DIRECT EXAMINATION BY MS. COMEY:
MS. COMEY: Good afternoon, Mr. Nash.
Are you testifying here today because you received a subpoena?
DEONTE NASH: Yes.
MS. COMEY: Did that subpoena require you to appear here today?
DEONTE NASH: Yes.
MS. COMEY: Do you want to testify at this trial?
DEONTE NASH: Absolutely not.
MS. COMEY: What do you do for work?
DEONTE NASH: I am a celebrity stylist.
MS. COMEY: Can you explain to the jury what a celebrity stylist, please?
DEONTE NASH: Um, I shop, do a little designing for music videos, all the fun stuff.
MS. COMEY: I would like to direct your attention to 2008.
What were you doing for work then?
DEONTE NASH: Working with Sean Combs and Cassie.
MS. COMEY: What were you doing with Sean Combs and Cassie?
DEONTE NASH: Styling.
MS. COMEY: Who did you style?
DEONTE NASH: Puff and Cassie.
MS. COMEY: Could we please pull up what is in evidence as Government Exhibit 2A-101.
MS. COMEY: Do you recognize the person in that photograph, Mr. Nash?
DEONTE NASH: Yeah. That's Puff.
MS. COMEY: Is that the person that you styled starting in around 2008?
DEONTE NASH: Yes.
MS. COMEY: Do you know him by any other names?
DEONTE NASH: Um, yeah. Sean Combs.
MS. COMEY: We can take that down. Thank you. Can we please pull up Government Exhibit 2A-401.
MS. COMEY: Do you recognize the person in that photograph?
DEONTE NASH: Yes. That's Cass.
MS. COMEY: Is that the same person you said you styled starting in 2008?
DEONTE NASH: Yes.
MS. COMEY: Do you know her by any other name?
DEONTE NASH: Cassie, Casandra Elizabeth Ventura.
MS. COMEY: We can take that down. Thank you.
MS. COMEY: How did you get hired to work styling Mr. Combs and Ms. Ventura?
DEONTE NASH: I moved to New York. Maybe, like, two weeks later, I responded to a Craigslist ad and it kind of went on from there.
MS. COMEY: So what was your first position?
DEONTE NASH: Intern.
MS. COMEY: Where?
DEONTE NASH: Um, the fashion department with Derek Roche.
MS. COMEY: The fashion department of what?
DEONTE NASH: Bad Boy Entertainment.
MS. COMEY: Who ran Bad Boy Entertainment?
DEONTE NASH: Sean Combs.
MS. COMEY: What was your next position after you were an intern?
DEONTE NASH: Just a stylist.
MS. COMEY: And you said that you were an intern with Derek Roche.
Who is Derek Roche?
DEONTE NASH: That was Puff's main stylist.
MS. COMEY: About when did you stop working for Mr. Combs?
DEONTE NASH: 2018.
MS. COMEY: Can we pull up, please, what's in evidence as Government Exhibit 2A-504.
MS. COMEY: Who is that?
DEONTE NASH: That's me.
MS. COMEY: Is that a fair and accurate depiction of what you looked like during part of the time you worked for Mr. Combs for a stylist?
DEONTE NASH: No.
MS. COMEY: Is it a Glamour Shot of you?
DEONTE NASH: Yes. I look amazing.
MS. COMEY: We can take that down. Thank you.
MS. COMEY: During your time working as a stylist for Mr. Combs and Ms. Ventura, how were you paid?
DEONTE NASH: Um, through Sean Combs' companies.
MS. COMEY: What was your relationship with Ms. Ventura like during the years you worked as her stylist?
DEONTE NASH: We were very close.
MS. COMEY: Based on your interactions with Ms. Ventura between 2009 and 2018, who did you understand she was in a relationship with?
DEONTE NASH: Puff.
MS. COMEY: How did you learn that Ms. Ventura and Mr. Combs were in a relationship?
DEONTE NASH: I mean, I was around every day.
MS. COMEY: And about when did you learn that they had started being in a relationship?
DEONTE NASH: Very early.
MS. COMEY: Do you remember what year approximately?
DEONTE NASH: Very early. Maybe 2009, 2010.
MS. COMEY: I would like to focus on the period between 2009 and 2018.
During that time, how much time did you spend with Ms. Ventura?
DEONTE NASH: Almost every day.
MS. COMEY: How close were you and Ms. Ventura during that same period?
DEONTE NASH: Very close.
MS. COMEY: And about how often did you see Ms. Ventura interact in person with Mr. Combs during that same period?
DEONTE NASH: Pretty often.
MS. COMEY: So could you give us a sense of about how often you would see the two of them interact?
DEONTE NASH: At minimum, once a week.
MS. COMEY: I would like to focus on those in-person interactions.
What, if any, names did you hear Mr. Combs call Ms. Ventura in front of you?
