier that day, we did a photo shoot and then went out to dinner, and after that we went back to Cassie's hotel.
MS. COMEY: When you say we, who are you talking about?
MYLAH MORALES: Cassie and I.
MS. COMEY: Just the two of you?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. COMEY: You said you went back to the hotel, did I hear that right?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. COMEY: What hotel, if you remember?
MYLAH MORALES: The Beverly Hills hotel.
MS. COMEY: What type of room did you and Cassie go back to at the Beverly Hills hotel?
MYLAH MORALES: A one-bedroom suite.
MS. COMEY: What did you end up doing in that suite?
MYLAH MORALES: I fell asleep.
MS. COMEY: Where did you fall asleep?
MYLAH MORALES: I fell asleep on the couch.
MS. COMEY: In the living room area?
MYLAH MORALES: In the living room area, yes.
MS. COMEY: How did you come to wake up after falling asleep on the couch?
MYLAH MORALES: Well, I'm a light sleeper, so I woke up to a little bit of a commotion.
MS. COMEY: So what's the first thing you noticed when you woke up?
MYLAH MORALES: Cassie walked in.
MS. COMEY: Walked into the hotel room?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. COMEY: And then where did you see her go?
MYLAH MORALES: Into the bedroom.
MS. COMEY: What happened after Cassie came into the room?
MYLAH MORALES: Sean came in immediately after and asked where she was.
MS. COMEY: What was his tone of voice?
MYLAH MORALES: Angry.
MS. COMEY: Do you remember what he said?
MYLAH MORALES: Where the fuck is she.
MS. COMEY: How did you respond?
MYLAH MORALES: I don't know.
MS. COMEY: And then what did you see Mr. Combs do next?
MYLAH MORALES: Walk into the room.
MS. COMEY: And by the room, what do you mean?
MYLAH MORALES: The bedroom.
MS. COMEY: So at that point, who was in the bedroom?
MYLAH MORALES: Cassie and Sean.
MS. COMEY: And what did Mr. Combs do after he went into the bedroom after Cassie?
MYLAH MORALES: Well, the door was shut.
MS. ESTEVAO: Objection. Withdrawn based on the answer.
MS. COMEY: Say that again. I didn't hear the answer.
MYLAH MORALES: The door was shut.
THE COURT: Hold on. There was an objection, the witness answered. Let's get a new question.
MS. COMEY: After Mr. Combs asked where Cassie was, where did you see him go?
MYLAH MORALES: In the bedroom.
MS. COMEY: And then what happened to the door of the bedroom?
MYLAH MORALES: The door was shut.
MS. COMEY: Once the door was shut, what do you remember hearing behind the bedroom door?
MYLAH MORALES: Yelling and screaming.
MS. COMEY: What did you do at that point?
MYLAH MORALES: I was just frantic and I didn't know what to do.
MS. COMEY: Do you remember how long there was yelling and screaming going on in the bedroom?
MYLAH MORALES: I don't recall.
MS. COMEY: What do you remember happening next?
MYLAH MORALES: He opens the door and he storms out of the hotel room.
MS. COMEY: Who's the he?
MYLAH MORALES: Sean Combs.
MS. COMEY: And you said you heard yelling and screaming going on in the bedroom. Whose voices did you hear?
MYLAH MORALES: The both of them.
MS. COMEY: Could you describe Mr. Combs's tone of voice?
MYLAH MORALES: I don't remember.
MS. COMEY: Do you remember Cassie's tone of voice?
MYLAH MORALES: No, I don't.
MS. COMEY: When Mr. Combs came out of the bedroom, did you see any visible injuries on him?
MS. COMEY: Do you remember, as you sit here today, one way or the other, whether he said anything to you when he came out of the bedroom?
MYLAH MORALES: I don't remember.
MS. COMEY: After he came out of the bedroom, where did he go?
MYLAH MORALES: Out the door.
MS. COMEY: So he left the hotel room?
MYLAH MORALES: Left the hotel room.
MS. COMEY: What do you remember seeing next?
MYLAH MORALES: Cassie.
MS. COMEY: And when you saw Cassie, what did you observe about her appearance?
