Legal

The Diddy criminal trial is now at a dozen days of testimony ... and today's witnesses talked about sexual assaults, violence, "period blood," and some of Cassie's relationships with other celebs ... including a flirtation with Michael B. Jordan.

Things got emotional in the courtroom Thursday as a former Diddy assistant testifying under the pseudonym "Mia" recalled alleged sexual assaults, rapes and threats she endured from Diddy.

Mia sobbed during her testimony, and a lot of what she said lined up with some of Cassie's testimony about extortion ... though it's fair to wonder why prosecutors didn't bring Mia to the stand right after Cassie.

One of Diddy's former assistants says the music mogul sexually assaulted her for the first time during his birthday party at a swanky hotel in New York City ... but she says it didn't end there.

The witness, who is testifying under the pseudonym "Mia," told jurors she was working for Diddy in 2009 when he sexually assaulted her at The Plaza Hotel in New York, where he was celebrating his 40th birthday.

Mia said Diddy rented out the penthouse for a party filled with unnamed celebrities and she says he asked to speak to her in the kitchen, clearing out the room and leaving just the two of them alone.

Diddy's former assistant says she had to clean up some pretty nasty scenes in the hotels where he stayed with Cassie ... including some fluid she says he told her was "period blood."

The ex-employee, who is testifying under the pseudonym "Mia," told jurors one of her jobs as a Diddy assistant was to clean up hotel rooms before housekeeping ... due to concerns about embarrassing photos getting out.

Mia testified the rooms she encountered were "destroyed" and the "really nasty" conditions were a "nightmare." She said there would be candle wax everywhere, broken glass, oil on the walls, and sometimes even blood.

Offset's not willing to give up his "Bad and Boujee" lifestyle ... and, he's asking the court to ensure his estranged wife, Cardi B, helps him maintain it.

The rapper filed an amended divorce response earlier this month in which he's now asking that Cardi pay him spousal support. He does not request a specific amount in the documents.

The rest of the requests look relatively unchanged ... 'cause Offset's still asking for joint custody of their children -- and he wants Cardi's place to serve as the primary residence for the kids.

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino insists convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was not murdered in jail ... and he says there's video to prove the wealthy financier killed himself in his cell, and it'll soon be released.

Thursday morning, Bongino was on "Fox & Friends," where he disclosed the existence of video from Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan ... and he claims the footage shows no one else was involved in Epstein's death.

Bongino -- a conservative talk show host recently appointed to his FBI position by President Trump -- said last week he and FBI Director Kash Patel had reviewed the evidence and concluded Epstein did, in fact, end his own life. Still, plenty of people remained unconvinced.

Prince's security intervened when Diddy was starting to attack Cassie outside a party hosted by the "Purple Rain" singer ... one of Diddy's former personal assistants testified in court.

The female assistant, introduced by her pseudonym "Mia," says she worked for Diddy as his personal assistant, and later as director of development and acquisition for Revolt Films, a media company Diddy founded.

Mia told the jury she witnessed Diddy get physically violent with Cassie on multiple occasions  ... including a 2010 party hosted by Prince.

Ariana Biermann won't be doing any hard time after her DUI arrest ... because she only needs to complete probation and a few community service hours.

The daughter of Kim Zolciak and Kroy Biermann received 24 months of probation and 40 hours of community service as part of her sentence earlier this month in a plea deal.

During her probation, the court is ordering Ariana to stay away from drugs and alcohol ... and, not to associate with anyone who possesses illegal drugs.

HYBE -- the company that manages BTS and other major K-Pop acts -- has been raided as part of an insider trading investigation ... according to reports out of South Korea.

The Korea Times reported early Thursday the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office searched the company's office in central Seoul.

A HYBE executive's reportedly been accused of gaining profits of 240 million won -- South Korean currency worth about $175K -- by using insider information to profit on the stock market.

New video has surfaced showing the alleged victim in the NYC crypto kidnapping case escaping from his house of horrors, where prosecutors say he was tortured for weeks.

CNN released an exclusive video of Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan dashing out of the basement of a Manhattan townhouse -- and running barefoot onto the sidewalk and down the street.

