P Diddy trial live updates: Texts alleging drug use, physical and sexual abuse revealed in court
This story contains graphic descriptions that some readers may find disturbing.
Sean "Diddy" Combs, who throughout his criminal trial has been accused of orchestrating elaborate sexual performances, faces additional scrutiny as more details on his alleged excesses emerge.
Jurors on June 16 saw messages between Combs and his former chief of staff Kristina "KK" Khorram, a woman he called his "right hand" throughout her employment. Some messages allegedly showed Combs talking about a male escort and a drug dealer.
But other texts showed two of Combs' former partners – Cassie Ventura Fine and a woman who testified using the pseudonym Jane – telling Khorram they needed help with the alleged violence and sexual abuse they faced in their relationships with Combs.
"No one deserves to be dragged by their hair," Ventura Fine wrote in one message. In another, she said "I can't do the violent, scary, kick-me-out-my-own-house thing anymore."
The embattled hip-hop mogul returned to Manhattan court following a bombshell June 13 hearing that saw Comb's hip-hop peer Ye make a surprise appearance and Chelsea Lovelace, one of Combs' accusers in a separate case, reveal her identity in an amended lawsuit.
Additionally, Combs' former personal assistant Jonathan Perez, who worked for him up until his September 2024 arrest, opened up about his preparations and clean-up efforts for Combs' alleged "king nights" — aka "freak off" sex parties.
Combs, 55, was arrested in September and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors showed jurors messages from Ventura Fine centering around Combs' alleged "freak offs." The texts and other communications all pointed to the planning aspects of the elaborate sexual performances.
In one message, Cassie coordinated a meeting with an escort named Vin. Another text exchange with a person named Santiago saw Ventura Fine agree to meet at 3 a.m. at the L'Ermitage hotel in Beverly Hills – after the man said he would like to do another "voyeur encounter.'
Santiago also asked Combs' then-girlfriend how he should dress and whether he should bring baby oil.
In another message between Ventura Fine and a person named Dave, the man texted around 1:30 or 1:45 a.m. to notify Cassie he had arrived at a meeting location. Roughly six hours later, he texted saying, "Thanks lol."
Prosecutors showed text messages and emails from Combs about booking a flight for a man named "Jules" to travel from Los Angeles and New York in 2009. Jules was a male escort who previous witnesses have said participated in the rapper's alleged "freak offs."
Other messages between Combs and members of his teams also showed discussions about purchasing flights for the man.
Prosecutors said that they'll rest their case by the end of court proceedings on June 18, ahead of the Juneteenth holiday the following day.
But before they wrap up their arguments, prosecutors are going to call two to three more witnesses. That includes another former Combs assistant named Brendan Paul.
Federal prosecutors on June 5 referred to Combs' former staffer Kristina Khorram as "an agent and co-conspirator" of the rapper.
That doesn't mean she's about to face charges: Instead, it indicates she's likely reached an agreement with prosecutors and will testify. Combs previously called Khorram his "right hand" in business ventures.
The designation also comes as prosecutors submitted a text from Ventura Fine to Khorram about the alleged 2016 balcony incident in which Combs attacked Bryana "Bana" Bongolan. The message from Ventura Fine said Combs "went at Bana, choked her, dangled her feet off the balcony. This is crazy. I have to get away."
Ananya Sankar, a paralegal specialist for the U.S. Attorney's Office, took the stand June 16 to go through communications from Combs' one-time "right hand" Kristina "KK" Khorram to the mogul and his ex-girlfriends.
The court saw text messages of Khorram setting up flights for his girlfriend identified as Jane in court as well as escorts. The messages also instructed Jane to pick up "a Guido package." Guido was one of Combs' alleged drug dealers.
The court heard an audio message from Combs asking Khorram for a hotel room and $10,000, and another audio message of Combs saying, "Can you let Guido in and take care of what needs to be taken care of, please?"
"Yes, it's been handled," Khorram texted back.
The court also saw texts from Ventura Fine to Khorram, dating back to 2017 and 2018. "No one deserves to be dragged by their hair," Cassie wrote in one. In another, she said, "I can't do the violent, scary, kick-me-out-my-own-house thing anymore."
There was also a 2023 text from Jane to Khorram, in which she said, "No more hard-partying and no more hotel nights." She also said she wanted to celebrate Combs' birthday normally.
In another text from Jane to Combs from 2023, Combs' former girlfriend alleged that she lost work opportunities "being coerced into this dark and humiliating lifestyle." According to pictures in evidence, Khorram frequently took photos of phone screens using other devices, in order to keep a record of Jane's text conversations with Combs.
So far in the trial, the court has heard from big names including Ventura Fine, Scott Mescudi (aka Kid Cudi) and Dawn Richard. The jury has also heard from Cassie's past and present inner circle, including: Ventura Fine's mother, Regina Ventura; stylist Deonte Nash; makeup artist Mylah Morales; fashion designer Bongolan; and former friend Kerry Morgan.
Several former personal assistants have also taken the stand, including: Jonathan Perez, an anonymous woman dubbed "Mia," Capricorn Clark, George Kaplan and David James.
Along with Cassie and many of his former assistants, other witnesses have testified about the mogul's "freak off" sex parties, including an ex-girlfriend anonymously identified as Jane Doe, and male exotic dancer Sharay Hayes.
There has also been testimony from various experts, officials and a security officer for the InterContinental hotel, who accepted a bribe in exchange for footage of Diddy beating Cassie at the hotel in 2016.