MYLAH MORALES: She had a swollen eye and a busted lip and knots on her head.
MS. COMEY: What was her demeanor?
MYLAH MORALES: Distraught, upset.
MS. COMEY: What did you do after seeing these injuries on Cassie?
MYLAH MORALES: Well, in a hurry, I just, you know, packed her things up immediately. We wanted to get out of there as soon as possible.
MS. COMEY: And then where did you and Cassie go?
MYLAH MORALES: I took her to my house.
MS. COMEY: How far away was your house, approximately?
MYLAH MORALES: About a mile away.
MS. COMEY: How long did Cassie stay with you at your house?
MYLAH MORALES: A few days.
MS. COMEY: What, if any, medical attention did you get for Cassie?
MYLAH MORALES: My friend, who's a doctor, a medical doctor, I asked her to come the next day to just, you know, make sure that she doesn't have a concussion or anything.
MS. COMEY: And did that friend who's a medical doctor come to your house?
MYLAH MORALES: She did.
MS. COMEY: Were you present when your doctor friend came over?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes, I was.
MS. COMEY: And did you see her examine Cassie?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes, I did.
MS. COMEY: What injuries did you see on Cassie during that examination?
MYLAH MORALES: A black eye, the same -- the same with the lip, and knots on her head.
MS. COMEY: What other parts of Cassie's body did your doctor friend check, if you remember?
MYLAH MORALES: She checked her stomach area and her ribs.
MS. COMEY: What did your doctor friend suggest that you and Cassie should do after she examined Cassie?
MYLAH MORALES: She suggested that we go to the ER.
MS. COMEY: Did you take Cassie to the ER?
MYLAH MORALES: It was her wishes not to go to the ER.
MS. COMEY: Why didn't you insist on taking Cassie to the ER?
MYLAH MORALES: We were also very afraid.
MS. COMEY: I want to focus on you.
MYLAH MORALES: Okay.
MS. COMEY: What were you afraid of?
MYLAH MORALES: Afraid of Sean.
MS. COMEY: What were you afraid of Sean doing?
MS. ESTEVAO: Objection.
THE COURT: Overruled.
MS. COMEY: You can answer.
MYLAH MORALES: Well, of course, I feared for my life because if he could do that to her --
MS. ESTEVAO: Objection.
THE COURT: Next question.
MS. COMEY: Did you call the police after seeing this?
MYLAH MORALES: No, we did not call the police.
MS. COMEY: You specifically.
MYLAH MORALES: I didn't call the police.
MS. COMEY: Why didn't you call the police?
MYLAH MORALES: Like I said, I feared for my life.
MS. ESTEVAO: Objection, move to strike.
MS. COMEY: Your Honor, I think we discussed this.
THE COURT: It's overruled.
MS. COMEY: About how long did Cassie stay at your house?
MYLAH MORALES: A few days.
MS. COMEY: And when she left, did she say anything to you?
MYLAH MORALES: No, she didn't.
MS. COMEY: After she left your house, about how often did you see or speak with Cassie?
MYLAH MORALES: I spoke to Cassie a few times a year.
MS. COMEY: And when you spoke with Cassie a few times a year, did you or Cassie ever acknowledging what had happened over Grammy Weekend?
MYLAH MORALES: No, we didn't.
MS. COMEY: After that Grammy Weekend in 2010, about how often did you see Mr. Combs?
MYLAH MORALES: Whenever I would see Cassie.
MS. COMEY: Did you or Mr. Combs ever acknowledge what had happened over Grammy Weekend?
MYLAH MORALES: Not at all.
MS. COMEY: Now, Ms. Morales, taking a step back, have you spoken with journalists about what you witnessed during Grammy Weekend 2010?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes, I have.
MS. COMEY: About how many interviews have you given to journalists about what you witnessed?
MYLAH MORALES: A couple.
MS. COMEY: Were you paid for participating in any of those interviews?
MYLAH MORALES: No, I wasn't.
MS. COMEY: Did you provide any of those journalists with any documents or other materials?
MYLAH MORALES: I did.
MS. COMEY: What did you provide?
MYLAH MORALES: Just photos of myself and Kim Porter from earlier.
