Brian Buckmeyer

But also, I think there's something that both sides will be able to use from her testimony, that she was trafficked, as the government is arguing, but also that this could just be a domestic violence case where the defense might be able to argue not these crimes, other crimes he's guilty of, maybe not guilty of trafficking and racketeering.

But also, I think there's something that both sides will be able to use from her testimony, that she was trafficked, as the government is arguing, but also that this could just be a domestic violence case where the defense might be able to argue not these crimes, other crimes he's guilty of, maybe not guilty of trafficking and racketeering.

All right, so I think the smart thing to do, like, start off is talk about Cassie's age. She's 38 years old now. Sean Combs is 55. The age gap was one thing they touched on. The fact that she was his singer and signed on to his label as a singer, and she had done some modeling in the past, and that he had the ability to control whether or not her music got out.

All right, so I think the smart thing to do, like, start off is talk about Cassie's age. She's 38 years old now. Sean Combs is 55. The age gap was one thing they touched on. The fact that she was his singer and signed on to his label as a singer, and she had done some modeling in the past, and that he had the ability to control whether or not her music got out.

We also saw the testimony about who was in his inner circle. We saw her talk about bodyguards and chief of staff. And to Aaron's point, She was very matter-of-fact and soft-spoken when she spoke, but what I saw when she talked about those bodyguards and saw pictures of them, it's almost like she started to tremble in her voice a little.

We also saw the testimony about who was in his inner circle. We saw her talk about bodyguards and chief of staff. And to Aaron's point, She was very matter-of-fact and soft-spoken when she spoke, but what I saw when she talked about those bodyguards and saw pictures of them, it's almost like she started to tremble in her voice a little.

You can see a sense of fear as she recounted who the people were, where if she didn't pick up the phone right away, someone would come and find her. And I think that really colored the idea of this criminal enterprise.

You can see a sense of fear as she recounted who the people were, where if she didn't pick up the phone right away, someone would come and find her. And I think that really colored the idea of this criminal enterprise.

I think as they continued to watch, you saw some people feverishly taking notes in the back, but I think as the testimony continued, everyone was really leaning in, listening. They were somewhat stoic. I didn't see anyone really jaw-dropping about some of these allegations.

I think as they continued to watch, you saw some people feverishly taking notes in the back, but I think as the testimony continued, everyone was really leaning in, listening. They were somewhat stoic. I didn't see anyone really jaw-dropping about some of these allegations.

Of course, you saw some people, as we see in the reports, shaking their head as to some of these statements because they were very, very horrible and hard to listen to at times.

Of course, you saw some people, as we see in the reports, shaking their head as to some of these statements because they were very, very horrible and hard to listen to at times.

Yeah. And so Xavier Donaldson was the defense attorney who continued the cross-examination. And what stood out to me is I think they're still kind of attacking this strategy of attacking the credibility as well as the idea of consent here. And so from there, there are two things. One, Philip or Daniel Philip said that he actually had feelings towards Cassie.

Yeah. And so Xavier Donaldson was the defense attorney who continued the cross-examination. And what stood out to me is I think they're still kind of attacking this strategy of attacking the credibility as well as the idea of consent here. And so from there, there are two things. One, Philip or Daniel Philip said that he actually had feelings towards Cassie.

And there might have been, again, this issue of jealousy that I think the defense tried to hone in on. But of course, the government came back and talked about just the brutality of Sean Combs' interaction with Cassie, the directing of the sexual encounters, who got paid, how they got paid, and then again, just the brutality of the interaction that he saw with them.

And there might have been, again, this issue of jealousy that I think the defense tried to hone in on. But of course, the government came back and talked about just the brutality of Sean Combs' interaction with Cassie, the directing of the sexual encounters, who got paid, how they got paid, and then again, just the brutality of the interaction that he saw with them.

If I'm the defense, I'm actually not that worried, because in a case like this, they've already conceded that there is allegations of domestic abuse and violence. And I'm waiting to see the government make the connection between this is simply a man and a woman, especially a man, because we're hearing the violence from Sean Combs on to Cassie, just brutally abusing her, hating her.

If I'm the defense, I'm actually not that worried, because in a case like this, they've already conceded that there is allegations of domestic abuse and violence. And I'm waiting to see the government make the connection between this is simply a man and a woman, especially a man, because we're hearing the violence from Sean Combs on to Cassie, just brutally abusing her, hating her.

All the things that we said were indefensible, but we're not seeing the connection of was this force used to compel her to go across state lines for trafficking? Or was this simply a man who was a voyager who liked to participate in these sexual escapades that we may not agree with? But in the course of that, he used violence.

All the things that we said were indefensible, but we're not seeing the connection of was this force used to compel her to go across state lines for trafficking? Or was this simply a man who was a voyager who liked to participate in these sexual escapades that we may not agree with? But in the course of that, he used violence.