It's clear from the footage Carturan was trying to get away from someone or something because he's hightailing it outta there.

Testimony from celebrity stylist Deonte Nash continued Thursday in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial in NYC ... after he told the jury Wednesday he witnessed the rap mogul threaten former girlfriend Cassie's singing career with the release of sex tapes of her.

On the stand Thursday, Nash said while he was in Miami to style rapper Lil Kim, he confirmed he set Cassie up with actor Michael B. Jordan. He was then asked about Andre Branch, a former NFL linebacker, who Cassie also dated.

Combs' defense asks Nash whether he was aware of the relationship with Branch ... he said "Oh, the cute football player? Yes. But I never met him." He's also asked about an NBA player referred to only as Brandon.

Diddy's defense attorney Xavier Donaldson proposes to read text messages back and forth with Nash ... Nash looks at the messages, and says "Oh, you got some names in here." They proceed to role-play the exchange. Some of Cassie's facial injuries seem to be referenced in the messages. Nash is asked if he was aware Cassie was having threesomes with other men -- he replies, "Ugh. No, she didn't tell me."

5:24 PM PT -- Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Julie Chrisley is already on her way home to Nashville.

Julie Chrisley is officially out of federal prison ... released just moments ago ... TMZ has learned.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons tells us ... Julie walked out of Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky on Wednesday evening, not long after her husband, Todd was released from federal prison in Pensacola, Florida.

The Chrisleys -- who were convicted on bank fraud and tax evasion charges in 2022 -- were released hours after President Donald Trump signed off on their pardons.

Maria Bello wants to 86 her marriage to a celeb chef ... because she just filed for divorce.

The actress beelined it to court Wednesday and filed to divorce Dominique Crenn after one year of marriage.

According to the docs, obtained by TMZ, Maria lists the date of separation as April 7 ... exactly one year from when she says they got hitched.

Larry Hoover Jr. is shouting out Kanye West for sticking his neck out for his father ... because he tells us Ye was instrumental in Larry Hoover getting a commuted sentence from President Trump.

Larry Jr. tells TMZ ... Kanye and Alice Marie Johnson are a big reason why Trump commuted the prison sentence of the Gangster Disciples founder.

Kanye and Drake went to bat for Larry Sr. and famously squashed a beef back in 2021 with a livestreamed event billed as the "Free Larry Hoover" fundraising benefit concert.

Savannah Chrisley was all about that fan-girl energy for Trump following her parents' pardon, going as far as holding a whole press conference to thank POTUS for what he’s done for her family ... and America.

Check it out -- Savannah was decked out in full hot-pink MAGA gear, getting teary-eyed as she gushed about Trump being not just the President, but a "human with a heart." All this while soaking up the Florida sun, waiting to scoop up her dad Todd from FPC Pensacola for his prison release.

Savannah was beaming -- making it crystal clear she’s thrilled Trump stepped in, looked over the case, and pulled the strings to make it happen. She also gave thanks to Trump's "Pardon Czar" Alice Marie Johnson and Ed Martin, who briefly served as interim U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C.

Joe Exotic still has a path to freedom ... we've learned a potential pardon from President Trump is NOT off the table, despite the 'Tiger King' getting snubbed in the latest round of Trump clemency rulings.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... a pardon for Joe remains a possibility -- however, his case was NOT reviewed during a recent round of presidential pardons.

It's unclear why Joe wasn't made a priority this time around, but we're told it's very possible Exotic's case will be reviewed in the very near future.

Ryan Phillippe and his restaurant are catching some legal smoke ... 'cause a woman is suing them after one of their candles allegedly caught her hair on fire.

Jody Sanders is suing Phillippe, events pro Jeffrey Best, and the restaurant The Hideaway for general negligence ... claiming that even though she wasn't in the kitchen, she couldn't stand the heat at lunch one day.

Sanders claims back in April 2024 she attended an event at the Beverly Hills hotspot where Phillippe's an investor. While sitting at the bar, Sanders alleges, her hair was burned by an "unattended wax candle burning on the bar's surface." She's seeking an unspecified amount of damages.