Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial recap: Ex-girlfriend 'Jane' faces more cross-examination, says she initiated some 'hotel nights'
The trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs continued Wednesday in Manhattan federal court, with 'Jane' — a pseudonym for an alleged victim and ex-girlfriend of Combs — returning to the witness stand for a fifth day of testimony in the high-profile sex trafficking case.
Federal prosecutors say that for decades, Combs abused, threatened and coerced women to participate in drug-fueled marathon sexual encounters called 'freak offs' and used his business empire, along with guns, kidnapping and arson, to conceal his crimes.
In direct testimony, Jane tearfully recounted the 'freak offs'— which she called 'hotel nights' — telling the court that she felt obligated to 'perform' sex acts for Combs with other men because he was paying her rent. She also testified about a brutal assault she endured before Combs ordered her to cover up her injuries and take ecstasy for an impromptu 'hotel night.'
Facing more cross-examination by the defense on Wednesday, Jane told the court that she initiated some of the encounters, including one in which she hired two men. She appeared emotional while reading texts she sent to Combs in 2023, calling him a 'blessing' and saying she was grateful that he was taking care of her financially.
Combs's defense team said it will finish Jane's cross-examination Thursday morning.
The 55-year-old hip-hop mogul is facing five criminal counts: one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.
Combs has pleaded not guilty. If convicted, he could face life in prison.
Here are some key takeaways from Wednesday's testimony culled from various reporters and news organizations in the courtroom, including CNN, NBC News and the Washington Post.
Before Jane's testimony got underway, Judge Arun Subramanian listened to arguments over a prosecution request to dismiss one of the jurors for reasons that have not yet been made public.
Prosecutor Maurene Comey told Subramanian that the government was initially reluctant to ask for the removal of juror no. 6, but has since concluded the juror appears to have shown 'a lack of candor with the court that raises serious issues.'
Defense attorney Alexandra Shapiro objected, saying it was a 'thinly veiled effort to dismiss a Black juror.'
Subramanian said he would handle the issue on Thursday after hearing in writing from both sides.
Under cross-examination by the defense, Jane acknowledged that she once threatened to not participate in a 'hotel night' with Combs for Valentine's Day 2022 after she saw social media posts of him on vacation with another woman.
She demanded that he leave the vacation a day early and return to her.
When he agreed, she planned the 'hotel night,' decorating the room with rose petals and hiring two male entertainers to have sex with her while Combs watched.
Jane testified that it was her idea to have the two men in the room with her at the same time.
'Yes, that was my suggestion,' Jane said in court, adding that Combs was 'excited about that.'
In late August 2022, Jane testified that she told Combs how much she appreciated the sexual encounters after a hotel night with him and a sex worker named Paul.
Jane texted Combs that she's 'having so much fun' and she would 'never take this for granted and will always make sure you are taken care of.'
Big picture: The defense is seeking to refute the prosecution's claims that the alleged victims were coerced by Combs into participating in the marathon sexual encounters by showing they were willing participants. Having Jane acknowledge that she arranged a 'hotel night' with two men, and later saying she was having 'fun' is part of that effort.
On the witness stand, Jane read text messages she sent to Combs in April 2023 after a hotel night, right around the time she moved into a rented Los Angeles home, which Combs is currently paying for.
'The fact that you are the reason for my child's joy is a feeling inside me that I can't explain,' Jane read, tearing up.
'You are truly a blessing in my life, I have never had a man take care of me like you do,' Jane continued. 'You are my lover, my partner, my boyfriend,' she wrote.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Legal status revoked, flight attendant fraud, life as an amateur golfer: Catch up on the day's stories
👋 Welcome to 5 Things PM! A man accused of falsely posing as a flight attendant so he could fly for free was convicted of fraud. Tiron Alexander claimed to have worked for seven different airlines and had booked more than 100 flights, authorities said. Here's what else you might have missed during your busy day. 1️⃣ CNN exclusive: The Department of Homeland Security told hundreds of thousands of migrants that their permission to live and work in the US had been revoked and that they should leave the country. The termination notice was sent to nationals of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela. 2️⃣ Tense times: The Los Angeles ICE raids sparked protests that have spread to other cities across the country, and more than 1,800 'No Kings' demonstrations are planned for Saturday. President Donald Trump is determined not to let that ruin his military parade. 3️⃣ Pulse memorial: Families and survivors have waited nine years for a memorial in honor of the 49 victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting. The lack of progress has been a source of frustration, but now the city is moving forward with plans. 4️⃣ 'Super weird': An accidental discovery might change how we think about one of the most mysterious structures in our solar system. A planetarium show in New York City revealed something strange within the Oort Cloud. 5️⃣ Dream come true: Golfer Justin Hastings made his major championship debut at the Masters when he was 21. Now he's competing at the US Open. Hastings explained what it's like to be an amateur at one of the sport's greatest events. 