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Sean Combs— Case Archive
2025 Federal TrialtranscripttranscriptDeonte Nash — Cross/Redirect (Part 3) - Day 16 - 2025 Federal TrialDeonte Nash faced cross-examination about his prior accounts and Cassie's private life, then reaffirmed on redirect that his safety concerns arose from violence he saw involving Cassie or himself.
Maurene R. ComeyMadison R. SmyserXavier R. DonaldsonArun SubramanianDeonte NashMR. DONALDSONDeonte NashMS. COMEYTHE COURTMS. SMYSERcrossredirect
2025 Federal Trial/Day 16/May 29, 2025
3 pages·2 witnesses·3,345 lines
The court resolved evidentiary disputes as Deonte Nash completed testimony and Mia began describing her employment and alleged abuse.
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CrossRedirect

2.Deonte Nash — Cross/Redirect (Part 3)

Maurene R. Comey Xavier R. Donaldson Deonte Nash
Source PDF · file page 28 ↗
1,121 lines
CrossCrossDeonte Nash — Cross Deonte Nash Xavier R. Donaldson
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MR. DONALDSON: Yes, Judge. Thank you, Judge. DEONTE NASH, resumed. CROSS-EXAMINATION, continued

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BY MR. DONALDSON:

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MR. DONALDSON: Mr. Nash, good morning.

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DEONTE NASH: Good morning.

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MR. DONALDSON: How you doing?

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DEONTE NASH: Blessed.

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MR. DONALDSON: Blessed, indeed.

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MR. DONALDSON: So I want to put up on the screen just for the parties only Defense Exhibit 1806. For the parties only.

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MR. DONALDSON: Mr. Nash, do you recognize your telephone number up there?

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MR. DONALDSON: This would be text messages from you.

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MR. DONALDSON: Your Honor, I would like to move this into evidence as Defense Exhibit 1806 with the appropriate redactions that I spoke to the government about.

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MS. COMEY: No objection with the redactions, your Honor.

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THE COURT: All right. Defense Exhibit 1806 will be admitted.

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MR. DONALDSON: Thank you, your Honor.

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(Defendant's Exhibit 1806-R received in evidence)

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MS. COMEY: 1806-R for the record.

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MR. DONALDSON: My apologies. 1806-R. I think R means redactions.

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THE COURT: Thank you.

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MR. DONALDSON: All right. So we -- you can take that down, please.

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MR. DONALDSON: Mr. Nash, you know someone named Capricorn Clark, correct?

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DEONTE NASH: I know of her, yes.

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MR. DONALDSON: And Ms. Clark worked with Bad Boy and with you and with Cassie, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: In 2011, if you can recall, what was her role regarding Cassie?

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DEONTE NASH: She did -- Capricorn did everything that I did after she left for the most part. She was base -- she was her creative.

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MR. DONALDSON: So and that was right before the mix tape, correct?

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DEONTE NASH: Yes. But she didn't work on that.

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DEONTE NASH: No. She was gone.

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MR. DONALDSON: When did she leave?

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DEONTE NASH: Oh, I don't remember. But she didn't really work on the mix tape.

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MR. DONALDSON: What did she work on when she was there, if you recall, if you recall?

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DEONTE NASH: I forget the last thing she worked on. Maybe the photo shoot that you guys showed yesterday.

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MR. DONALDSON: Do you know when she was there, when you were there?

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DEONTE NASH: Yes, she was.

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MR. DONALDSON: So what time period was that between 2008, 2011?

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MR. DONALDSON: Between 2008?

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DEONTE NASH: '8 and '11, yeah.

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MR. DONALDSON: And Capricorn was there and you were there as well?

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MR. DONALDSON: And you all were doing the same thing for Cassie?

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DEONTE NASH: I will work with Capricorn, yes.

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MR. DONALDSON: Would you --

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DEONTE NASH: I learned a lot from Capricorn actually.

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MR. DONALDSON: And Capricorn returned -- when did she leave? Sorry.

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DEONTE NASH: Maybe like 2011, '12.

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MR. DONALDSON: And she came back in 2016?

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DEONTE NASH: For a couple weeks, yeah.

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MR. DONALDSON: And when she came back in 2016, what was her responsibility? What was her role at that time?

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DEONTE NASH: She was helping with Love a Loser video.

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MR. DONALDSON: Did she in fact -- she in fact did Love a Loser video, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: And she also helped with the -- she was with Cassie on the video sets, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: Do you recall a picture with Cassie and green hair?

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MR. DONALDSON: And in that picture -- strike that, that picture.

You -- that was her idea for the green hair, correct?

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DEONTE NASH: No. That was a group idea.

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MR. DONALDSON: What do you mean a group idea?

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DEONTE NASH: That was a group idea, group discussion.

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MR. DONALDSON: Between who?

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DEONTE NASH: Cassie, myself, Capricorn, everybody. It was a group idea. I actually traveled with them to New York for that trip and walked the carpet with Cassie.

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MR. DONALDSON: So when you said you traveled to New York with Cassie and the group to -- for that trip?

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MR. DONALDSON: What trip are you talking about?

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DEONTE NASH: For the VMAs.

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MR. DONALDSON: So in 2000 -- what year was this?

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DEONTE NASH: I don't remember.

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MR. DONALDSON: 2016, 2015?

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DEONTE NASH: Maybe, maybe. '14, '15. '14 to '16.

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MR. DONALDSON: All right. And when you say --

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DEONTE NASH: Maybe -- no. It had to be around Love a Loser because that was the whole thing.

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MR. DONALDSON: Ray, could you put up Government Exhibit 628, please.

I'm sorry, Defense Exhibit 628 for everyone. You can publish it.

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MR. DONALDSON: And this is the picture where Cassie has the dyed hair, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: And this is the picture that everyone worked on?

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MR. DONALDSON: And when you say everyone, this is the whole -- you said whole?

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DEONTE NASH: Yeah, Derek as well.

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MR. DONALDSON: Okay. This look that she has, the clothes, the purse, the jacket, the pants, all of that was a specifically, I guess, put together look?

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DEONTE NASH: Curated look, yes.

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MR. DONALDSON: You say curated?

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MR. DONALDSON: Thank you, sorry.

So this curated look was because you or the label wanted her to look a particular way, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: Because she was going out to -- this was a VMA look?

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MR. DONALDSON: So the label wanted her to look a particular way as she represents herself and the label at the VMAs, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: So this green hair, jacket, pants, Gucci bag was all specifically for a purpose, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: To have a look, right?

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MR. DONALDSON: And did you all have to get approvals for that from somebody?

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DEONTE NASH: Yes. Puff.

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MR. DONALDSON: Right. So Mr. Combs actually approved that look, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: So before you all said we going to do this, you got the approval from Mr. Combs, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: Now, yesterday you talked about for a while -- we talked about this -- I'm sorry. You can take that down. Thank you.

You talked about an incident where -- an unfortunate incident -- where Cassie suffered a gash on her head; do you recall that?

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MR. DONALDSON: I believe yesterday you testified that when she -- when you and Mia were on Mr. Combs' back, he was still grabbing at or assaulting Cassie, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: And then while that was happening, he shoved Cassie and she hit her head on the bed frame, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: And then I believe yesterday you said while she was bleeding on the floor, he kept kicking her; you said that right?

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DEONTE NASH: And hitting, yes.

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MR. DONALDSON: Now, we also mentioned yesterday that you had met with the government several times, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: Too many times to even remember, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: And just, in fact, you met with them in July 2024, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: You met with them in March 2025, correct?

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DEONTE NASH: I don't remember the dates but...

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MR. DONALDSON: April 2025 as well, correct?

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DEONTE NASH: I guess so, yes.

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MR. DONALDSON: And on May 17th, 2025; a couple weeks ago, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: And each one of those times you spoke about this incident, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: And not one of those times did you say that Mr. Combs was beating her or kicking her while she was on the floor bleeding, correct?

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DEONTE NASH: They didn't ask.

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MR. DONALDSON: Well, they asked you about the incident, correct?

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DEONTE NASH: Yeah. I gave as little as possible.

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MR. DONALDSON: And you told them about the incident, correct?

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DEONTE NASH: I gave as little as possible. I only answered what I was asked.