DEONTE NASH: Um, Baby Girl, CC, Cass, bitch, slut, ho.
MS. COMEY: About how many times do you remember hearing Mr. Combs call her a bitch?
DEONTE NASH: Um, quite a bit. That was his fave.
MR. DONALDSON: I'm sorry, Judge. I couldn't hear the last answer. A. I said quite a bit. That was his fave.
MS. COMEY: In what context did you hear Mr. Combs call Cassie a bitch?
DEONTE NASH: Bitch, stop playing with me. Bitch, you better bring your ass to this house. I mean, I was there for quite some time.
MS. COMEY: What was Mr. Combs' tone when you heard him say those things to Cassie?
DEONTE NASH: Sometimes he would be calm, sometimes irate, but he was always.
MS. COMEY: And about how often did you hear Mr. Combs refer to Cassie as a ho or a slut?
DEONTE NASH: Quite a few.
MS. COMEY: In what context?
DEONTE NASH: Um, he told her that she was just an outright ho. Um, he told her she was nothing but a slut anyway.
MS. COMEY: What was Mr. Combs' tone when he said those things?
DEONTE NASH: Um, he was pretty irate.
MS. COMEY: How did Ms. Ventura react when Mr. Combs said those things to her in front of you?
DEONTE NASH: She --
MR. DONALDSON: Objection. Time period, Judge.
MS. COMEY: Talking about the statements he just testified to, your Honor.
THE COURT: That's overruled.
MS. COMEY: So when you heard Mr. Combs say the things you just testified to, Mr. Nash, how did you observe Ms. Ventura react?
DEONTE NASH: She would be sad.
MS. COMEY: What would she do?
DEONTE NASH: Sometimes cry. Sometimes go into a depression.
MR. DONALDSON: Objection, your Honor. Move to strike the last part of the answer.
THE COURT: Overruled. A. Pardon me.
MS. COMEY: During the period between 2009 and 2018, what, if any, threats did you personally hear Mr. Combs make to Ms. Ventura in front of you?
DEONTE NASH: That he would beat her ass. Um, that he wouldn't put her music out. Um, that he would get her parents fired from their jobs and he would send her sex tapes to their jobs. He would start there.
MS. COMEY: Let me break each of those down, please.
About how many times do you remember hearing Mr. Combs say, in front of you to Ms. Ventura, that he would beat her ass?
DEONTE NASH: Quite a few.
MS. COMEY: What was Mr. Combs' tone when you heard him say that?
DEONTE NASH: Um, he was pretty angry.
MS. COMEY: How did Ms. Ventura react each time you heard him say that to her?
DEONTE NASH: It drove her crazy.
MS. COMEY: What do you mean?
DEONTE NASH: She would be super emotional.
MS. COMEY: Can you explain what you mean?
DEONTE NASH: She would cry. Sometimes she would just stay in the house for days and go in a cocoon.
MS. COMEY: Next you said that you heard Mr. Combs say that he would not put Cassie's music out.
About how many times did you hear Mr. Combs say that to Cassie in front of you?
DEONTE NASH: Quite a few.
MS. COMEY: In what context?
DEONTE NASH: When we were working on the mix tape, anytime she did something that he didn't like, he always said that, you know, Y'all little mix tape ain't coming out.
MR. DONALDSON: Objection, your Honor. Form of the question. Strike the answer.
THE COURT: Hold on.
Mr. Nash, when there is an objection, just hold on for a second, and then I'll let you know if you can answer.
MS. COMEY: I think I asked for context.
THE COURT: Hold on.
It's overruled.
MS. COMEY: Sorry.
THE COURT: Why don't we get a fresh question.
When there is an objection, all you need to say is objection, we'll pause, and I'll take a look.
MS. COMEY: Thank you, your Honor.
BY MS. COMEY:
MS. COMEY: Mr. Nash, we'll come back to the mix tape in a bit. I just want to ask about another threat you said you heard Mr. Combs make.
About how many times did you hear Mr. Combs threaten to do something to Ms. Ventura's parents?
DEONTE NASH: One, off the top of my head.
MS. COMEY: And that one time, where were you?
DEONTE NASH: Sitting right next to her in the car.
MS. COMEY: And about what year was that?
DEONTE NASH: 2012, '13.
MS. COMEY: We'll come back to that as well.
DEONTE NASH: OK.
MS. COMEY: During that same period, between 2009 and 2018, about how many times do you remember hearing Mr. Combs say that you and Ms. Ventura could not go out without his permission?
DEONTE NASH: Twice.
MS. COMEY: When is the first time that you remember?
DEONTE NASH: The first time was when we went to a gay club with Rita Ora and Adrienne Bailon.
MS. COMEY: Let me ask you about that.
About what year was this?