🪵 Feeling knotty: A man was seen dumping wooden boards onto the road in front of police vehicles during a high-speed chase in Ohio. His truck later caused a six-vehicle collision — but no life-threatening injuries were reported, according to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office. • US senator forcibly removed from Noem news conference about LA protests• At least one survivor in Air India crash that killed 290 people• The FBI raided the wrong house. The Supreme Court says the family is allowed to sue 🩺 That's how many CDC employees the Department of Health and Human Services is reinstating after they were fired as part of a massive reorganization in April. 🖼️ Reviving a masterpiece: A treasured painting of Hercules and Omphale was damaged during the 2020 explosion in Beirut, and restoring it required more than three years of painstaking work. Now it's on display in Los Angeles. 💬 No regrets: The single mother of three was 'living paycheck to paycheck' in California when she decided to move to Mexico nearly 20 years ago. She says Mazatlán feels like home now. 🎵 Paul McCartney and others paid tribute to Brian Wilson, who died at age 82. Which popular group was Wilson part of? A. The DoorsB. The ByrdsC. Pink FloydD. The Beach Boys⬇️ Scroll down for the answer. 🥪 Hungry? When faced with a craving, there's hardly a country on the planet that doesn't turn to some type of bread with something stuffed inside it. To fuel your next transatlantic trip, here are 25 of the world's best sandwiches. 👋 We'll see you tomorrow. 🧠 Quiz answer: D. Brian Wilson co-founded The Beach Boys and was the creative force behind the group's surf sound.📧 Check out all of CNN's newsletters. 5 Things PM was edited and produced by CNN's Chris Good, Meghan Pryce, Kimberly Richardson and Morgan Severson.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Harvard researcher is released from federal custody following accusations of smuggling frog embryos
Kseniia Petrova, a Harvard scientist who was arrested last month on a federal smuggling charge, was released Wednesday from federal custody following a detention hearing in Boston. Petrova, a Russian citizen, was taken into custody in May after prosecutors in Massachusetts accused her of smuggling frog embryos into the United States without properly declaring them. She was released Thursday on conditions agreed to by both sides. A probable cause hearing on the smuggling charge is tentatively set for June 18. Petrova had been in custody since February, when her visa was revoked at Boston Logan International Airport. 'I just want to thank everybody,' Petrova said outside the federal courthouse in Boston after her release. She said letters and messages from supporters helped her feel less alone while in custody. 'It was a huge support without which I won't be able to survive,' she said. Initially held in a Vermont facility, she was transferred to a Louisiana immigration detention center, where she filed a petition arguing that her detention was unlawful and that she feared persecution if returned to Russia because she had participated in protests against the war in Ukraine. She was moved to federal criminal custody in May after being charged with smuggling. At the time of her arrest, Petrova was working at a Harvard lab, where she had developed computer scripts to analyze images from a microscope that scientists say could transform cancer detection. Her colleagues told NBC News that she was the only person on the team with the rare combination of skills needed to interpret the data. 'That was only her. It was only her,' Leon Peshkin, her mentor and a principal research scientist at Harvard, previously said. Petrova described being confused and isolated after her arrest, saying she was held in a cell without contact with her lawyer or colleagues. 'Nobody knew what was happening to me,' she said. 'I didn't have any contact, not to my lawyer, not to Leon, not to anybody.' In late May, a federal judge in Vermont ordered her release from immigration custody citing concerns about the legal basis for her visa revocation and extended detention. She faces another immigration court hearing in July. This article was originally published on
an hour ago
Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial updates: 'Jane's' testimony concludes; court adjourned for the day
Sean "Diddy" Combs' ex-girlfriend, appearing under the pseudonym 'Jane,' returns to the witness stand for more cross-examination when court resumes this afternoon. The defense had been attempting to cast "Jane" as a willing partner in Combs' lifestyle, which included multiple-partner sexual encounters known as "hotel nights." "Jane" has maintained that she was coerced into participating. "Jane" told the jury on direct examination that her three-year relationship with Combs made her feel 'manipulated,' 'used,' and 'resentful.' On cross-examination, "Jane" testified, 'I loved spending time with my partner.' She told the jury how she like to bathe Combs and give him foot rubs. 'He was my baby,' "Jane" testified. 'I'm naturally nurturing.' After "Jane" told federal prosecutors on direct examination that Combs subjected her to so much sex with male prostitutes that it took over her life, defense attorney Teny Geragos sought to highlight the benefits of her relationship with Combs, including a $20,000 investment in her line of swimwear and dresses, paying the $10,000 monthly rent on her 5,300-square-foot home, and giving her gifts, including a Van Cleef necklace and a luxury handbag. 'What is a Bottega bag?' Geragos asked Tuesday. 'I'm sure you have one,' "Jane" retorted from the witness stand. 'I actually don't,' Geragos shot back. 'How much do Bottega bags run?' 'How much does my body cost?' "Jane" testified in reply. Judge Arun Subramanian then reminded her to answer the question. When Geragos asked whether Combs had given her a Chanel bag, "Jane" told the court, 'No, I only got trauma.' But the defense appeared skeptical of "Jane's" claims that she was traumatized by 'hotel nights.' Geragos showed the jury an effusive text message "Jane" wrote about a night with a male prostitute that she previously testified left her in tears. 'I love you so, so, so, so much,' the message said. 'I feel closer to you on another level.' The defense also showed more explicit messages 'trifecta' and that they compared themselves to basketball stars: "Jane" was Kobe Bryant, Paul was Shaquille O'Neal and Combs was Michael Jordan. Defense cross-examination of "Jane" is expected to continue through Thursday.