MS. COMEY: And who's Kim Porter?
MYLAH MORALES: Kim Porter is Sean's -- the mother of Sean's children.
MS. COMEY: And from when were those photographs taken?
MYLAH MORALES: Very early, in the early 2000s.
MS. COMEY: And how many journalists or media companies did you provide those photographs to?
MYLAH MORALES: Just one.
MS. COMEY: And were you paid for the rights to those photographs?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. COMEY: How much?
MYLAH MORALES: About $1,000.
MS. COMEY: Since learning that you were going to be called as a witness at this trial, have you participated in any other interviews with journalists or media companies?
MYLAH MORALES: No, I haven't.
MS. COMEY: No further questions.
THE COURT: Cross-examination.
CROSS-EXAMINATION BY MS. ESTEVAO:
MS. ESTEVAO: Good afternoon, Ms. Morales. My name is Anna Estevao. I represent Sean Combs.
MYLAH MORALES: Good afternoon.
MS. ESTEVAO: So you testified that you met Ms. Ventura many years ago back in -- she was 16 years old, you said, right?
MYLAH MORALES: 2004, 2005, yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: And you started doing her makeup more frequently around 2007?
MYLAH MORALES: Just around the time, yeah.
MS. ESTEVAO: You knew Ms. Ventura before she even met Mr. Combs, right?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes, I met her -- yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: And back when she was seeing someone else, right?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: And, in of the, you introduced her to someone else, right?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes, I did.
MS. ESTEVAO: Who is that that you introduced her to?
MYLAH MORALES: Ryan Leslie.
MS. ESTEVAO: Who is Mr. Leslie?
MYLAH MORALES: Ryan Leslie is a producer and a musical artist.
MS. ESTEVAO: Was he prominent in the music entertainment industry around that time?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes, he was.
MS. ESTEVAO: Ms. Ventura was also a popular recording artist, right?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes, she was.
MS. ESTEVAO: And she had an album out at the time, right?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: And that album was pretty popular, right?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes, it was.
MS. ESTEVAO: Do you know what else she was doing professionally around that time?
MYLAH MORALES: Modeling.
MS. ESTEVAO: And what kind of modeling was she doing?
MYLAH MORALES: Editorials.
MS. ESTEVAO: Meaning what you said before about magazine shoots?
MYLAH MORALES: Magazine shoots, yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: And sort of high fashion?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: And you did Ms. Ventura's makeup for a number of years, right?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes, I have.
MS. ESTEVAO: So during that time, can you tell us about some of the times when you assisted her with her makeup in connection with -- let's start with -- you gave a list. Photos shoots, for example, can you talk about those photo shoots?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: Do any in particular come to mind?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes. I worked with her with, like, Blank Magazine, Vibe Magazine. And that's all I can remember for now. I don't remember the others.
MS. ESTEVAO: And she was photographed in connection with -- the magazine had her photographed so that she could be featured in the magazine.
MYLAH MORALES: Exactly.
MS. ESTEVAO: And you also said red carpet events. Did you assist Ms. Ventura for any red carpet events?
MYLAH MORALES: Possibly.
MS. ESTEVAO: Do you recall any in particular?
MYLAH MORALES: No, I can't.
MS. ESTEVAO: What about videos. Can you talk about videos?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: Which videos did you assist Ms. Ventura with?
MYLAH MORALES: I don't remember the names of the videos, but there is one particular video that I do remember. It was black and yellow with Wiz Khalifa, and I don't remember the other videos.
MS. ESTEVAO: I think we have a few photos to help remind you.
MS. ESTEVAO: Can we start with Defense Exhibit 647, please, just for the witness and the parties.
MS. ESTEVAO: Do you recognize this photo?
MYLAH MORALES: This is the video.
MS. ESTEVAO: Move to admit.
MS. COMEY: No objection.
THE COURT: 647 will be admitted.
(Defendant's Exhibit 647 received in evidence)
MS. ESTEVAO: Please publish for the jury.
MS. ESTEVAO: So this is a photo from that music video, right?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: Who is that next to Ms. Ventura?
MYLAH MORALES: This is Wiz Khalifa.