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MR. DONALDSON: Well, when they ask you what happened related to the incident involving you, Mia, Cassie getting a gash on her head, you gave them information about that on July 24th, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: And then they ask you about the incident where you -- she got a gash on her head, you gave them information about that on March 19th, 2025; correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: And on -- they ask you about the incident again on April 28, '25, and you gave them information about that incident, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: And then again on May 17th, they ask you about this incident involving the gash on her head, and you gave them information, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: And that none of those four or five times did you say while he was on the floor, while she was on the floor, Mr. Combs kept kicking and punching her while she was bleeding, correct?

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DEONTE NASH: They never asked.

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MR. DONALDSON: The first time you telling -- saying that part is in court to the jury, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: Now, you mentioned that between September -- between 2009 and 2018, you and Cassie were good to best friends, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: And -- strike that.

From 2009 to now you're still good to best friends, right?

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MR. DONALDSON: That would be over 16 years; that fair to say?

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MR. DONALDSON: And I think you mentioned also yesterday that you spoke to her almost every day, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: Do you know someone named Kid Cudi, correct?

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DEONTE NASH: I know of him, yes.

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MR. DONALDSON: You know of him?

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MR. DONALDSON: You know that Ms. Ventura was in -- sorry. I said that wrong. I'm sorry. I'm sorry about that. I know you going to correct me. I'm sorry.

You know that Cassie was in a relationship with Mr. -- Kid Cudi, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: And you know that she was in a relationship with Kid Cudi while she was in a relationship with Mr. Combs, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: That's a yes, correct?

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DEONTE NASH: I didn't know that.

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MR. DONALDSON: You didn't know that she was in a relationship with Mr. Combs at the same time she was in a relationship with Kid Cudi?

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DEONTE NASH: No. To my knowledge, her and Mr. Combs were broken up.

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MR. DONALDSON: She told you that her and Mr. Combs had broken up, correct?

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DEONTE NASH: No. The team -- people on the team said it.

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MR. DONALDSON: So Cassie never told you that her and Mr. Combs broke up. Someone else told you that?

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MR. DONALDSON: Is that a yes?

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MR. DONALDSON: In 2015, Cassie was in South Africa; do you recall that?

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MR. DONALDSON: And I think at that time you were at the Revolt Conference or something like that, right?

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MR. DONALDSON: And when we say Revolt Conference, Revolt is I guess a professional web -- it's owned the --

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DEONTE NASH: It's an entertainment conference.

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MR. DONALDSON: Entertainment company?

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DEONTE NASH: Conference, yeah.

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MR. DONALDSON: It was owned by Sean Combs, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: It was owned by Sean Combs back in 2015, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: So you were at the Revolt Conference as an employee of Mr. Combs in 2015; is that correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: And in Revolt Conference was in Miami at the time, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: And you were with who? Who were you with at the Revolt Conference?

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DEONTE NASH: I was styling -- there to style Lil' Kim.

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MR. DONALDSON: So you were there to style Lil' Kim?

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MR. DONALDSON: Who else was there with you Lil' Kim, anyone else there?

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DEONTE NASH: Yeah. The whole team, Puff, everybody.

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MR. DONALDSON: Okay. And but Cassie wasn't there, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: Cassie was in South Africa, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: And she was there in South Africa with Mia, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: And some other people, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: And she was doing -- what was she doing in South Africa?

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DEONTE NASH: Sooting shooting a movie.

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MR. DONALDSON: And she was shooting this movie as a part -- she was still signed to Bad Boy, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: And what was the movie?

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MR. DONALDSON: And so as an artist signed with Bad Boy, she was not only doing music, but she was also getting movie deals, correct?

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DEONTE NASH: Mm-hmm. She was able to do some sometimes.

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MR. DONALDSON: So I guess I'm asking yes, no.

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MR. DONALDSON: Was she able to do movies while she was an artist signed with Bad Boy?

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DEONTE NASH: Sometimes, yes.

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MR. DONALDSON: In 2015, this is one of those times that she was allowed to do a movie, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: And in order for her to be allowed to do that movie, Mr. Combs, as the owner of Bad Boy, had to sign off on that, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: So to button that, Mr. Combs signed off on a contract to allow Cassie to do a movie, correct?

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DEONTE NASH: Correct.

Mr. Donaldson.

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DEONTE NASH: Can you drive it home? Because, yes, I did hook her up with Michael B. Jordan. I know where we going with this.

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DEONTE NASH: No, no, no.

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THE COURT: Hold on. Mr. Donaldson, let's get a new question.

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MR. DONALDSON: So, Mr. Nash, you hooked her up with Michael B. Jordan, right?

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DEONTE NASH: He fine. She fine. I mean, why not? They were broken up. He was at the Revolt music conference with Gina.

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DEONTE NASH: And I was getting threats to my phone because Cassie found out --

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MR. DONALDSON: Wait, wait, wait, wait.

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THE COURT: Mr. Nash, let Mr. Donaldson ask questions, you give him the answers. And then we'll take it from there.

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DEONTE NASH: Yes, sir.

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THE COURT: Mr. Donaldson.

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MR. DONALDSON: So let's talk about that.

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MR. DONALDSON: So you were in Miami at the Revolt. Let's break this down. Right?

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MR. DONALDSON: And Cassie was in South Africa with Mia, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: And then it's your information that -- not your information, but you observe Mr. Combs with someone else in Miami correct?

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DEONTE NASH: Oh, no. Oh, no. You not putting that on me. Uh-uh.

That was another stylist named Icon Tips that text her and said, oh, girl, you look good coming out of the car. And she called me and told me, girl, is that girl Gina there? I said I don't know, I ain't seen her, because, you know, Puff and Derek would keep me away when Gina was there. Never seen her or met Gina. And that's how that went.

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MR. DONALDSON: Okay. So another stylist called Cassie and told -- called Cassie in South Africa and told her -- thought that she was in the picture that was posted, correct?

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DEONTE NASH: No. He thought he actually saw her with Puff.

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MR. DONALDSON: He thought he actually saw Cassie with Puff?

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MR. DONALDSON: But that wasn't Cassie?

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MR. DONALDSON: That was Gina?

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MR. DONALDSON: And when Cassie heard that, Cassie got mad?

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MR. DONALDSON: Cassie got upset, right?

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MR. DONALDSON: She was like, well, why is he out in public with this girl, correct?

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DEONTE NASH: Yeah. Why does he keep humiliating me and trying to ruin my career is what she said.

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MR. DONALDSON: Okay. And she was mad, correct?

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DEONTE NASH: Yeah, she was pretty angry -- well, not really.

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MR. DONALDSON: And she communicate -- and that was you and her talking about that, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: And so you told her at that point in time, listen, I could hook you up with Michael B. Jordan, correct?

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DEONTE NASH: Uh-uh-uh.

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MR. DONALDSON: No, that wasn't you?

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DEONTE NASH: No, that's not how that happened.

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MR. DONALDSON: One second. Let me break it down. Hold on.

So you said that you set her up with Michael B. Jordan, correct?

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DEONTE NASH: Yeah, but that's not how that happened.

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THE COURT: Hold on. Mr. Donaldson, let's ask a question. And, Mr. Nash, just whatever question is asked, try your best to just answer that question, and then we'll keep going.

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THE COURT: Hold on.

Yes, Mr. Donaldson, let's go.

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BY MR. DONALDSON:

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MR. DONALDSON: You set her up with Michael B. Jordan, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: Okay. And when you say you set her up with Michael B. Jordan, you meant that you introduced her to Michael B. Jordan?

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DEONTE NASH: Yes. And Mia drove it home by making sure she had the number.

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MR. DONALDSON: So let's talk about that.

So Mia, that will be the employee of Mr. Combs, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: Drove the relationship home between Cassie and Michael Jordan, right?

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DEONTE NASH: Michael B. Jordan. Not Michael Jordan. Yeah. You want to get that right.

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MR. DONALDSON: Yeah. Mia drove the point home between Cassie and Michael B. Jordan, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: So Mia, being an employee of Mr. Combs, was participating in breaking up Mr. Combs from Cassie; would that be fair to say?

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DEONTE NASH: Well, they were broken up.

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MR. DONALDSON: They were broken up in --

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DEONTE NASH: At that moment, yeah.

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MR. DONALDSON: Okay. And so -- one second.

Michael -- when we say setting up, Cassie began communicating with Michael B. Jordan, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: And fair to say Michael B. Jordan began communicating with Cassie, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: And they were -- and Cassie at this time was pursuing that relationship with Michael B. Jordan, correct?

