Diddy Trial: Alleged Victim ‘Jane' Faces Cross-Examination

Forbes

2 days ago

An ex-girlfriend of Sean 'Diddy' Combs and one of his alleged victims central to the prosecution's case faces cross-examination from the defense Tuesday following days of testimony, as prosecutors describe the woman using the pseudonym 'Jane' as one of the most important witnesses in Combs' sex trafficking and racketeering trial, alongside Cassie Ventura.
'Jane,' one of the alleged sex trafficking victims named in Combs' indictment, where she is referred to as 'Victim-2,' is fielding questions from Combs' lawyers Tuesday, where she has so far testified Combs coerced her into sexual performances similar to the 'freak-offs' Ventura described during her testimony.
Jane, who said she was in a relationship with Combs from 2021 to 2024, testified Tuesday she 'resented' Combs for allegedly making her participate in what they called 'hotel nights,' in which Combs would hire a male escort to have sex with her, USA Today reported.
Defense lawyers pressed Jane on whether she loved Combs, and she said on the stand she still loves him and participated in their 'hotel nights' out of love for him and because she enjoyed the attention he would give her during those encounters, NBC News reported.
Combs' lawyers also questioned Jane about financial support Combs had given her, and Jane testified Combs wired her about $150,000 throughout their relationship, paid her rent and paid for a lawyer she retained amid Combs' legal problems.
Jane told defense lawyers she was concerned about Combs' drug use and suggested he go to rehab, testifying she believed he was developing jaundice, graying gums and shaky hands from what she believed were alcohol withdrawals, USA Today reported.
Jane testified during cross-examination Combs told her at the beginning of their relationship he was polyamorous, but Jane became jealous once he began publicly dating the rapper Yung Miami, and in a text shown to the court, Jane told Combs: 'I'm not Cassie, and I'll make your life hell.'
During the prosecutor's direct questioning, which stretched from Thursday to Monday, Jane testified about various alleged physical altercations with Combs, described feeling coerced into and 'disgusted' by 'hotel night' sexual performances and alleged Combs made her transport drugs across state lines multiple times. Jane testified she typically took drugs to get through 'hotel nights' so they wouldn't feel 'too real,' and she said her longest encounter lasted three-and-a-half days, the Associated Press reported. Jane's testimony about 'hotel nights' mirrors Ventura's testimony about 'freak offs,' and once Ventura sued Combs in 2023, Jane said she 'fainted' and felt like she was 'reading my own story.' She testified she confronted Combs about the Ventura lawsuit and told him in a text: 'I feel like I'm reading my own sexual trauma,' NBC News reported. She testified she felt suicidal ideation during her relationship with Combs and told him in text messages in late 2023 that she wanted to die. Jane detailed a June 2024 fight she had with Combs, during which he punched and kicked her multiple times, she testified, after which he told her to put on makeup to cover her injuries because they were about to have another 'hotel night,' CNN reported. Jane also testified she was with Combs on the day CNN published surveillance footage depicting him assaulting Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel, during which time she gave him space to be with his family. Jane said she never heard him deny the video was authentic, and once they discussed the video weeks later, Jane testified Combs said that was the 'only time' he and Ventura 'had physical violence like that.'
Ventura, considered the prosecution's star witness, testified for much of the trial's first week, telling the court Combs had forced her to participate in sexual encounters with male escorts and physically abused her throughout their decade-long relationship, also alleging he raped her in 2018. Rapper Kid Cudi also took the stand, testifying Combs broke into his house, shortly after which his car exploded in his driveway, after he found out Kid Cudi was dating Ventura in 2011. Another alleged victim testified under the pseudonym 'Mia,' alleging Combs repeatedly sexually assaulted her and physically abused her while she worked as his assistant.
Jane's testimony is expected to last until Thursday, the Washington Post reported. Combs' trial is slated to wrap up by the July 4 weekend.
Combs faces five federal charges: two counts of sex trafficking, two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution and one count of racketeering conspiracy. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Separately, Combs faces dozens of civil lawsuits alleging sexual assault and sex trafficking, all of which Combs has denied.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs Trial: Cassie Testifies About Alleged 2018 Rape As Cross-Examination Wraps Up (Forbes)
Diddy Trial: Kid Cudi Testifies Sean Combs Broke Into His House Before His Car Was Firebombed (Forbes)