MS. ESTEVAO: Can we show the witness Defense Exhibit 648.
MS. ESTEVAO: Do you recognize this photo?
MYLAH MORALES: That is from the same photo shoot. I mean, same video shoot. Sorry.
MS. ESTEVAO: Move to admit.
MS. COMEY: No objection.
THE COURT: 648 will be admitted.
(Defendant's Exhibit 648 received in evidence)
MS. ESTEVAO: Please publish.
MS. ESTEVAO: You did Ms. Ventura's makeup for this photo shoot, right?
MYLAH MORALES: This is the video.
MS. ESTEVAO: Excuse me?
MYLAH MORALES: For the video, yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: And also for these photo shoots and videos, would Ms. Ventura also get her hair done?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: And her entire look would be --
THE COURT: Just to help you out, just wait until the question is over. Take a second and then answer. It will help out for the record.
MS. ESTEVAO: It was my fault too.
MS. ESTEVAO: And she would also have her nails and her hair done, right?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: Can we go to 655, please, just for the witness.
MS. ESTEVAO: Do you recognize this photo?
MYLAH MORALES: That was from the same video shoot.
MS. ESTEVAO: Move to admit.
THE COURT: 655 will be admitted.
(Defendant's Exhibit 655 received in evidence)
MS. ESTEVAO: Please publish.
MS. ESTEVAO: Who is with Ms. Ventura in this photo, if you know?
MYLAH MORALES: It's Wiz Khalifa, and I don't know who the one in the middle is.
MS. ESTEVAO: Can we show the witness Defense Exhibit 656, please, and 657, to be more efficient.
MS. ESTEVAO: Do you recognize these photos?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes. It's from the same video shoot.
MS. ESTEVAO: Move to admit.
MS. COMEY: No objection.
THE COURT: These exhibits will be admitted.
(Defendant's Exhibits 656 and 657 received in evidence)
MS. ESTEVAO: You assisted Ms. Ventura in connection with this whole video shoot?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: And let's turn to a different event.
Can we pull up Defense Exhibit 623 for the witness, please.
MS. ESTEVAO: Do you recognize this photo?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes. But I don't remember what this is from.
MS. ESTEVAO: But you believe that you did the makeup?
MYLAH MORALES: I think so, yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: Move to admit.
MS. COMEY: No objection.
THE COURT: 623 will be admitted.
(Defendant's Exhibit 623 received in evidence)
THE COURT: Ms. Estevao, how many of these do you have, do you think?
MS. ESTEVAO: Not many.
THE COURT: Good.
MS. ESTEVAO: Is this an example of an editorial shoot?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes, it is.
MS. ESTEVAO: In connection with all of these events, it was important for Ms. Ventura's -- it was important that Ms. Ventura appear put together, right?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: Her look was important to her, right?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: I'm almost done.
Can we pull up Defense Exhibit 743, please.
MS. ESTEVAO: Do you recognize this photo?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes. It's from a blank magazine photo shoot.
MS. ESTEVAO: Move to admit.
MS. COMEY: No objection.
THE COURT: 743 will be admitted.
(Defendant's Exhibit 743 received in evidence)
MS. ESTEVAO: Please publish.
MS. ESTEVAO: Is this another example of an editorial shoot?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes, it is. Sorry.
MS. ESTEVAO: Thank you.
MS. ESTEVAO: Can we pull up for the witness Defense Exhibit 739, please.
MS. ESTEVAO: Do you recognize this photo?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: Who appears in this photo?
MYLAH MORALES: Rihanna, Ryan Leslie, and Cassie.
MS. ESTEVAO: Move to admit.
THE COURT: 739 will be admitted.
(Defendant's Exhibit 739 received in evidence)
MS. ESTEVAO: For this photo whose makeup did you do?
MYLAH MORALES: Rihanna.
MS. ESTEVAO: You didn't do Ms. Ventura's for this one?
MS. ESTEVAO: And this is the same Ryan Leslie that we were speaking about before.
MYLAH MORALES: Yes, it is.
MS. ESTEVAO: Can we pull up, I believe these are the last ones, Defense Exhibits 744 and 745.