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DEONTE NASH: Somewhat, yeah.

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MR. DONALDSON: She was trying to hook up with Michael B. Jordan, correct?

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DEONTE NASH: It was like a whatever, dating starting.

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MR. DONALDSON: They were dating?

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DEONTE NASH: Yeah. Talking, getting to know each other more so.

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MR. DONALDSON: One second, please.

Do you know someone named Andre Branch?

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MR. DONALDSON: Do you know whether or not -- isn't it true that Ms. Cassie --

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THE COURT: Mr. Nash, you just have to answer yes or no. Sorry.

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MR. DONALDSON: Cassie was in a relationship with Andre Branch?

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DEONTE NASH: Oh, the cute football player?

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MR. DONALDSON: Yes, the cute football player.

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DEONTE NASH: Oh, yeah, but I never met him.

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MR. DONALDSON: But you were aware that Cassie was in a relationship with Andre Branch, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: And this was when?

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DEONTE NASH: I don't remember. Maybe like close to '17, maybe.

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MR. DONALDSON: Are you also -- are you aware of a person named Brandon from the NFL?

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MR. DONALDSON: When I say are you aware, not do you know them, but are you aware that Ms. -- that Cassie was in a relationship with someone named Brandon in 2016 while Capricorn was working there?

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MR. DONALDSON: I'm sorry. NBA. Wrong, I was wrong. NBA not NFL. NBA.

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MR. DONALDSON: Can we put up 1806-R, please. Can we go to page six please.

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MR. DONALDSON: This is a text message chain between you and Cassie, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: And this is where you talk about -- where you're talking to her about the situation that's going on regarding Cassie and Michael B. Jordan, correct?

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DEONTE NASH: Honestly, I don't know.

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MR. DONALDSON: Let's go to page seven.

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MR. DONALDSON: Now, on that second line you say: No one better not say shit to me. And then next thing you say is: Ly.

What does Ly mean?

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DEONTE NASH: Love you.

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MR. DONALDSON: Love you knows everything?

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DEONTE NASH: No, no, no. Wait. Hold on.

Ly. Ly. Oh, I don't know. Ly.

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MR. DONALDSON: Not love you?

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DEONTE NASH: No. It says Ly knows everything. I don't know what Ly is. I think that's a typo.

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MR. DONALDSON: Okay. Just be calm and ignore.

That's you telling her to be calm and ignore what?

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DEONTE NASH: I don't remember the context, but I'm sure we were being antagonized by your client.

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MR. DONALDSON: Isn't this about -- isn't this about Gina and her being still upset about Gina?

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DEONTE NASH: Honestly, she wasn't that pressed about Gina. Like when Puff will be with Gina, she would be like, all right, girl, it's time to go out.

Like she wasn't that pressed about Gina. I think in the beginning the issue with Gina was that Gina kept popping up and it was hurting her career with Puff running around with other women.

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MR. DONALDSON: Okay. So let's break that down. So when you said she really wasn't pressed about that when she saw her out with Gina -- when she saw him out with Gina, she would be like, girl, let's get out and do our thing, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: And by get out and do our thing, she meant it's time for her to get out and go have parties or date or do whatever she wanted to do, correct?

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DEONTE NASH: Not necessarily. She and I are both super chill. So we spent a lot of time at home to be quite honest.

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MR. DONALDSON: But when you said, girl, let's get out and do our thing --

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DEONTE NASH: That's going to Toscanova. No, boo, nothing crazy.

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MR. DONALDSON: Right. Nothing crazy. But her having a personal choice to do what she wanted to do, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: Because now she felt like because he was dating other women, she can go out and do what she wanted to do, correct?

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DEONTE NASH: That is fair, yes.

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MR. DONALDSON: Now, we can take that down, please.

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MR. DONALDSON: You mentioned yesterday that Cassie did not want to go to hotels; do you recall saying that?

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MR. DONALDSON: Put up exhibit 1818, please.

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MR. DONALDSON: Now, this is a text message between you and Cassie, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: The blue part is you and the green part is Cassie, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: Now, if you don't mind, I want you to read the blue part, I'll read the green part, okay? Is that fair?

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MR. DONALDSON: You start. Go?

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DEONTE NASH: Tron -- oh, y'all got people name in here.

Tron Vaughan put the DSquared shoes -- wait, it's two things.

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MR. DONALDSON: Start on the left and go to the right.

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DEONTE NASH: Tron Vaughan put the DSquared shoes Puff's garage right next to -- by the door in front of some boxes. It's two pair so see which ones fit.

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MR. DONALDSON: Okay. Thank you.

Your turn.

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DEONTE NASH: What you doing.

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MR. DONALDSON: About to go out of town for a couple of days. Getting my stuff together.

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MR. DONALDSON: Stop.

So when she says about to go out of town for a couple days, getting my stuff together, that's her telling you she about to go out of town to a hotel, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: Okay. Keep going. Go to the blue.

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DEONTE NASH: Where you going -- no, I'm the blue, right?

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DEONTE NASH: Where you going.

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MR. DONALDSON: Secret trip lol.

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DEONTE NASH: Giiiiiiiiirl.

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MR. DONALDSON: Me -- I mean her. What.

You go ahead.

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DEONTE NASH: Nothing, I was just saying it. I'm going to a family barbecue.

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MR. DONALDSON: Okay. You can take that down.

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MR. DONALDSON: So when she says, when she says she's about to go some place in a secret trip, she's going some place, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: And she's going on a secret trip somewhere, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: And she didn't tell you where she was going, correct?

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MR. DONALDSON: Because she didn't want you to know where she was going, correct?

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DEONTE NASH: Probably didn't want to text it.

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MR. DONALDSON: Well, you didn't call her back and say what's the secret trip, where you going, etc., correct?

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DEONTE NASH: I may have. Or she may have just told me. A -- good friends don't like really pry like that, you know what I mean.

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DEONTE NASH: And that's not my method.

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MR. DONALDSON: So when the good friends didn't pry, you didn't pry and ask her -- your response to secret trip was what now?

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DEONTE NASH: I don't see it. What was it? Giiiiiiiiirl. Yeah, that.

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MR. DONALDSON: What is turning -- in your mind, what does turning up too much mean?

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DEONTE NASH: Going out -- going out too much.

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MR. DONALDSON: Could you pull up DX 1840, please. Could you go to page two, please.

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THE COURT: Mr. Donaldson, this is already in evidence?

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MR. DONALDSON: I believe it is. Is it not? I thought it was, Judge. It's not?

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MS. COMEY: It's in, your Honor.

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MR. DONALDSON: It's in, right?

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MR. DONALDSON: Okay, Judge. I'm sorry.

Could you go to page three, please.

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MR. DONALDSON: Now, that green part, highlight the green part.

403

MR. DONALDSON: This is Cassie telling you October 30th, 2013, this is after the incident with the cut on the face, correct?

404

DEONTE NASH: The incident with the cut, yes.

405

MR. DONALDSON: And so this part she says: I already said I'm going to ask Puff if I can go out, but I've been turning up too much lately which is true.

You see that part, correct?

407

MR. DONALDSON: So when you just say turning up too much means going out too much, this was her telling you that she's been going out too much in October of 2013, correct?

408

DEONTE NASH: Yeah, that's what it says.

409

MR. DONALDSON: Okay. Put that down, please.

410

MR. DONALDSON: You also mentioned that you saw via FaceTime and near the time of the premiere when she was at the InterContinental, Cassie, that you FaceTimed her and you saw her with a black eye; do you recall saying that?

412

MR. DONALDSON: Is that a yes?

414

MR. DONALDSON: Now, when you say you saw her with the black eye on FaceTime, there's -- you haven't seen a picture of this black eye around that time, have you?

416

MR. DONALDSON: You haven't seen a video of her with a black eye, correct?

417

DEONTE NASH: No. But I saw it in person.

418

MR. DONALDSON: You say you saw this FaceTime of her with the black eye?

419

DEONTE NASH: Yes. I saw it in person, and when her makeup would wear off, you can see it. So she had a press week, the whole week after --

420

THE COURT: Mr. Nash, I'm going to stop you right there. Just let Mr. Donaldson ask the questions and then you can answer that question, and then let him ask the next one.

421

DEONTE NASH: Absolutely.

422

THE COURT: Mr. Donaldson.

423

MR. DONALDSON: Thank you, Judge.