DEONTE NASH: 2013.
MS. COMEY: Are you estimating?
DEONTE NASH: Yes.
MS. COMEY: And you said you went to a gay club.
Who went to the gay club?
DEONTE NASH: Me, Cassie, Kyle, Rita, and Adrienne.
MS. COMEY: And after going to the gay club, where did that group of people go?
DEONTE NASH: To Cassie's apartment.
MS. COMEY: Where was Cassie's apartment at the time?
DEONTE NASH: 818 Doheny.
MS. COMEY: Was that in Los Angeles?
DEONTE NASH: Yes.
MS. COMEY: And when that group was back at Cassie's apartment, what, if any, phone calls did you observe Cassie receive?
DEONTE NASH: A call from Puff.
MS. COMEY: What happened when she got a call from Mr. Combs?
DEONTE NASH: He told her that --
MS. COMEY: Hold on. Did she answer it?
DEONTE NASH: Yes.
MS. COMEY: And were you able to hear the other side of the call?
DEONTE NASH: Yes.
MS. COMEY: How?
DEONTE NASH: Because it was on speaker.
MS. COMEY: So, over speakerphone, what did you hear Mr. Combs say?
DEONTE NASH: That she better bring her ass to his house.
MS. COMEY: What happened next?
DEONTE NASH: She started to panic. And then Puff called back and he, um, talked to me at that moment and told me, um, that we were wilding and that he thought he told us not to be going out. And since every time I go out, that bitch want to go out, then I need to stay my ass home, too.
MS. COMEY: So what did you understand Mr. Combs was telling you?
MR. DONALDSON: Objection, Judge.
THE COURT: Overruled.
MS. COMEY: What did you understand Mr. Combs was telling you?
DEONTE NASH: To stay home.
MS. COMEY: And when he referred to that bitch in this conversation, who did you understand Mr. Combs was referencing?
DEONTE NASH: Cassie.
MS. COMEY: What did Cassie do after Mr. Combs made these phone calls to you and to her?
DEONTE NASH: She just packed her stuff and went to his house.
MS. COMEY: During your time as Ms. Ventura's stylist, in your experience, how much control, if any, did Mr. Combs demand over Ms. Ventura's appearance?
MR. DONALDSON: Objection.
THE COURT: That's sustained.
MS. COMEY: In your experience as Ms. Ventura's stylist, what did you have to do to get approval of looks that you prepared for Ms. Ventura?
MR. DONALDSON: Objection.
THE COURT: That's overruled.
MS. COMEY: You can answer.
DEONTE NASH: We had to sent all the photos of him to approval.
MS. COMEY: Photos of what?
DEONTE NASH: Cassie's options from the fittings.
MS. COMEY: So outfits that she might wear?
DEONTE NASH: Outfits that she would wear, yes.
MS. COMEY: And who would you send pictures of those outfits to?
DEONTE NASH: Puff.
MS. COMEY: What, if any, conversations would you then have with Mr. Combs about those outfits?
DEONTE NASH: We would pick which one he liked, and that's usually the one we went with.
MS. COMEY: I want to direct your attention to the year 2014.
Did you attend a Vanity Fair party that year?
DEONTE NASH: Yes.
MS. COMEY: Could you explain what a Vanity Fair party is, please?
DEONTE NASH: A Vanity Fair party is the Oscars after-party.
MS. COMEY: Who did you attend the Vanity Fair party with in 2014?
DEONTE NASH: Puff, Cass, Derek, and a couple other people from the team.
MS. COMEY: Who did you arrive at the party with?
DEONTE NASH: Cassie.
MS. COMEY: When you and Cassie arrived at the party, who else was already there?
DEONTE NASH: Puff.
MS. COMEY: What interactions did you have with Mr. Combs at that Vanity Fair party?
DEONTE NASH: He said, I thought I fucking told y'all that she needed to wear her hair up.
MS. COMEY: Let me back up.
How was Ms. Ventura's hair styled when you arrived at the party?
DEONTE NASH: Oh, she looked bomb. Her hair was down --
MR. DONALDSON: Objection. A. -- all the way to her shoulders.
THE COURT: It's overruled. A. She -- her hair was, like, down, cut straight.
MS. COMEY: And when Mr. Combs came and had this conversation with you, what did he say?
DEONTE NASH: I thought I told you she need to wear her hair up.
MS. COMEY: What did Mr. Combs do physically when he said that to you?
DEONTE NASH: Grabbed me by my jacket and lifted me up.
MS. COMEY: What was Mr. Combs' tone as he was grabbing you by your jacket and lifting you up?
DEONTE NASH: Angry.
MS. COMEY: How did you respond?
DEONTE NASH: I just started asking people in the party for hair pins. And I told Derek he needed to go deal with her and take them to the bathroom, and they went to go fix her hair in the bathroom.
