Introduction to the Case
On Tuesday, a dramatic turn of events occurred during the Federal Criminal Police proceedings against Sean "Diddy" Combs. A woman, who had been observing the case from the gallery, stood up and shouted at the accused, disrupting the ongoing testimony in the fifth week of the trial. The judge in the case identified the woman as Jacqueline "Candor" Williams.
Who is Jacqueline Williams?
Williams had been a regular presence both inside and outside the court building in Lower Manhattan. She would often speak to her smartphone in front of the courthouse, where members of the press gathered daily to await comments from Combs’ mother and sons. Williams had also been present in the court’s overflow space, where the public and press could observe the trial on TV screens. On Tuesday, she managed to secure a seat in the courtroom where the trial was being held.
The Outburst
During the trial, Williams suddenly shouted out, "This motherfucker laughs at you!" followed by some obscene comments. She then yelled, "You laugh at the legacy of a black man" and added, "Pull your gun out, Ninja, I dare." Combs remained calm throughout the outburst, but when Williams mentioned a gun, he turned to his chair with an open mouth.
Aftermath of the Outburst
Judge Arun Subramanian quickly ordered Williams to be removed from the courtroom. She was told not to return to the trial area but was allowed to continue observing the trial from the overflow space. The Hollywood Reporter reached out to Williams on Instagram but did not receive an immediate response.
Testimony Continues
The outburst caused a minor delay, and the trial continued with the testimony of Eddy Garcia, an employee of a Los Angeles hotel. Garcia recounted the 2016 incident in which Combs allegedly struck and dragged his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura. Garcia, a 33-year-old security guard at the time, claimed he accepted $100,000 for what he believed was the only footage of the incident. He shared the money with a manager and another employee but had shown the footage to his wife and a video of Combs attacking Ventura.
Previous Testimony
Garcia’s testimony followed that of "Mia," a former personal assistant of Combs, who used a pseudonym in court as part of her testimony. Mia discussed several alleged incidents in which she claimed to have been raped or sexually assaulted by Combs. However, her identity was recently published online by a YouTube streamer and another outlet on X (formerly Twitter).
Concerns Over Mia’s Identity
Prosecutor Maurene Comey expressed concerns over the release of Mia’s identity after the YouTube streamer shared it. The streamer has since been banned by the Federal Court and will no longer be able to cover the trial. Comey also informed the judge that a second outlet published Mia’s real name on X and requested that the judge ensure the post was removed and the source was barred from the court.
Combs’ Charges
Combs was charged nationwide with sex trafficking, blackmail, and transporting individuals for prostitution in September. He has been held in a federal prison in Brooklyn since then and has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