MS. ESTEVAO: Do you recognize --
MYLAH MORALES: This is from the same photo shoot.
MS. ESTEVAO: You recognize these photos from this photo shoot?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes, it is.
MS. ESTEVAO: Move to admit.
MS. COMEY: No objection.
THE COURT: 744 and 745 will be admitted.
(Defendant's Exhibits 744 and 745 received in evidence)
MS. ESTEVAO: These photos reflect your artistry, right?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: In fact, you recently reposted these on Instagram, right?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: And in connection with text about her bold look, right?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: Thank you.
We don't need to rehash your testimony about the hotel room.
MS. COMEY: Objection to the commentary, your Honor.
MS. ESTEVAO: You testified about the incident at the hotel suite over Grammys weekend. Do you recall that?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes, I do.
MS. ESTEVAO: You were in the suite outside of the bedroom, right?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: And you testified you didn't actually see what happened inside the bedroom?
MYLAH MORALES: No, I did not.
MS. ESTEVAO: And you were staying in her hotel room that evening even though you lived only a mile away, right?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: Because you were quite close with her, right?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: I think you said that she was like a little sister to you?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes, she is.
MS. ESTEVAO: Correct?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: You had known her for a number of years?
MYLAH MORALES: Over two decades.
MS. ESTEVAO: And it made sense to you to sleep over in her hotel room because you had spent the evening together, right?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: And you were friends, correct?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: In fact, you had met her family at that point, right?
MYLAH MORALES: I met her father when I first met her.
MS. ESTEVAO: You met her father?
MYLAH MORALES: Um-hum.
MS. ESTEVAO: You were familiar with her family?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: You and she discussed her family on prior occasions?
MYLAH MORALES: I would ask her how her parents are or her brother.
MS. ESTEVAO: Following the incident, you allowed her to stay at your house for a few days?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: And you called a couple of friends to come over, right?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: Including a doctor friend, is that correct?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes, it is correct.
MS. ESTEVAO: It's true that the doctor friend of yours talked to her at length, correct?
MYLAH MORALES: She examined her to make sure she didn't have a concussion.
MS. ESTEVAO: And you had another friend, a hair stylist, who also arrived, right?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: Over the course of a few days, right?
MYLAH MORALES: The next day or that evening, rather.
MS. ESTEVAO: Did you also call a lawyer friend of yours?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: And did that lawyer friend come over?
MYLAH MORALES: No, no, no. He lives in San Francisco, but we just called him.
MS. ESTEVAO: I see. So you called and spoke with him?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: And did Ms. Ventura speak with him?
MYLAH MORALES: She did.
MS. ESTEVAO: About what had occurred, right?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: Thank you.
And you provided emotional support for her during this time, right?
MYLAH MORALES: Of course.
MS. ESTEVAO: If she needed that emotional support you were there for her?
MYLAH MORALES: Of course.
MS. ESTEVAO: And if she needed additional emotional support you would have given that, right?
MYLAH MORALES: Absolutely.
MS. ESTEVAO: If she needed a ride somewhere you would have given her a ride?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes, of course.
MS. ESTEVAO: And if she wanted to go to the hospital you would have driven her there?
MYLAH MORALES: Of course.
MS. ESTEVAO: And if she wanted to call her family you would have helped call her family?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: And if she wanted to call the police you would have helped her call the police?
MYLAH MORALES: Exactly.
MS. ESTEVAO: You were there for her in whatever way she needed?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes, I was.
MS. ESTEVAO: Like you said, you were like a big sister to her?
MYLAH MORALES: Um-hum.
MS. ESTEVAO: And you were concerned, right?
MYLAH MORALES: Very concerned, of course.
MS. ESTEVAO: And you would have done whatever she needed in that moment?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes, I would.
MS. ESTEVAO: And you became aware at a certain point that Ms. Ventura and Mr. Combs had broken up, right?
MYLAH MORALES: Later on.
MS. ESTEVAO: But you continued your friendship with her after the breakup, correct?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes, I did.
MS. ESTEVAO: Regardless of when exactly it happened?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: In fact, it sounds like you had met with her in 2021?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes, I did.