Can you put up Defense Exhibit 1820, please.

424

MR. DONALDSON: This is a text chain between you and Cassie in March of 2020, correct?

426

MR. DONALDSON: This is her -- picture of her, correct?

428

MR. DONALDSON: Could you go down to the next page, please.

429

MR. DONALDSON: That's another picture of her on the top right side, correct?

431

MR. DONALDSON: I'm going to, if you don't mind, starting on the top right-hand side, I want you to read the blue parts and I'll read the green part. All right?

433

MR. DONALDSON: You start where it says "that?"

434

DEONTE NASH: That mug beat tho.

435

MR. DONALDSON: And when you say "beat," you mean beat, between you and Cassie means good, nice?

439

MR. DONALDSON: Right. So you were telling her at that point in March of 2019, her face looked --

441

MR. DONALDSON: Nice though, right?

443

MR. DONALDSON: And then she says always.

And then you say what?

444

DEONTE NASH: What you doing.

445

MR. DONALDSON: Then she says, oh, my God, this nigga is wasted. We both did the same of everything but he's tripping.

You see that?

447

(Continued on next page)

449

MR. DONALDSON: Top right-hand side.

450

DEONTE NASH: Girl, just honestly.

451

MR. DONALDSON: I tried to stop him from embarrassing himself, but I can't.

452

DEONTE NASH: Is it a lot of people there? It is talking about a Gwen Stefani song.

454

MR. DONALDSON: In this particular series she is away someplace, correct?

455

DEONTE NASH: This is 2000 and what?

457

DEONTE NASH: I don't know. I don't know. Maybe she is. I don't know.

458

MR. DONALDSON: Judging from your text chain she is not -- she is away with Puffy, correct?

459

DEONTE NASH: This is the same --

462

MR. DONALDSON: She is at a hotel somewhere, correct?

464

MR. DONALDSON: And this is one of those -- she is away at a hotel and she didn't tell you that she didn't want to go to a hotel, correct?

465

DEONTE NASH: Not this day.

467

DEONTE NASH: I said probably not this day.

468

MR. DONALDSON: And she didn't tell you that she didn't want to be there, correct?

469

DEONTE NASH: Is it in this text thread?

470

MR. DONALDSON: I'm asking you --

471

DEONTE NASH: I don't know. But she is telling me that several times.

472

MR. DONALDSON: Yesterday you also mentioned that Mr. Combs said he is going to leak photos and videos of Cassie, correct?

474

MR. DONALDSON: And you said you heard him say that, correct?

476

MR. DONALDSON: I believe you said, in 2013, outside Cassie's apartment, he told you -- he told Cassie in front of you that he would leak her videos, is that right?

478

MR. DONALDSON: And I think this was in the same conversation where he said to you -- you and Cassie, take your broke ass home and ride to the sunset?

480

MR. DONALDSON: You and Cassie went back home after that, correct?

481

DEONTE NASH: What do you mean?

482

MR. DONALDSON: You went back -- after he said, take your broke ass home, you and Cassie left, correct?

483

DEONTE NASH: Yeah. We rode out to the sunset.

484

MR. DONALDSON: You then asked her what he was talking about and she told you -- you told her that she didn't need to worry because any photos would have him in them too, correct?

486

MR. DONALDSON: So at that point, in 2013, when that conversation allegedly came up, you told Cassie, don't worry about it because any photos or videos must have him in it, correct?

488

MR. DONALDSON: Because it was your opinion that it was talking about videos or photos between her and him, correct?

490

MR. DONALDSON: You had no idea she was talking about videos of her and other men at that time, correct?

492

MR. DONALDSON: Until she told you that, correct?

494

MR. DONALDSON: So she told you that in 2013, correct?

496

MR. DONALDSON: So the first time you heard from Cassie or knew about Cassie having any kind of involvement with other men and sex was in 2013, in this conversation, correct?

498

MR. DONALDSON: So between 2008 and 2013, you and Cassie talking every day about best friend stuff, she never mentioned anything to you about having threesomes with other men, correct?

499

DEONTE NASH: People --

500

MR. DONALDSON: Yes or no, Mr. Nash.

502

MR. DONALDSON: That part of her life she kept secret from you, correct?

504

MR. DONALDSON: She also told you that she was concerned that there were videos from her phone, correct?

506

MR. DONALDSON: Can we put up 3514-10 for the parties and the witness only. Go to page 2, first box under the second circle. Highlight that, please.

507

MR. DONALDSON: Mr. Nash, could you read that to yourself. When you are finished reading that, lift up, let me know you're finished reading.

509

MR. DONALDSON: Take that down, please. Thank you.

510

MR. DONALDSON: Mr. Nash, does that refresh your recollection that, on May 10, 2025, when meeting with the government, you told the government that -- one second. Make sure I say it right, Judge -- that she was concerned because the videos came from her phone?

511

DEONTE NASH: No. I told them that he would tape her on her phone. I didn't say anything about she was concerned because the videos were on her phone. I said he would tape her on her phone.

512

MR. DONALDSON: Isn't it true that you told the government --

513

THE COURT: Hold on. You want him to read it again?

514

MR. DONALDSON: Yes, please.

515

THE COURT: Mr. Nash, take a second, take a look at it, and then let me know when you're done.

517

THE COURT: Let's take it down.

Mr. Donaldson.

518

MR. DONALDSON: Isn't it true that you told the government that Ms. Ventura said the videos were from her phone?

519

DEONTE NASH: I said that he would record her from her phone, and I stand firm on that.

520

MR. DONALDSON: And that the videos were on her phone, correct?

522

MR. DONALDSON: Can I have one second, please, your Honor.

523

THE COURT: You may.

524

MR. DONALDSON: You also yesterday spoke about Cassie's 29th birthday party. Do you recall that?

526

MR. DONALDSON: And that was a 29th birthday -- what year was that, around 2016?

528

MR. DONALDSON: That particular birthday party was a multi-place birthday night. Would that be fair to say?

530

MR. DONALDSON: When I say that, you went -- you all went to different places that night, correct?

532

MR. DONALDSON: When I say you all, who was the you all?

533

DEONTE NASH: Everyone went.

534

MR. DONALDSON: Who is everyone?

535

DEONTE NASH: Puff, Cassie, everyone went, but they came after.

536

MR. DONALDSON: Puff, Cassie. Who else?

537

DEONTE NASH: A lot of people.

538

MR. DONALDSON: Besides yourself, who?

539

DEONTE NASH: I don't even remember. Derek was there. Most people from the staff.

540

MR. DONALDSON: Bana was there, correct?

541

DEONTE NASH: Yeah. She was, yeah.

542

MR. DONALDSON: We have Bana. You say Derek. You mean Derek Roche?

544

MR. DONALDSON: You had yourself?

546

MR. DONALDSON: You had Cassie?

548

MR. DONALDSON: You had Mr. Combs. That's five?

549

DEONTE NASH: It was tons of people, yeah.

551

DEONTE NASH: I don't remember.

552

MR. DONALDSON: In 2015 sounds better than 2016?

553

DEONTE NASH: It's ballpark.

554

MR. DONALDSON: Now, the first part of the birthday party night began at a restaurant. Is that fair to say?

556

MR. DONALDSON: What was the name of the restaurant?

557

DEONTE NASH: Cavatina.

558

MR. DONALDSON: So you remember it was at the Cavatina, correct?

560

MR. DONALDSON: You remember it was the 29th birthday, correct?

562

MR. DONALDSON: And you also remember that it was -- was it a surprise birthday?

564

MR. DONALDSON: So this was a surprise birthday party organized by you?

565

DEONTE NASH: By Mr. Combs.

566

MR. DONALDSON: So the surprise birthday party was organized by Mr. Combs for Cassie, correct?

568

MR. DONALDSON: He knew about the surprise party then. Would that be fair to say?

570

MR. DONALDSON: He then called you when you were at the restaurant and said he was coming over, correct?

571

DEONTE NASH: No. He was there when we got there. He was in Miami. He called me from Miami and asked me should he fly back and come.

572

MR. DONALDSON: Sorry. He called you from Miami and asked you should he fly back from Miami to come and attend this birthday party?

574

MR. DONALDSON: He flew up from Miami to attend the birthday party, correct?

576

MR. DONALDSON: You knew he was coming, correct?

578

MR. DONALDSON: Did you tell Cassie he was coming?

