Sherri Papini Yeah I Lied, But ... Alleged Kidnapping Is More Complex!!!

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BREAKING DOWN

Sherri Papini is shrugging off the lies she told in her alleged kidnapping ... she says she can't be the only person who has ever fibbed, and her case is deeper than most folks realize.

TMZ obtained a clip from the upcoming documentary "Sherri Papini: Caught In The Lie" ... and she asks the audience, "Haven't you ever lied? Have you ever lied in your history of existence? And then has that lie been blown up and broadcast around the world?"

Sherri went missing for three weeks back in 2016 ... resurfacing on the side of a road in California after claiming her captors let her go.

Jewish Museum Murders Suspected Shooter Screams 'Free Palestine' ... As Police Arrest Him

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alleged shooter arrest

Two Israeli Embassy workers were shot to death Wednesday by a gunman at the Jewish Museum in Washington D.C. — and the arrest of the suspect was caught on dramatic video.

Check it out ... The alleged shooter — identified as Elias Rodriguez from Chicago, Illinois — is grabbed by a couple of cops inside a building on Wednesday night.

One of the officers slaps the cuffs on Elias, who starts screaming, "Free free Palestine." Both officers then escort him through an exit door as witnesses stare in shock, with one horrified woman seen covering her mouth.

Diddy Trial Highlights Miami Raid, Stockholm Syndrome ... Plus, Freaky Job Duties

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DAY 8 WRAP-UP

The 8th day of testimony in the Diddy trial is in the books and prosecutors are still trying to gain headway on the racketeering charges against the mogul ... and one of their witnesses even thinks he helped Diddy's defense.

Wednesday opened with Homeland Security Investigations agent Gerard Gannon detailing more about a raid on Diddy's home on Star Island ... a search that turned up guns, ammo, drugs, lube, baby oil, sex toys and lingerie.

Interesting stuff ... and maybe the guns help prosecutors prove a RICO case against Diddy ... 'cause some of the serial numbers on the magazines were scratched off.

Universal Music Group Sued You Owe Me Big $$$ For Unpaid Work ... Goes Back To Johnny Cash

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Universal Music Group is being sued by a man who claims he worked with huge acts like Johnny Cash, Twisted Sister and Shania Twain and is owed over $72 million for unpaid services.

In the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, a man named Gary Douglas Peabody claims Johnny Cash called him up in 1970 and asked him to come to New York to get signed as a singer or backup singer and writer. He says Cash was working for UMG.

He claims Johnny called him up again in 1974 and told him UMG owed him $25 million ... asking him to come to NY to collect the funds.

Kim Kardashian School's Out ... I'm Officially Done With Law Program!!!

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BEEN A LONG ROAD

Kim Kardashian can officially fling her graduation cap into the air and her law books into the trash ... 'cause she just completed her law program.

The reality television star celebrated the achievement in a backyard -- the only student in her law school class -- as two of her mentors lauded her with praise in videos posted by her sister Khloé.

One of them calls it "one of the most inspiring legal journeys we've ever seen" ... swearing Kim pulled herself up by her high heel straps -- no ivory tower shortcuts for her.

Diddy's Ex-Employee George Kaplan I Set Up Baby Oil, Lube, Candles In Hotel Rooms ... Then Cleaned Up After!!!

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Diddy's former employee George Kaplan says part of his work as an executive assistant at Combs Enterprises called for him to set up hotel rooms for his boss ... complete with some staples for a "freak-off" -- like lube, baby oil and candles.

Kaplan testified Wednesday in Diddy's federal criminal trial in NYC, telling the jury he booked rooms for Diddy at hotels in New York, Miami and Los Angeles -- including at the InterContinental Hotel, where Diddy was later seen on video beating Cassie in March 2016 -- although Kaplan said he only worked for Diddy from 2013 to 2015.

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THE FULL, UNEDITED VIDEO

He told jurors he would book rooms for Diddy using the alias Frank Black ... which he says was derived from one of The Notorious B.I.G.'s nicknames, Frank White.

Exotic Male Dancer 'The Punisher' I Didn't See Any Crimes With Diddy

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JUST AS CONFUSED AS YOU

Sharay Hayes, an exotic male dancer known as "The Punisher," tells us he's unsure why federal prosecutors called him as a witness in the Diddy trial ... because he says he never saw Diddy do anything that seemed illegal and thinks his testimony may have actually helped the defense.

"The Punisher" joined us on "TMZ Live" Wednesday and we asked him if prosecutors gave him any indication why they wanted to get him on the stand, because his testimony Tuesday left many people wondering how prosecutors thought it related to any of the charges against Diddy.

Hayes says he is still confused as to why his testimony was necessary ... telling us he let prosecutors know from the jump he didn't see anything that looked criminal during his sexual interactions with Diddy and Cassie.

Diddy Trial Why Victims Stay With Abusers ... Psychologist Testifies

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Prosecutors are calling an expert witness in the Diddy trial, a clinical and forensic psychologist who is telling the jury about why victims stay in abusive relationships, how they cope, the obstacles they face in leaving, and how their memories are affected by trauma.

