A woman’s testimony that Sean “Diddy” Combs’ dangled her over a 17-story balcony demonstrated the “mob-like behavior” that prosecutors need to prove racketeering conspiracy, former federal prosecutor Alyse Adamson said today.
Bryana Bongolan testified yesterday that Combs held her over a balcony and threw her onto balcony furniture in September 2016. The incident was previously mentioned in a civil suit filed by Bongolan against Combs in November 2024.
“I think it’s extremely impactful, if the jury ultimately believes it,” Adamson said on “CNN This Morning with Audie Cornish.”
“That’s mob-like behavior,” Adamson said. “And that’s what prosecutors need” to prove the racketeering conspiracy aspect of the case. “He needs to be behaving in a pattern of abuse, threats, and violence. That’s the theme.”
Adamson said it was notable that Bongolan was not an intimate partner of Combs.
“I think the prosecution scored points eliciting this testimony, but now we’re going to see how she holds up on cross,” Adamson said.
Bongolan is set to return to the stand for more cross-examination at 11 a.m. today.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to charges that include racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. If convicted on all counts, he could face up to life in prison.
Adamson noted “it only takes one juror” for there to be a hung jury.
“The defense seems to be extremely strategic in how they are doing things,” Adamson said. “Sometimes the strategy isn’t always, ‘Well, let’s just get a straight acquittal.’ … Sometimes we need to be more surgical, more strategic” and focus on jurors who are “feeling our narrative.”