580

MR. DONALDSON: You wanted him to surprise Cassie as well, correct?

582

MR. DONALDSON: Just so I'm clear, after the 2013 incident, where the violence happened, two years later you're at a birthday party, Mr. Combs is in Miami, and you tell him -- he asked you, can he come, and you say yes, please come up. Correct?

584

MR. DONALDSON: You don't tell Cassie that he is coming, correct?

586

MR. DONALDSON: Because you want Cassie to be surprised that her boyfriend is coming up to see her at the birthday party, correct?

587

DEONTE NASH: Yes. Who wants to be the person that tells somebody the surprise?

588

MR. DONALDSON: Nobody.

When you left -- I believe on direct you said when you left the party you heard Combs say, you can't do this one thing for me. Do you recall saying that?

590

MR. DONALDSON: Now, like the other situation, you met with the government July 2024, May 2025, and May 17, 2025, correct?

592

MR. DONALDSON: And you spoke about this July 29 birthday party on July 24, 2025; May 10, 2025; and May 17, 2025, correct?

594

MR. DONALDSON: Each day they asked you what happened at the 29th birthday, party, right?

596

MR. DONALDSON: Each day you told them -- on July 24, you told them one thing, correct?

598

MR. DONALDSON: And on May 10, you told them again what happened, correct?

600

MR. DONALDSON: And on May 17, you told them what happened, correct?

602

MR. DONALDSON: And not one of those times did you say anything about, on the way out he says, you can't do this one thing for me, correct?

603

DEONTE NASH: I don't know.

604

MR. DONALDSON: Also on direct yesterday you mentioned that when you are at the Blind Dragon you saw Combs with Cassie in a corner pointing in her face. Do you recall saying that?

606

MR. DONALDSON: July 2024, you spoke with the government, correct?

608

MR. DONALDSON: You spoke about this birthday, correct?

610

MR. DONALDSON: On May 10, you did the same thing, correct?

612

MR. DONALDSON: On May 17 you did the same thing, correct?

614

MR. DONALDSON: And not either one of those times did you mention anything about Mr. Combs in a corner with Cassie pointing in her face at the Blind Dragon, correct?

616

MR. DONALDSON: The first time you're saying that was at trial, correct?

617

DEONTE NASH: I guess so.

618

MR. DONALDSON: You just all of a sudden remembered that.

619

DEONTE NASH: No. I gave them very little by phone.

620

MR. DONALDSON: You also indicated yesterday that when you were at the house with Cassie he said -- she said to you, Mr. Combs is making me go. Do you remember saying that?

621

DEONTE NASH: Yeah. She said she didn't want -- she didn't want to say it was her birthday.

622

MR. DONALDSON: Yesterday we also talked about, you mentioned that you were helping Cassie out with her styling for her testimony, correct?

624

MR. DONALDSON: You and Marne?

626

MR. DONALDSON: Marne is here in New York, correct?

628

MR. DONALDSON: You were in LA, correct?

630

MR. DONALDSON: Because Cassie is one of your best friends, you were helping her pick out the clothing that she was going to wear to come to court, correct?

632

MR. DONALDSON: Because, again, she is still an artist or entertainer, so that's important how she looks, correct?

633

DEONTE NASH: Oh, no, that wasn't why.

634

MR. DONALDSON: You wanted to make sure she looked good coming to court?

635

DEONTE NASH: No. She couldn't fit anything. She needed clothes.

636

MR. DONALDSON: Because of the pregnancy.

638

MR. DONALDSON: You wanted to get the right clothing for her pregnancy?

640

MR. DONALDSON: You wanted to pick out the stuff that fit her for the pregnancy?

642

MR. DONALDSON: You talked to her during the trial, correct?

644

MR. DONALDSON: And when I say during trial, she was testifying you would call her and ask her how she was doing, correct?

646

MR. DONALDSON: Not about the case, though, correct?

648

MR. DONALDSON: You would make sure she was OK but not about the case, correct?

650

MR. DONALDSON: So on her last day of testimony, that Friday, after she finished, you spoke to her that that day, correct?

652

MR. DONALDSON: Because that was her last day, and she called you and said, I'm done, that's it, correct?

653

DEONTE NASH: It wasn't like that, no.

654

MR. DONALDSON: But you did speak to her, correct?

656

MR. DONALDSON: That Friday was May 16, the last day she testified, and she was gone, correct?

658

MR. DONALDSON: Going back to making me -- he said, making me go, again, you talked to the government in July 2024 about this birthday party, correct?

660

MR. DONALDSON: We talked -- you talked to him again on May 10, 2024 about this birthday party, correct?

662

MR. DONALDSON: But then, on May 17, you met with them, correct?

664

MR. DONALDSON: And May 17 was the date after Cassie's last day of testimony, correct?

666

MR. DONALDSON: May 17 was the first day that you told them anything about making me go to a hotel, correct?

668

MR. DONALDSON: You didn't tell them in July 2024, correct?

669

DEONTE NASH: I don't know.

670

MR. DONALDSON: You didn't tell them in May 2024, correct?

671

DEONTE NASH: I don't know.

672

MR. DONALDSON: You didn't tell them on May 10, 2024, correct?

673

DEONTE NASH: We would have to pull up the transcript.

674

MR. DONALDSON: The first time you told them about Cassie telling you that he made her go to the hotel was May 17, 2025, the day after Cassie finished her testimony, correct?

675

DEONTE NASH: It may have been something that they asked.

676

MR. DONALDSON: One second, please, your Honor.

677

MR. DONALDSON: You also mentioned about this party on July -- 29th birthday party. You said that Cassie was super high, correct?

679

MR. DONALDSON: And you said that Mr. Combs was intoxicated, correct?

681

MR. DONALDSON: Did you get Cassie super high?

682

DEONTE NASH: Excuse me?

683

MR. DONALDSON: Did you give --

684

DEONTE NASH: No, no. I did not.

685

THE COURT: Hold on, Mr. Nash.

Mr. Donaldson.

686

MR. DONALDSON: But she was super high in the house, correct?

688

MR. DONALDSON: Was she getting high at the restaurant?

690

MR. DONALDSON: Finally, about this 29th birthday, you indicated that you and Cassie went into her bedroom and started packing a duffle bag, correct?

692

MR. DONALDSON: She started packing sex toys in that duffel bag, correct?

694

MR. DONALDSON: And this was in her bedroom, correct?

696

MR. DONALDSON: In her house, correct?

698

MR. DONALDSON: To be clear, she had in her house in her bedroom a duffle bag, and she had sex toys in that duffel bag.

700

MR. DONALDSON: And you helped her pack that.

702

MR. DONALDSON: Then she grabbed some cash, correct?

704

MR. DONALDSON: And she took the cash with her when he left, correct?

706

MR. DONALDSON: And it was a thousand dollars, correct?

707

DEONTE NASH: I don't remember.

708

MR. DONALDSON: Well, she had cash in her house, right?

710

MR. DONALDSON: And she took that cash with her with the duffle bag, correct?

712

MR. DONALDSON: Now, Mr. Combs didn't -- Mr. Combs didn't tell her to grab a bag for the sex toys, correct?

713

DEONTE NASH: That's what they came to the house for.

714

MR. DONALDSON: That's not my question.

When you were sitting there, and you testified yesterday, you didn't -- you didn't hear Mr. Combs tell her, hey, go grab a bag full of sex toys, correct?

716

MR. DONALDSON: You didn't hear Mr. Combs say, hey, go grab some cash, correct?

718

MR. DONALDSON: She went and decided to go get the cash herself, right?

719

DEONTE NASH: Possibly.

720

MR. DONALDSON: To go on the golf cart to go someplace else, correct?

722

MR. DONALDSON: This was late at night, correct?

724

MR. DONALDSON: And this was her cash, correct?

726

MR. DONALDSON: I want to talk about Las Vegas, New Year's Eve 2017. Do you recall that testimony from yesterday?

728

MR. DONALDSON: You mentioned that you had flew into Las Vegas because the whole crew was there, correct, staff, everybody was there, correct?

730

MR. DONALDSON: This was New Year's Eve 2016 into 2017, correct?

732

MR. DONALDSON: When you were present with them in Vegas, I believe you said you were on the floor with the whole group, and Mr. Combs had a room on one side of the floor, everyone else was on other side of the floor, correct?

734

MR. DONALDSON: Now, you also mentioned that when you got to the hotel room Cassie was asleep -- you were told that Cassie was asleep all day, correct?

