Live updates: Kid Cudi expected to testify in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' sex-trafficking trial
What to know about the sex-trafficking trial
Combs' former assistant George Kaplan briefly testified yesterday and will return to the witness stand today. Kaplan described the demanding job of being Combs' bag man and cleaning up liquor bottles and baby oil from hotel rooms.
Rapper Kid Cudi was slated to take the stand yesterday, but his appearance has been postponed until today. Cudi is expected to testify about his relationship with Cassie Ventura.
Combs faces 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 vociferously denied the allegations against him.
This live briefing may include graphic descriptions of sexual violence. For resources on sexual assault, call the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline.
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NBC News
9 hours ago
- NBC News
Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial recap: Judge threatens to remove Combs; defense accuses witness of lying
What to know about the sex trafficking trial Sean "Diddy" Combs was almost removed from the courtroom today for attempting to interact with jurors. Judge Arun Subramanian angrily admonished the defense team and demanded Combs stop making faces at the jury, or else he would be kicked out of court. Bryana Bongolan — a friend of Combs' former girlfriend Cassie Ventura — returned to the stand today for more questions about her claim that Combs dangled her over a 17th-story balcony in 2016 before he threw her onto the balcony's furniture. Combs' defense repeatedly called into question Bongolan's account of the alleged balcony incident, at one point directly accusing her of lying to the jury. A woman using the pseudonym "Jane" also took the stand today. She said she was in a romantic relationship with Combs from 2021 to 2024. "Jane" provided graphic details about "hotel nights," when, she said, Combs would arrange for her to have drug-fueled sex with another man as he watched. The details of the "hotel nights" are nearly identical to what Ventura referred to as "freak offs." "Jane" said that she did not want to participate in the "hotel nights" but that Combs would threaten her financially if she refused. Combs faces 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 vociferously denied the allegations against him. This live briefing may include graphic descriptions of sexual violence. For resources on sexual assault, call the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline.
NBC News
12 hours ago
- NBC News
'Jane,' ex-girlfriend of Diddy, testifies feeling financially threatened into 'freak offs'
This is a free article for Diddy on Trial newsletter subscribers. to get exclusive reporting and analysis throughout Sean Combs' federal trial. A former girlfriend of Diddy's took the stand today under the pseudonym 'Jane' and testified that the music mogul pressured her to participate in drug-fueled sexual encounters known as 'freak offs.' At first, Jane said, she and Diddy shared a loving relationship beginning in 2021, giving each other the nicknames Bert and Ernie. But after her first 'freak off,' it became a 'Pandora's box' situation in which, she said, she had to oblige. The sex sessions could last between 24 and 30 hours with no sleep, Jane said. Diddy would arrange the 'freak offs' around the world. As a single mother who came to depend on Diddy, 'I felt an obligation because I knew he was paying my rent,' she testified. Known as 'Victim-2' in the prosecution's indictment, Jane is expected to testify over multiple days, presumably building on allegations that Diddy used his business empire as a criminal enterprise to fulfill his desires. Here's who else testified today: Bryana Bongolan, the friend of Casandra Ventura 's who said she was dangled over a 17th-floor balcony in Los Angeles in 2016, was on the witness stand for a second day under cross-examination. Defense lawyer Nicole Westmoreland questioned that timeline of events and showed receipts that indicated Diddy was in New York. 'You came in here and lied to the jury, isn't that true?' Westmoreland asked, to which Bongolan replied, 'I can't agree with you.' Enrique Santos, an investigative analyst for the U.S. attorney's office, briefly took the stand to talk about extracting data from cellphones. In one text message, Ventura informed a top Diddy aide about the alleged dangling incident. By Adam Reiss, Chloe Melas, Jing Feng and Austin C. Mullen In a striking moment for the otherwise mild-mannered Judge Arun Subramanian, he admonished the defense team after Diddy apparently flashed facial expressions at jurors during Bongolan's testimony. 