Sean “Diddy” Combs’ lawyers were slammed by prosecutors for “harassing the witness” Monday as they bombarded a former assistant accusing the music mogul of rape with pointed questions and insinuations in Manhattan court.
The ex-assistant “Mia” – who is testifying anonymously as an alleged victim of sexual assault – patiently swatted down defense attorney Brian Steel’s repeated implications that her lovey-dovey texts to and social media posts toward the Bad Boy Records founder undercut her testimony.
The dogged line of questioning, which continued from Mia’s stint on the stand last week, prompted a complaint from prosecutor Maureen Comey — who argued it crossed the line into harassment.
When the jury left the courtroom, Comey claimed Steel forced Mia to endure “humiliating cross-examination” in which the defense attorney was “sarcastic” and insulted her.
“We are crossing the threshold into prejudice and into harassing the witness,” Comey claimed.
“Our concern is if this victim is not protected from further harassment, it will deter other victims in other cases from testifying and telling the truth,” the prosecutor said.
Manhattan federal court Judge Arun Subramanian appeared to be unpersuaded by Comey’s arguments, saying he didn’t think the questions were inappropriate.
“I have not heard any yelling or heard anything sarcastic,” the judge said.
The grilling continued, leading off the fourth week of testimony in Combs’ racketeering and sex-trafficking trial.
Mia testified for two days last week about the allegedly irascible Diddy’s manipulation and physical abuse, including rape, that she claimed to have suffered during eight torturous years working for him from 2009 to 2017.
Steel tried to raise doubts about Mia’s accusations by dredging up years of mushy text messages she sent Combs.
At one point in 2019, Mia texted Combs about a dream in which the mogul saved her from convicted pedophile R. Kelly in a dream.
“I had a nightmare I was trapped in an elevator with R. Kelly and you came and saved me,” the text continued.
“The person who sexually assaulted you came and rescued you?” Steel asked of the dream.
“Yes,” Mia answered.
R. Kelly is serving 30 years in prison after he was convicted on the same charges Combs faces.
The case alleged the singer used his fame to exploit and sexually abuse girls and young women for more than 25 years.
Steel quizzed Mia on why she didn’t bring up her sexual assault claims during settlement talks as she stopped working for Combs in 2017.
Mia confirmed that she originally asked for $10 million but settled, during mediation, for $400,000.
She said she wasn’t aware that sexual assault could be used in settlement negotiations.
Mia has testified that the first time she brought up sex assault claims was with prosecutors in 2024.
Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to charges that could send him to life in prison, if convicted.