736

MR. DONALDSON: Then at some point in time Cassie and Mr. Combs left to go out, correct?

738

MR. DONALDSON: Can we put up 47 for the witness and parties only, Defense Exhibit 47.

739

MR. DONALDSON: Mr. Nash, do you recognize this?

741

MR. DONALDSON: What do you recognize that to be?

743

MR. DONALDSON: That's Cassie at New Year's Eve 2016/2017 in Vegas?

745

MR. DONALDSON: I would like to move that into evidence as Defense Exhibit 1847.

746

MS. COMEY: No objection.

747

THE COURT: Defense Exhibit 1847 will be admitted.

748

(Defendant's Exhibit 1847 received in evidence)

749

MR. DONALDSON: You can publish that, please. Thank you.

You can take that down for a second.

Could you please put up Defense Exhibit 1848 for the parties and the witness only.

750

MR. DONALDSON: Mr. Nash, do you recognize that?

752

MR. DONALDSON: Who do you recognize that to be?

753

DEONTE NASH: Puff and Cassie.

754

MR. DONALDSON: Is that from the New Year's Eve 2016/2017.

756

MR. DONALDSON: I'd like to have this moved into evidence as Defense Exhibit 1848.

757

MS. COMEY: No objection.

758

THE COURT: 1848 will be admitted.

759

(Defendant's Exhibit 1848 received in evidence)

760

MR. DONALDSON: Please publish to the jury.

Take that down. Thank you.

761

MR. DONALDSON: Now, in this hotel room on New Year's Eve, in Vegas, with you and Cassie was a producer by the name of Holladay, correct?

763

MR. DONALDSON: This is the low-budget guy you talked about yesterday.

765

MR. DONALDSON: At some point in time Mr. Combs and Cassie came back, correct?

766

DEONTE NASH: What do you mean?

767

MR. DONALDSON: They left the hotel room and then they came back to the hotel room?

768

DEONTE NASH: No. We all left together and came back together.

769

MR. DONALDSON: I didn't know that.

When you woke Cassie up to leave, you, Cassie, and Mr. Combs and Mr. Holladay all left together?

770

DEONTE NASH: And other people. The whole team. Everybody went out.

771

MR. DONALDSON: Went out for whatever activities were designed for this Bad Boys staff New Year's Eve thing, correct?

773

MR. DONALDSON: That's why you all were there to do that, correct?

774

DEONTE NASH: To get her dressed, yes.

775

MR. DONALDSON: At some point you all came back to the hotel, correct?

777

MR. DONALDSON: And then you, Cassie, and Puffy -- Mr. Combs and Mr. Holladay bent back to Mr. Combs' room, correct?

779

MR. DONALDSON: And at that time you and Mr. Holladay and Mr. Combs and Cassie were sitting around listening to music and just enjoying yourself, correct?

781

MR. DONALDSON: I believe you said on direct at some point Cassie told you that -- could you leave because we want to do -- bring a man over, correct?

782

MS. COMEY: Objection. Misstates the testimony.

783

THE COURT: Mr. Donaldson, why don't you rephrase the question.

784

MR. DONALDSON: At some point Cassie asked you to step out of the room because a man is being invited over, correct?

786

MS. COMEY: Objection. Misstates the testimony.

787

THE COURT: It's overruled.

788

MR. DONALDSON: That's yes, correct?

790

MR. DONALDSON: And she told you that Mr. Holladay was still there, correct?

792

MR. DONALDSON: She told you that in front of Mr. Holladay?

793

DEONTE NASH: Yeah. While he was asleep right next to me snoring.

794

MR. DONALDSON: Then she woke him up too, correct?

796

MR. DONALDSON: Then asked you both to leave, correct?

798

MR. DONALDSON: So that another man could come over, correct?

800

MR. DONALDSON: And I believe on direct your reaction to that was a sigh, correct?

802

MR. DONALDSON: Not a, what are you doing, girl? You didn't say, what are you doing, girl. Correct? You just left the room, correct?

803

DEONTE NASH: Yes. I was exhausted.

804

MR. DONALDSON: You had at that time no concern about Cassie's safety, correct?

805

DEONTE NASH: I always did.

806

MR. DONALDSON: You always had concern about safety.

808

MR. DONALDSON: In this situation you left the room anyway, correct?

810

MR. DONALDSON: Then I believe you said at some point in time you were walking around the hallway and you saw a man knocking on the door, correct?

812

MR. DONALDSON: This man was inside the room, correct?

814

MR. DONALDSON: But you didn't know who let him in?

816

MR. DONALDSON: Before you left the room you didn't see any drugs or all types of things spread around Mr. Combs' room, correct?

817

DEONTE NASH: There were drugs because we were doing them.

818

MR. DONALDSON: Who was doing them?

819

DEONTE NASH: Me, Puff, Cassie, and Rob.

820

MR. DONALDSON: You all were doing drugs together?

821

DEONTE NASH: I mean, in our own separate places.

822

MR. DONALDSON: One second, please, your Honor.

823

MR. DONALDSON: How much time passed between you leaving and you seeing someone knocking on the door?

824

DEONTE NASH: I don't remember.

825

MR. DONALDSON: Approximately.

826

DEONTE NASH: I don't remember.

827

MR. DONALDSON: Fifteen minutes, 20 minutes, half hour?

828

DEONTE NASH: I don't know. Once I started working, I just start going, and I probably had about 10 huge body bags to pack, so I don't know. That usually takes me about two hours, so somewhere in that time frame.

829

MR. DONALDSON: Somewhere within two hours?

831

MR. DONALDSON: You saw Cassie afterwards, correct?

832

DEONTE NASH: No. They went straight to Mexico.

833

MR. DONALDSON: You didn't see her afterwards?

835

MR. DONALDSON: One second, please.

836

MR. DONALDSON: Did you speak to her afterwards?

838

MR. DONALDSON: When did you speak to her?

839

DEONTE NASH: When they were on the flight maybe.

840

MR. DONALDSON: When you say on the flight, you said they went to Mexico?

841

DEONTE NASH: Yes, I think so, something like that. Valley or something.

842

MR. DONALDSON: Could you pull up DX-1821, please.

843

MR. DONALDSON: When you said they went to Mexico, this was in the beginning of January 2017, correct?

845

MR. DONALDSON: And this is them going to a hotel or resort, correct?

847

MR. DONALDSON: This is another one of those situations where she went to a hotel but didn't tell you she didn't want to go, correct?

848

DEONTE NASH: Actually, she did tell me that she would rather stay home and work on her music and that -- because she seen a comment online, and they told her, girl, you always on vacation. And she said that she don't always want to go on vacation. She wants to work. This was a vacation that she did tell me that she didn't want to go on; not because of the freak-off, but because she wanted to work.

849

MR. DONALDSON: I am going to be the green person in this exhibit and you be the blue person, all right.

Reading again: Puff is mad at me. Of course.

850

DEONTE NASH: Y'all need to enjoy y'all trip. Get back to the bullshit later. Enjoy y'all time together. Y'all don't get this much.

851

MR. DONALDSON: It's not bull. This is the bitch I am gonna be this year. He can stay or go.

852

DEONTE NASH: That's right, Cassie.

853

MR. DONALDSON: I am just annoyed because he is only nice when he gets what he wants.

854

DEONTE NASH: I'm riding with her. Not mad at the post at all, WhatsApp post at all. Just got a charge on my phone. Have fun and enjoy what you can of the trip. Y'all call me if you need me.

855

MR. DONALDSON: Before we get to that, on the first page where it says, enjoy y'all time together, y'all don't get this much, you see that?

857

MR. DONALDSON: That's you telling Cassie, in January of 2017, that her and Puff needs to enjoy their time together, correct?

859

MR. DONALDSON: And that's you as her best friend letting her know that, from your advice as a best friend, she needs to enjoy the time away with Puffy on this vacation, correct?

861

MR. DONALDSON: Let's go back to the second page. I am going to read where it says:

862

MR. DONALDSON: Thank you. I will. Wish you were here. I'm glad that I did my classy clap back. Puff was all aggy. But I spoke up for myself. I'm happy.

863

DEONTE NASH: I wish I was there too.

864

MR. DONALDSON: And this is you saying that you wish you were with them on the vacation, correct?

865

DEONTE NASH: No. Like in Mexico. Not with them. On the vacation. No not with them.