Dawn Hughes took the stand Wednesday morning as the 11th witness called by the feds.  Prosecutors are presenting her as an expert witness who specializes in trauma and traumatic stress.

Hughes told jurors it's quite common for victims to remain in abusive relationships ... explaining there's all sorts of mechanisms that make victims feel trapped, and it's not just reserved to physical violence.

Diddy Trial Homeland Security Agent Resumes Testimony ... Details Items Seized in Miami Raid

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Testimony continues Wednesday in Diddy's federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial in NYC, where Homeland Security Investigations Agent Gerard Gannon has taken the stand to continue Tuesday afternoon's questioning.

After some back-and-forth between attorneys regarding proceedings, prosecutors announced Mr. Mescudi -- AKA Kid Cudi -- will not testify Wednesday ... he's expected to take the stand Thursday.

As the hearing got underway, Gannon was asked on the stand by the prosecution about details of the 2024 raid on Diddy's mansion on Star Island in Miami -- pictures from the raid were released into evidence overnight depicting drugs, guns and bedroom items.

Diddy Trial More Cassie Injury Photos Entered in Court

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Diddy's federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial is well into its second week in NYC ... and, more photos detailing Cassie's injuries have been entered into evidence -- capturing the brutal bruising she alleges Diddy caused.

The photos show Cassie sporting black, blue and yellow-green markings ... some on her thighs and upper arm.

In one pic, Cassie's rolling up her shorts ... showing an angry purple welt on the top of her thigh.

Chris Brown I'm A Free Man ... Judge Springs Him From Jail

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Chris Brown can breathe a sigh of relief because he was just granted bail after his arrest for assault in the United Kingdom, TMZ has confirmed.

The R&B singer did not appear for a hearing in London's Southwark Crown Court Wednesday ... but a judge signed off on releasing him from jail, paving the way for him to begin his world tour in a few weeks.

The judge ordered Chris — who has not yet entered a plea -- to pay 5 million in British pounds as a security fee to the court, which translates to roughly $6.7 million in American dollars. We don't know the details of his bail conditions, but we'll update you once we get word.

'Gigolos' Star I Knew About Diddy ... Not Surprised Costars Tangled Up in Trial

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Jimmy Clabots says he and other escorts were well aware of what went on in Diddy's bedroom for a long time ... and he's not surprised some of his ex-costars are now wrapped up in the trial.

Clabots, who appeared on "Gigolos" Seasons 1 and 2 as Jimmy Dior, tells us he was on hold a few times for Diddy, but was never ultimately booked.

He did, however, know other escorts at the agency who were ... and some of the guys told him they did see "chemicals" -- or drug use -- while others did not.

Diddy Trial Highlights The Punisher, Obama X Pills, Cassie's Mom ... Feds Hone in on RICO

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DAY 7 WRAP-UP

Prosecutors seemed to be getting more testimony geared towards the racketeering charge against Diddy in the seventh day of witnesses on the stand ... but there were still some outlandish stories told in court too.

The wildest testimony came courtesy of a male exotic dancer nicknamed "The Punisher" ... he told the jury about his first meetings with Cassie and Diddy and talked about a book he wrote about erectile dysfunction, "In Search of Freezer Meat."

The 'Punisher' had a lot to say about kinky sex ... but there wasn't a whole lot of meat on the bone when it came to the criminal charges ... even though we'll give him his due as a very entertaining character.

Fertility Clinic Bombing Palm Springs Explosion Caught on Camera ... In Saturday's 'Act of Terrorism'

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THE MASSIVE BLAST

Frightening video shows the bomb going off outside a Palm Springs, California fertility clinic Saturday morning ... sending a fiery plume of smoke into the air.

TMZ obtained video ... nothing seems out of the ordinary on the sunshine-filled day, when all of a sudden a muffled blast goes off, followed by a tall puff of dark smoke aggressively shooting upward.

One person, the suspect, was killed in the explosion outside American Reproductive Centers fertility clinic, with 4 injured.

Exotic Male Dancer 'The Punisher' Read Erotic Tales About Cassie, Diddy ... I Had E.D. Half the Time

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Sharay Hayes, an exotic male dancer known as "The Punisher," included his sexual experiences with Cassie and Diddy in his memoir about erectile dysfunction ... and it's very graphic.

Hayes took the stand Tuesday in Diddy's federal criminal trial in NYC and he told the jury he wrote about Diddy and Cassie in his book, "In Search of Freezer Meat."

He testified he did not name Cassie or Diddy in the book, instead referring to them as a married wealthy couple ... and we found the six pages where he talks about their sexual encounters -- and it's vivid, to put it mildly.

Erik and Lyle Menendez Will They Ever Be Released From Prison??? Next Hearing Postponed

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Erik and Lyle Menendez will have to bite their nails a little longer before finding out whether they'll get released from prison ... because the parole board has kicked their hearing date down the road.

The Menendez brothers were slated to go before the California parole board on June 13 after a judge resentenced them earlier this month to 50 years to life for the infamous 1989 shotgun murders of their parents, Kitty and Jose Menendez.

After two trials, Erik and Lyle were finally convicted in 1996 and originally sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.