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Sean Combs— Case Archive
2025 Federal Trialtrial-daytrial-dayMeredith FosterEmily A. JohnsonTeny R. GeragosDeLeassa PenlandAnanya SankardirectcrossDay 28 - June 16, 2025The Court denied the requested Napue instruction, excused Juror No. 6, and heard summary-chart testimony subject to limits on record-based inferences.
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Day 28 - June 16, 2025

Napue Ruling, Juror Excusal, and Summary-Chart Testimony

Judge Arun Subramanian
9Proceedings
5Pages
2Witnesses
2,669Lines
3Sidebars
Day 28 of 39
Appearing:
Meredith Foster Emily A. Johnson Teny R. Geragos DeLeassa Penland Ananya Sankar

The Court denied the requested Napue instruction, excused Juror No. 6, and heard summary-chart testimony subject to limits on record-based inferences.

Full day summary

The Court denied a requested Napue instruction concerning Ms. Bongolan's testimony and later excused Juror No. 6, replacing him with the first alternate after finding inconsistencies concerning his residence and candor. Ananya Sankar authenticated government summary charts organizing selected communications and digital files; cross-examination addressed their selection, gaps, and review limits. Special Agent DeLeassa Penland then described records reflected in other government charts, while the Court limited her testimony to factual descriptions of records and chart construction rather than inferences about meetings or attendance.

1. Napue and Juror-Excusal Rulings

The Court denied a requested Napue instruction, then excused Juror No. 6, seated the first alternate, and admitted a batch of government exhibits.

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Procedural
Morning Pre-Testimony Proceedings
3 lines
Procedural
Napue Instruction Ruling
1 lines

The Court denied the requested Napue instruction concerning Ms. Bongolan's testimony and began further discussion of juror No. 6.

Procedural
Juror No. 6 Excusal Ruling
27 lines

The Court excused Juror No. 6, ordered substitution by the first alternate, and admitted a batch of government exhibits.

Highlights

Napue Instruction RulingrulingThe Court denied the defense request for a Napue instruction, finding that cross-examination had exposed the cited inconsistencies in Ms. Bongolan's testimony and that the current record did not establish the requested premise of government-presented perjury.Juror No. 6 Excusal RulingrulingThe Court excused Juror No. 6 after finding inconsistencies concerning his residence and candor, and ordered that the first alternate replace him.Juror No. 6 Excusal Ruling“At that point the answer is clear. Juror No. 6 is excused.”— Arun SubramanianThe Court announced its excusal ruling after addressing the parties' arguments.

2. Ananya Sankar — Direct/Cross

Ananya Sankar authenticated government summary charts, which the Court admitted, before cross-examination addressed their selected content and omissions.

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Direct
Ananya Sankar — Direct Ananya Sankar Meredith Foster
1066 lines

Ananya Sankar authenticated two government summary charts of selected communications and digital records; the Court admitted the sealed originals and redacted versions.

Cross
Ananya Sankar — Cross Ananya Sankar Teny R. Geragos
561 lines

Defense counsel examined gaps and omissions in the communications charts; redirect clarified the source devices and chat participants for material used on cross.

Highlights

Ananya Sankar — Directevidence eventSankar identified the two government-prepared summary charts, described her verification against underlying exhibits, and the Court admitted the sealed originals and their redacted versions.

3. DeLeassa Penland — Direct (Part 1)

Special Agent DeLeassa Penland explained government charts based on records, with the Court requiring clarification that location and travel entries reflected the records rather than her personal knowledge.

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Direct
DeLeassa Penland — Direct DeLeassa Penland Emily A. Johnson
289 lines

Penland authenticated summary charts and underlying 2009 communications and travel records; the Court limited characterizations of what the records established.

1 sidebar inside this proceeding
  1. Record-Based Meeting CharacterizationsCounsel challenged characterizations of record-based meeting attendance and travel as lacking the witness's personal knowledge.

Highlights

DeLeassa Penland — DirectrulingAfter defense objections, the Court required the examination to distinguish what records suggested from personal knowledge of attendance or the purpose of travel.

4. Mr. Paul Issue Hearing

Before the jury entered, the Court limited Agent Penland's summary-chart testimony to factual information, reserving inferences about meetings or attendees for closing argument.

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Procedural
Mr. Paul Issue Hearing
100 lines

The Court limited Agent Penland's summary-chart testimony to factual record descriptions and chart construction, reserving inferences for closing argument.

5. DeLeassa Penland — Direct (Part 2)

Special Agent DeLeassa Penland resumed her review of government chart entries, using financial, travel, hotel, message, and video records. The Court directed the parties to use a stipulation to identify a device's local user.

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Direct
DeLeassa Penland — Direct Resumed DeLeassa Penland Emily A. Johnson
586 lines

Penland reviewed summary-chart sources including travel, hotel, card, message, and video records; a sidebar led the Court to require a stipulation for device-user identification.

2 sidebars inside this proceeding
  1. Witness Sequestration and Device IdentificationThe sidebar addressed whether a sequestered witness could rely on reviewed testimony to identify the local user of certain devices.
  2. Juror No. 7 DiscussionThe parties had not yet conferred about Juror No. 7 and discussed addressing the matter the following day.
Procedural
End-of-Day Witness, Disclosure, and Juror Logistics
36 lines

Highlights

DeLeassa Penland — Direct Resumedtestimony highlightUsing the stipulation and text messages, Penland linked communications involving Casandra Ventura with hotel invoices and room records at the Trump International Hotel & Tower.
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