868

MR. DONALDSON: Go to the next page.

869

MR. DONALDSON: Blue part. Top left.

870

DEONTE NASH: Y'all having fun.

871

MR. DONALDSON: Then I think the green part. Cassie, I sent some pictures. You say what?

872

DEONTE NASH: You look beat. What's your tea.

873

MR. DONALDSON: When you say you look beat, that means you're referring to pictures that she just sent you where she looks really good in the pictures, correct?

874

DEONTE NASH: Oh, yeah.

875

MR. DONALDSON: Then it says: Sleeping in the room I showed. LOL.

That means she showed you pictures of her sleeping in a hotel room, correct?

876

DEONTE NASH: I'm not sure. I think she maybe showed me a picture of the room. She is saying, I'm sleeping in the room that I showed you kind of thing.

877

MR. DONALDSON: You go, up top right.

878

DEONTE NASH: LOL. It looks so bomb.

879

MR. DONALDSON: We're moving rooms at 10 p.m., but the other one is better and on the beach. This one is kind of on a golf course. I was told I'm the assistant. You would butt out on how organized I have everything.

880

DEONTE NASH: LOL. Do y'all have a lot of shit?

881

MR. DONALDSON: I definitely do, but we made it all fit and it's hung and organized.

882

DEONTE NASH: What time is it there?

885

DEONTE NASH: Oh. You only an hour off. I was thrown off. We was up all night. Girl, you always on vacation.

886

MR. DONALDSON: I know. God let's me because I put up with a lot of BS.

This is Cassie and Puff away on a vacation after the New Year's thing in Vegas, correct?

888

MR. DONALDSON: This is after a man was invited to the hotel room, correct?

890

MR. DONALDSON: So immediately after a man was invited to the hotel room Puffy and Cassie are on vacation in Mexico, correct?

892

MR. DONALDSON: And, apparently, based upon your text messages with her, she is enjoying herself, correct?

894

MR. DONALDSON: Now, you indicated that you ended your relationship or your professional relationship with Mr. Combs in 2018, is that right?

896

MR. DONALDSON: But you stayed in contact with him, correct?

898

MR. DONALDSON: When I say stayed in contact with him, you checked in on him at times, correct?

899

DEONTE NASH: We checked in on each other, yes.

900

MR. DONALDSON: You checked in on him, he checked in on you, correct?

902

MR. DONALDSON: And you would call him or text him to see how he was doing, correct?

903

DEONTE NASH: Yeah. Because he was cutting up.

904

MR. DONALDSON: You would call him -- cutting up. I got it. You would call him or text him to see how he was doing. That's a yes or no answer.

906

MR. DONALDSON: In fact, there was this seafood fest that I believe you did for your birthday at Cassie's house, correct?

908

MR. DONALDSON: You invited him over to that, correct?

910

MR. DONALDSON: And you -- before you did that, he asked you, was it OK with Cassie, correct?

912

MR. DONALDSON: And you said yes, correct?

914

MR. DONALDSON: And in September of 2018 -- strike that.

915

MR. DONALDSON: Could you put up DX-1814, please, Defense Exhibit 1814.

916

MR. DONALDSON: This is a text message between you and Mr. Combs, correct?

918

MR. DONALDSON: This is in October of 2018, correct?

920

MR. DONALDSON: This is a month or two months after you all ended the relationship, correct?

922

MR. DONALDSON: I'll be the green person. You be the blue person. Green being Mr. Combs and you being you, all right?

924

MR. DONALDSON: Is that a yes?

926

MR. DONALDSON: That's a yes?

928

MR. DONALDSON: Mr. Combs: Please call me. No drama. It's important.

929

DEONTE NASH: I just got here. She's knocked out.

930

MR. DONALDSON: Damn. Wake her up. I'm concerned. How is she?

931

DEONTE NASH: She got up and laid back down. We hear you, but when she gets up I'll call you.

932

MR. DONALDSON: That's Mr. Combs and you expressing -- or Mr. Combs expressing concern about Cassie, correct?

933

DEONTE NASH: I guess so, yes.

934

MR. DONALDSON: This is in October 2018, correct?

936

MR. DONALDSON: And you know who Kim Porter is, correct?

938

MR. DONALDSON: She unfortunately tragically passed back in late 2018?

940

MR. DONALDSON: You were aware of how close Mr. Combs was to Ms. Porter, correct?

941

DEONTE NASH: Absolutely.

942

MR. DONALDSON: And you respected that, correct?

943

DEONTE NASH: Absolutely.

944

MR. DONALDSON: And you respected him and his family, correct?

945

DEONTE NASH: Absolutely.

946

MR. DONALDSON: When Ms. Porter died, you then reached out to Mr. Combs, correct?

947

DEONTE NASH: Absolutely.

948

MR. DONALDSON: And you wanted to let him know that you were there for him during that time period, correct?

950

MR. DONALDSON: Because you cared for him and his family, correct?

952

MR. DONALDSON: You know who Andre Harrell is, correct?

954

MR. DONALDSON: You remember when he passed as well, correct?

956

MR. DONALDSON: You remember how close Mr. Combs was to Mr. Harrell, correct?

958

MR. DONALDSON: Same thing, you at that time -- this was well after 2018, correct?

960

MR. DONALDSON: You reached out to Mr. Combs in that instance, correct?

961

DEONTE NASH: Absolutely.

962

MR. DONALDSON: Nothing about Cassie, correct?

963

DEONTE NASH: At that time.

964

MR. DONALDSON: Nothing about the business, correct?

965

DEONTE NASH: I have never spoken to Mr. Combs, and he has hasn't asked about Cassie.

966

MR. DONALDSON: You have never spoken to Mr. Combs. He hasn't asked how Cassie was doing, correct?

968

MR. DONALDSON: And when Mr. Harrell died you called Mr. Combs or texted Mr. Combs to, again, make sure he was OK, correct?

970

MR. DONALDSON: Make sure he was all right, correct?

971

DEONTE NASH: Absolutely.

972

MR. DONALDSON: Because you knew that he was close to Mr. Harrell, correct?

974

MR. DONALDSON: One second, please, your Honor.

Would you put up Defense Exhibit 1824.

975

MR. DONALDSON: You be the person in blue. That's yourself. I'll be the person in green. That's Mr. Combs.

You go first.

976

DEONTE NASH: Sending you my love.

977

MR. DONALDSON: This was January 18, 2019?

979

MR. DONALDSON: He says: Yeah, right, nigga. You -- we was fam, disappointed. Still got love. All good.

980

DEONTE NASH: Uh-uh, Puff. Don't do that. My love for you don't have nothing to do with anything else.

981

MR. DONALDSON: Naw, nigga. The trainer, the trainer. In my Soulja Boy voice. Damn. Could have given a nigga a heads-up. The trainer, question mark, shaking my head. And then laughing emojis.

983

MR. DONALDSON: Oh, now you quiet. We'll always be cool. No love lost. Love you girl. Black heart. But on a real note, how is she? Please make sure she is all right. And if she ever needs me, make sure you call me. Fuck that.

That was the message between you and Mr. Combs, correct?

985

MR. DONALDSON: When he said, how is she, make sure she is all right, he's talking about Cassie, correct?

987

MR. DONALDSON: That's when you said earlier that, whenever you all speak, he's asking genuinely how she is doing, correct?

988

MS. COMEY: Objection. It misstates the testimony, your Honor.

989

THE COURT: Let's get a new question, Mr. Donaldson.

990

MR. DONALDSON: Sure, Judge. Take that down, please.

991

MR. DONALDSON: When is Mr. Combs' birthday?

992

DEONTE NASH: I don't know.

993

MR. DONALDSON: November 4, 2019 sound familiar?

994

DEONTE NASH: Yeah, maybe.

995

MR. DONALDSON: You reached out to him on his birthday as well, correct?

996

DEONTE NASH: Absolutely.

997

MR. DONALDSON: Would you put up Defense Exhibit 1829. A. Is there a way I can see the whole text message?

998

MR. DONALDSON: No. Sorry. I'm not being whatever. This is just the evidence we have right now.

999

DEONTE NASH: It says: I love you brother and anything you need I got you.

1000

MR. DONALDSON: This was on May 9, 2020, correct?

1002

MR. DONALDSON: This was two years after your professional relationship ended with Mr. Combs, correct?

1004

MR. DONALDSON: 2022 you were still communicating with Mr. Combs, correct?