You may have seen major celebs like Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio named during Combs' trial. But the A-list actors aren't accused of anything − they've only been mentioned in the background of events Combs attended.
For example, a former assistant identified as Mia alleged that she witnessed a 2012 discussion between Combs and Cassie Ventura Fine escalate at the premiere of a Pitt film during the Cannes Film Festival in France.
She claimed she saw Combs grit his teeth while digging his nails into Ventura Fine's arm, and he eventually insisted that Ventura Fine leave.
Mia also referenced a high-stakes poker game between Combs and DiCaprio in texts she sent him around 2020.
In one message, she wrote that Combs said, while cursing: "That 'Titanic' (guy) doesn't know (anything). He won $10,000, I won $650,000."
Some have also questioned whether other celebrities, such as Will Smith, Eddie Murphy and Ashton Kutcher, will take the stand. There's no evidence that the musician and actor will be called in the case.
After juror No. 6 was officially dismissed in June 16, an alternate juror was promoted to take his place. During the jury selection process, prosecutors and Combs' lawyers selected 12 initial jurors and six alternates in case of dismissal or another emergency.
The newest juror is a 57-year-old accountant from Westchester County, according to multiple reports. He is a white man.
Diddy on trial newsletter: Step inside the courtroom as music mogul faces sex-crimes charges.
Judge Arun Subramanian dismissed juror No. 6 on June 16, apparently over the juror's statements about where he lives and who he lives with at home. The move came after nearly a week of back-and-forth over what prosecutors had described as the man's "lack of candor" about his living situation.
During jury selection, the man apparently said he lives with his partner and daughter in the Bronx. But last week, he reportedly said he's been living with his family in New Jersey.
But that doesn't mean prosecutors and Combs' lawyers have to go back to the jury selection process. That's because six alternate jurors have been on the sidelines in the trial.
The juror is a 41-year-old Black male, but no other details were immediately available.
While on the stand June 13, Perez recalled an incident in Combs' Los Angeles home in which he allegedly heard Combs' videographer yelling from another room. When Perez went into the room, he found a video on a staff iPad of Combs' then-girlfriend, testifying under the pseudonym "Jane," having sex with another man as Combs was in the background.
About an hour or two later, Perez said, he told Combs about the video, asking whether he should delete it, lock it in a safe or something else. Later that day, when Combs' chief of staff Kristina "KK" Khorram arrived, Perez also told her about the video, he said. Khorram told him that in the future, matters like the video should be brought right to her, and she would communicate them to Combs, Perez testified.
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In a text exchange with Perez, Khorram and Joey Chavez — another assistant — Khorram continually checked in on the progress of the "freak off" room setup. During the exchange, Perez and Chavez let her know that there were fruits, shakes, juices and a pair of large shorts for Combs.
Perez was on his way to an adult store to send pictures of lingerie outfits, texting the pictures to Khorram, who would then send them to Jane for her approval. In one text, Khorram asked them how the cleanup was going. "Slipped and fell twice," Chavez replied, seemingly in reference to the copious amount of Astroglide lubricant and baby oil used during "king nights."
A woman who first accused Combs of impregnating and drugging her in a September lawsuit has revealed her name.
Chelsea Lovelace amended her New York State Supreme Court complaint on June 13, revealing herself as the woman who accused Combs of a "yearslong pattern of abuse, manipulation and control" that allegedly took place from 2020 until his arrest in September 2024.
In the filing reviewed by USA TODAY, Lovelace also said Combs allegedly forced her to "have vaginal intercourse without her consent," drugging her and impregnating her, and that Combs and his staff recorded their sexual encounters without consent. The woman said she later had a miscarriage around 2022.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs accuser reveals her identity in lawsuit alleging 4-year 'pattern of abuse'
Ye, whose unexpected June 13 arrival added another layer of intrigue to an already closely watched trial, went to a second overflow room that the court opened up. The rapper, formerly known as Kanye West, sat in the room for 10 minutes or less and was watching a bit of testimony before leaving.
Afterward, Ye was seated in the front row of overflow room 23B, watching the monitor with his bodyguards. He wasn't seen saying anything, but one of his bodyguards turned to him and appeared to explain something. After about seven to 10 minutes, he got up and they all left the courthouse.
An unnamed security guard alleged Ye was at the courthouse the day prior for an hour, though reports or sightings did not surface.
Ye shows up to courthouse at Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial in surprise appearance
Combs is facing federal sex-crimes and trafficking charges in a sprawling case that has eroded his status as a power player and kingmaker in the entertainment industry.
He was arrested in September 2024 and later charged with racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. The rapper has pleaded not guilty to the five counts against him.
Racketeering is the participation in an illegal scheme under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Statute, or RICO, as a way for the U.S. government to prosecute organizations that contribute to criminal activity.
Using RICO law, which is typically aimed at targeting multi-person criminal organizations, prosecutors allege that Combs coerced victims, some of whom they say were sex workers, through intimidation and narcotics to participate in "freak offs" — sometimes dayslong sex performances that federal prosecutors allege they have video of.
The trial will not be televised, as cameras are typically not allowed in federal criminal trial proceedings.
USA TODAY will be reporting live from the courtroom. Sign up for our newsletter for more updates.
Contributing: USA TODAY staff
If you are a survivor of sexual assault, RAINN offers support through the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org and en Español RAINN.org/es.
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, call the at 800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: P Diddy trial live updates: Jurors see texts on Jules, drug dealer
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