MS. COMEY: Who went to the bathroom?
DEONTE NASH: Derek Roche, Puff, and Cassie.
MS. COMEY: What happened after?
DEONTE NASH: Oh, when he came out, he said, Y'all was right. It does look better down.
MS. COMEY: Who said that?
DEONTE NASH: Puff.
MS. COMEY: During her relationship with Mr. Combs, did you observe Ms. Ventura record music?
DEONTE NASH: Yes.
MS. COMEY: How often did you accompany Ms. Ventura to the studio while she recorded music?
DEONTE NASH: Quite often.
MS. COMEY: And what, if any, role did you play in helping her record music during her relationship with Mr. Combs?
DEONTE NASH: I helped her pick songs. I probably should have been called an executive --
MR. DONALDSON: Objection. Objection.
MS. COMEY: I can ask another question.
THE COURT: All right.
MS. COMEY: What, if any, role did you play in helping Ms. Ventura prepare for a mix tape that you mentioned earlier?
DEONTE NASH: Helped come up with the creative and helped pick songs.
MS. COMEY: Now, you talked about this mix tape earlier.
Could you explain what Ms. Ventura's mix tape was?
DEONTE NASH: It's a body of work, like, a promotional body of work she put out. Almost like an album, but it's not.
MS. COMEY: How is a mix tape put out?
MR. DONALDSON: Objection.
THE COURT: It's overruled.
DEONTE NASH: Um, you can put it out online for free or you can put it on streaming platforms.
MS. COMEY: What was Ms. Ventura's mix tape called?
DEONTE NASH: RockaByeBaby.
MS. COMEY: About when was it put out?
DEONTE NASH: April 2013.
MS. COMEY: And was it put out for free, or was it put out to sell online?
DEONTE NASH: For free.
MS. COMEY: To your knowledge, was it ever sold online?
DEONTE NASH: No.
MS. COMEY: Based on your participation in the preparation of the release of the mix tape, what was your understanding of who decided whether the mix tape would be sold or free?
MR. DONALDSON: Objection.
THE COURT: Overruled.
DEONTE NASH: Puff.
MS. COMEY: What, if any, conversations were you present for with Mr. Combs about whether the mix tape should be sold?
DEONTE NASH: He said that, if it did well, then it can go on streaming platforms.
MS. COMEY: Do you have an understanding of how well the mix tape did --
MR. DONALDSON: Objection.
MS. COMEY: -- with free downloads?
MR. DONALDSON: Objection.
THE COURT: We've got to wait until the end of the questions.
MR. DONALDSON: Apologies.
THE COURT: I can't understand what the question is. It's overruled.
So, Ms. Comey, why don't you ask the question again.
BY MS. COMEY:
MS. COMEY: Do you have an understanding how well the mix tape did with free downloads?
DEONTE NASH: It did really well. It was the top mix tape of that year.
MS. COMEY: Was it ever sold online?
DEONTE NASH: No.
MS. COMEY: Who made that decision?
DEONTE NASH: Puff.
MR. DONALDSON: Objection.
THE COURT: It's overruled.
MS. COMEY: During your time -- withdrawn.
During Ms. Ventura's relationship with Mr. Combs, about how often did you personally observe her recording music in the studio?
DEONTE NASH: Pretty often.
MS. COMEY: Would you give us a little more context?
DEONTE NASH: I mean, during -- an example is, I guess, towards the end of, you know, their relationship, she was recording an album. We stayed there so much, she decorated the studio room with photos. And in the next room, she had a teepee and we literally slept in there.
MS. COMEY: You said she was recording an album towards the end of her relationship with Mr. Combs.
To your knowledge, was that album ever released?
DEONTE NASH: No.
MS. COMEY: What percentage of music that Ms. Ventura recorded during her relationship with Mr. Combs was actually released?
MR. DONALDSON: Objection.
THE COURT: Maybe we can ask some initial questions to lay a foundation.
MS. COMEY: Sure.
MS. COMEY: Mr. Nash, you said that you were present with Ms. Ventura recording music at multiple points throughout her relationship with Mr. Combs, is that right?
DEONTE NASH: Yes.
MS. COMEY: Do you have a sense, based on your relationship with Ms. Ventura and your professional role, of how much music she recorded during her relationship with Mr. Combs?
DEONTE NASH: A lot. Hundreds of songs.
MS. COMEY: Do you have an understanding of approximately what percentage of the songs she recorded were actually released?
MR. DONALDSON: Objection.
MS. COMEY: Just yes or no.
THE COURT: That's overruled.
You can answer.
MS. COMEY: Yes or no, do you have an understanding?
DEONTE NASH: Yes.
MS. COMEY: And what is that understanding?
DEONTE NASH: I would say, I'm being generous by saying 10 percent.