1006

MR. DONALDSON: Is that a yes?

1008

MR. DONALDSON: In fact, that year Mr. Combs put out a song, correct?

1010

MR. DONALDSON: I believe he won some type of award, I believe it was, right?

1012

MR. DONALDSON: And you congratulated him on that, correct?

1013

DEONTE NASH: I don't think so.

1014

MR. DONALDSON: Can we put up DX-18 -- Defense Exhibit 1835. A. OK. Hey. How do I RSVP for your party. I sent that text for someone else, but that's fine.

1015

MR. DONALDSON: This is you sending a text to Mr. Combs asking how do you RSVP for his party, correct?

1017

MR. DONALDSON: You're saying now, though, at trial that that was you asking him to RSVP for somebody else for his party.

1018

DEONTE NASH: Yes. For Claire Summers.

1019

MR. DONALDSON: Can I have one second, please, Judge?

1021

MR. DONALDSON: Can we put up 1818, please, Defense Exhibit 1818. Can we go to page 2, please. Can we highlight the second part, the second green line. First green line.

1022

MR. DONALDSON: Mr. Nash, you indicated that between 2008 and say 2013, '14, you had no idea that Ms. Cassie Ventura was doing or having relationships with other men and Mr. Combs at the same time. Do you recall saying that?

1024

MR. DONALDSON: You recall saying that because -- and you all spoke every day, right?

1026

MR. DONALDSON: So that part of her life was kept secret from you, correct?

1028

MR. DONALDSON: So when you said back on January 3, 2016, she was going on a secret trip, that was another secret from you, correct?

1029

DEONTE NASH: I'm sure when she came home.

1030

MR. DONALDSON: No. I'm not asking that.

I'm asking, on January 3 of 2016, she was, again, going on a secret trip, correct? She specifically said, a secret trip, correct?

1032

MS. COMEY: Your Honor, I'm going to object to the way this is being used. This is referring to our --

1033

THE COURT: I understand.

1034

MR. DONALDSON: You can take it down, Judge.

1035

THE COURT: Sustained.

1036

MR. DONALDSON: You deeply care for Cassie, correct?

1038

MR. DONALDSON: And you have deeply cared for her for about 15 years, correct?

1040

MR. DONALDSON: But you understand, though, for a significant part of that time she kept major secrets from you.

1041

DEONTE NASH: I keep some from her. We don't have to tell each other everything.

1042

MR. DONALDSON: But you do acknowledge she kept major secrets from you, correct?

1044

MR. DONALDSON: Correct, yes?

1046

THE COURT: Anything further?

1048

MS. COMEY: Briefly, your Honor.

1049

THE COURT: Ms. Comey.

1050

MS. COMEY: Thank you.

RedirectRedirectDeonte Nash — Redirect Deonte Nash Maurene R. Comey
1051

REDIRECT EXAMINATION BY MS. COMEY:

1052

MS. COMEY: Mr. Nash, just a few questions for you, please.

1054

MS. COMEY: First, on cross-examination do you remember saying that you always had concerns for Cassie's safety?

1056

MS. COMEY: Why did you always have concerns for Cassie's safety if she also told you that she was happy at times with Mr. Combs?

1058

THE COURT: Overruled.

1059

DEONTE NASH: Because it can go from happy to chaotic in a split second.

1060

MS. COMEY: How do you know that?

1061

DEONTE NASH: Because he had done it in front of me.

1062

MS. COMEY: How many times?

1063

DEONTE NASH: Quite a few.

1064

MS. COMEY: And when it went from happy to chaotic in front of you, what had you seen happen?

1065

DEONTE NASH: Him be violent.

1067

DEONTE NASH: Her or me.

1068

MS. COMEY: Do you remember being asked on cross-examination about your conversation in the car after Mr. Combs threatened to release tapes of Cassie?

1070

MS. COMEY: What do you remember Cassie saying to you about what devices Mr. Combs had used to record those videos?

1071

DEONTE NASH: Her phone.

1072

MS. COMEY: Do you remember her also mentioning Mr. Combs' devices?

1074

MS. COMEY: Can we pull up, please, the piece of 3500 that Mr. Donaldson showed on this point. May I ask defense counsel to help me with that, please.

1075

MR. DONALDSON: Yes. It's 3514.

1076

MS. COMEY: I'm showing you 3514-10, page 2, the same thing that Mr. Donaldson showed you. Can you just take a look at that. Please don't read it out loud. Can you take a look, please, at the very last sentence, please. Read it to yourself.

1078

MS. COMEY: We can take that down, thank you.

1079

MS. COMEY: Does that refresh your recollection that Cassie told you that Mr. Combs used both her devices and Mr. Combs' devices to record her having sex with other men?

1080

DEONTE NASH: I remember her devices, but that was the focus at the moment.

1081

MS. COMEY: Do you recall being asked on cross-examination about Cassie's 29th birthday?

1083

MS. COMEY: Do you recall being asked about whether you had told the government about Mr. Combs wanting her to go to the hotel or making her go to the hotel?

1085

MS. COMEY: Was your first meeting with the prosecutors in July of 2024, approximately?

1087

MS. COMEY: Can we please pull up 3514-002, page 3, the bottom paragraph, just for the witness and the parties, please. Can we please highlight the second sentence and the third sentence and the fourth sentence of that paragraph.

1088

MS. COMEY: Could you just read that to yourself, please.

1089

MS. COMEY: I'm sorry. That highlighting is not getting the sentences I'm asking for. I'm sorry.

1090

MS. COMEY: Let me know when you've read it, and we can take it down.

1092

MS. COMEY: You can take that down. Thank you.

1093

MS. COMEY: Does that refresh your recollection that at your very first meeting with prosecutors you told prosecutors that during Cassie's 29th birthday Mr. Combs wanted her to leave?

1095

MS. COMEY: Focusing still on the 29th birthday, do you remember being asked questions about drug use and whether Mr. Combs and Cassie had used drugs that night, on cross-examination?

1096

DEONTE NASH: Repeat the question.

1097

MS. COMEY: Do you remember being asked on cross-examination about whether Mr. Combs and Cassie appeared high on the 29th birthday?

1099

MS. COMEY: I want to focus on Mr. Combs. Did he appear to understand what was going on around him throughout the 29th birthday party?

1101

MS. COMEY: Did he appear to be in control of himself and his faculties throughout the 29th birthday?

1103

MS. COMEY: What did you hear him say at Cassie's apartment that Cassie was going to do that night?

1104

DEONTE NASH: Yo, girl, you are going to get some dick tonight.

1105

MS. COMEY: What did Cassie tell you that same night about whether she wanted to go with Mr. Combs to a hotel?

1107

THE COURT: Overruled.

1108

DEONTE NASH: She didn't want to go. She wanted to hang with us.

1109

MS. COMEY: No further questions.

1110

THE COURT: Thank you, Ms. Comey.

Mr. Donaldson, anything further?

1111

MR. DONALDSON: Absolutely not. Thank you, Judge.

1112

THE COURT: Thank you very much, Mr. Nash. You're done. A. Thank you.

1113

(Witness excused)

1114

THE COURT: The government may call its next witness.

1115

MS. SMYSER: Your Honor, the government calls Mia.

As we do, we just ask that your Honor remind everyone here and in the overflow room that there shouldn't be any recording.

1116

THE COURT: First, for the jury, you are about to hear from a witness testifying using a pseudonym. That is not using her real name. The government, the defense, the Court, and you, the jury, will know her real name, but the name will not be used in open court, solely to protect her privacy from disclosure to persons who are not parties to this case.

The fact that this witness is testifying using a pseudonym does mean that her testimony is deserving of greater or lesser weight than that of any other witness.

I will further remind everyone in this courtroom and in the overflow courtrooms that they are not to in any way, shape, or form document the witness in any notes or in any sketches or anything of that kind. The courtrooms will be monitored by court security. Any use of devices or any documenting of the witness' appearance or anything of that nature will result in severe consequences.

With that, Ms. Smyser.

1117

MS. SMYSER: Thank you, your Honor.

1118

MR. DONALDSON: Your Honor, may I grab that binder?

1119

THE COURT: Yes, you may. MIA, called as a witness by the Government, having been duly sworn, testified as follows:

1120

THE COURT: Ms. Smyser, you may proceed when ready.

1121

MS. SMYSER: Thank you, your Honor.

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