MS. ESTEVAO: And in the past year you've done a number of interviews with the press, right?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: I think you said a couple, but it was more than a couple, right?
MYLAH MORALES: Um-hum.
MS. ESTEVAO: Was that a yes?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: Do you know how many you did?
MYLAH MORALES: No, I don't.
MS. ESTEVAO: You started with a couple with CNN immediately after the -- in May of 2024, right?
MYLAH MORALES: I believe so.
MS. ESTEVAO: And there was also an extended interview with Don Lemon, right?
MYLAH MORALES: Think so.
MS. ESTEVAO: And you did a couple of interviews with Extra TV, right?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: And what else? You appeared on Piers Morgan, right?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: And then you appeared in a documentary about Mr. Combs, right?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: And then you appeared in another documentary about Mr. Combs, right?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: So eight appearances?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: In the past year. OK.
And other than the thousand dollars or so for the photographs, were you paid for these appearances?
MYLAH MORALES: Not at all.
MS. ESTEVAO: No?
MS. ESTEVAO: Did Ms. Ventura ask you to do these interviews?
MYLAH MORALES: No, she didn't.
MS. ESTEVAO: Do you recall getting outreach from Dateline to be interviewed more recently?
MYLAH MORALES: Probably. But I'm not exactly sure because I don't look at those anymore.
MS. ESTEVAO: Do you recall asking the government permission to do additional interviews?
MYLAH MORALES: No, I didn't.
MS. ESTEVAO: Can we show --
MS. ESTEVAO: Would something refresh your recollection if I showed it to you?
MYLAH MORALES: Sure.
MS. ESTEVAO: Can we show just the witness 3563-008, please.
MS. ESTEVAO: Only read this to yourself and then look up, please.
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: Dateline counts as the press, right?
MYLAH MORALES: Um-hum.
MS. ESTEVAO: Does this refresh your recollection as to whether or not you were asked by Dateline to do an additional interview?
MYLAH MORALES: I mean, I just refuse all the interviews, so I don't really pay attention to any of this.
MS. ESTEVAO: Does this document refresh your recollection as to whether or not you asked permission from the prosecutors to do additional interviews?
MYLAH MORALES: Of course I would ask. I just asked the question and that was it.
MS. ESTEVAO: Does it refresh your recollection that you did ask for permission?
MYLAH MORALES: I did ask, yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: Thank you.
MYLAH MORALES: Of course. OK. I see what you're saying.
MS. ESTEVAO: That's all I'm getting at. Thank you.
Until these public interviews you never spoke about this event with anyone?
MYLAH MORALES: I have never spoken about them.
MS. ESTEVAO: And you never talked to Ms. Ventura about it again?
MYLAH MORALES: Not ever again.
MS. ESTEVAO: You never talked to Mr. Combs about it again?
MYLAH MORALES: Not at all.
MS. ESTEVAO: And no one approached you after the incident to talk to you about this?
MYLAH MORALES: No one has approached me, no.
MS. ESTEVAO: Mr. Combs never approached you?
MS. ESTEVAO: No employees from his company ever approached you?
MS. ESTEVAO: Can I have one moment, please.
THE COURT: You may.
MS. ESTEVAO: In connection with one of these documentaries, were you reimbursed for any services in connection with your participation?
MYLAH MORALES: Therapy?
MS. ESTEVAO: You were reimbursed for therapy services?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: How much did the documentary reimburse you for therapy services?
MYLAH MORALES: I believe it was $250, yeah.
MS. ESTEVAO: And you sold the photos of Ms. Porter for about a thousand dollars?
MYLAH MORALES: Yes.
MS. ESTEVAO: One moment.
Thank you. No further questions.
MYLAH MORALES: Thank you.
MS. COMEY: No redirect, your Honor. Thank you.
THE COURT: Ms. Morales, thank you very much.
MYLAH MORALES: Thank you so much.
(Witness excused)
THE COURT: Government may call its next witness.
MS. SMYSER: Your Honor, government calls Frederic Zemmour.
THE COURT: Come on up here. Welcome. FREDERIC ZEMMOUR, called as a witness by the Government, having been duly sworn, testified as follows: