Week 2-May 21 Key Expert Testimony During Diddy Federal Trial

By T.L. Reigns

The Scoop Digital Newspaper: June 2025

Forensic Psychologist Explains Why Victims Stay in Abusive Relationships

Dr. Dawn Hughes, a forensic psychologist with over 30 years of experience, testified this week as an expert witness in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial. She was called by the prosecution to educate the jury on the psychological dynamics of domestic violence, sexual abuse, coercive control, and trauma bonding.

Dr. Hughes made it clear she had not evaluated any of the parties involved in the case and was instead testifying as a blind expert to provide general insight on abuse and trauma. When asked why many victims remain in abusive relationships, Dr. Hughes explained, “There are psychological bonds, and psychological consequences, that make it very difficult to leave.”

She emphasized that abuse does not have to be constant or physically violent to be damaging. “Fear can come from many levels. It doesn’t have to be ongoing physical violence. Psychological abuse, like intimidation, throwing things, or restricting freedom, can be equally powerful,” she testified. 

However, the defense objected, and some of her responses were later struck from the record.

Dr. Hughes described coercive control as a common feature in abusive relationships, though the court limited her ability to elaborate on that topic. When discussing sexual abuse, she noted it often instills profound fear and psychological distress in victims. 

“Shame and degradation make it harder to think clearly or leave. Many victims don’t want to label their partner as an abuser,” she said.

She explained that emotional and financial control also trap victims, citing examples like controlling housing, transportation, and access to technology. In one example, she said, “Taking away her laptop may seem minor, but it removes independence.” That portion was objected to and sustained by the judge.

Dr. Hughes introduced the concept of “love bombing”, a honeymoon phase where an abuser overwhelms the victim with affection and gifts to regain control. “This pattern makes it harder to leave. It can take victims multiple attempts to finally break away,” she said.

When asked about common coping strategies, Dr. Hughes said many victims “try to work things out” due to trauma bonding. Others appease or placate the abuser to prevent another episode. “Victims often return to the ‘good’ version of their partner, the one they still love,” she testified.

She also described minimization, a psychological defense in which victims excuse the abuse, blaming it on the abuser having a bad day or being intoxicated. “This is a short-term coping mechanism,” she said. “But it increases the risk and allows the abuse to continue.”

Dr. Hughes discussed both passive and active self-defense. Passive tactics include curling up or blocking blows, while active tactics may involve throwing objects or hitting back. “Self-defense is often an attempt to survive, but it can lead to more severe injury for the victim,” she explained.

When asked when victims typically speak out, Dr. Hughes said disclosure often happens only in safe environments or after therapy. Victims tend to speak in minimizing or fragmented terms, remembering core details like smells, sounds, or textures, but not always linear facts. “Trauma affects memory. They remember the gist, not every detail,” she said.

She noted that abuse by strangers is more likely to be reported than abuse by intimate partners. “The closer the relationship, the less likely a victim will disclose,” Hughes testified.

Under cross-examination, defense attorney Jonathan Bach asked Dr. Hughes about her professional observations. She acknowledged that victims of abuse often use substances, such as narcotics, to cope with anxiety and fear. 

Bach asked if she was familiar with malingering, faking or exaggerating symptoms. Dr. Hughes confirmed she was and that she is trained to assess it if relevant.

Her testimony is expected to help jurors understand the psychological complexities behind Cassie Ventura’s long-term relationship with Combs, and the patterns of behavior prosecutors allege are consistent with abuse, coercion, and trauma bonding.

^{Testimony read from Official Court Transcripts from Down the Rabbit Hole News on YouTube.}

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