'There was a line of questioning where your client was nodding vigorously and looking at the jury,' Subramanian said, warning that if Diddy didn't stop, 'it could result in the exclusion of your client from the courtroom.' Diddy, in an oversize cream sweater and khaki pants, had been extremely engaged with his legal team all day, passing notes and conferring with his lawyers. In the morning, he waved and blew a kiss to his mother, Janice Combs, right after proceedings began. And when one of his lawyers made objections before the jury came in, he nodded in affirmation. In other news: There were audible gasps and laughter in the courtroom overflow room with members of the public during the cross-examination of Bongolan, as Westmoreland got the witness to repeatedly say, 'I don't remember.' Westmoreland showed her legal chops again today in her exchanges with Bongolan. Meanwhile, Jane's taking the stand drew obvious interest from the media and spectators in the overflow room, with some wondering how someone so close to Diddy became a witness for the prosecution. 👨⚖️ Analysis: Look not guilty By Danny Cevallos Diddy was reprimanded for trying to connect with jurors. Generally, it's OK for a defendant to react to testimony, but it should be subtle. A nod or a shake of the head is acceptable. But it's also unwise. Defendants should not be showing much emotion at the defense table. It seems counterintuitive, right? After all, if you are on trial, and you believe you are innocent, wouldn't you show emotion at all these 'lies' being told about you? But for whatever reason, emotive defendants do not play well with juries. It's a paradox: The jury is constantly watching the defendant, but the defendant shouldn't actually do anything. A defense attorney once told me he advises his clients to 'just sit there and look not guilty.' But what does that mean? What it doesn't mean is acting out. No muttering under the breath. No harrumphing. And, if Diddy is trying to make eye contact or otherwise connect with jurors, that's crossing the line. It's another example of a defendant trying to engage in self-help. And that's almost always a bad idea. Tomorrow: Jane is expected to return to the stand for more questioning from prosecutors. PSA: Every night during Diddy's trial, NBC's 'Dateline' will drop special episodes of the 'True Crime Weekly' podcast to get you up to speed. 'Dateline' correspondent Andrea Canning chats with NBC News' Chloe Melas and special guests — right in front of the courthouse. Listen here. 🎧
Sky News
13 hours ago
- Sky News
Diddy trial latest: Baby oil comes up again at Diddy trial - after judge threatens to throw rapper out of court
An anonymous former girlfriend and alleged victim of Sean "Diddy" Combs - known only as Jane - begun her evidence against the rapper on the 17th day of his sex-trafficking trial. Scroll down to catch up on proceedings as they happened. 21:11:58 Court finishes for the day It's just after 4pm in New York and so the judge leaves Jane's testimony there for the day. She will be back on the stand tomorrow and is expected to continue giving evidence for several days next week as well. We'll be back with a recap of today's hearing soon - in the meantime scroll through our posts to catch up on what was said in court. 21:09:47 Escort sex sessions lasted up to 30 hours with no sleep, Jane tells court Jane tells the court that she and Sean "Diddy" Combs had "hotel night" - sexual encounters with male escorts, also described as "freak offs" during Cassie's testimony - in Turks and Caicos, Miami, Los Angeles and New York. Combs's employees would arrange travel, she says, and he would pay. Hotel nights always followed the same pattern, the court hears - "hotel suites, red lights, music, lotions and alcohol, there would be bed sheets covering everything, blankets and towels, because of the excessive use of baby oil everywhere". Jane says she would "have drugs in my system" and wear "provocative" lingerie and "high stripper shoes". The encounters with escorts would start with small talk before she would dance in her robe, she says, to "get my nerves out". Combs liked her to pour baby oil on the men and on herself, she says, and adds that a "typical hotel night lasted a very long time". After having sex with an escort, Combs would "excuse" her, she says, and they would have sex with each other. They typically lasted between 24 and 30 hours, she says, with "no sleep". 20:52:20 Jane 'wanted to earn her own money and considered OnlyFans - but Diddy said to wait' Jane is continuing to answer questions about her relationship with Sean "Diddy" Combs, telling the court it was always him who decided when they would see each other. Often, this was at short notice - a night before or on the day, the court hears. She tells jurors she always made sure she was "put together" and ready in case he called. "I liked looking beautiful for him." Combs liked her with straight hair and white coloured nails, she says, and later in the relationship he wanted her to get piercings. "Looking nice" took a lot of time and money and became like a "habit", she continues, as she strived to make him happy. The court hears that while Jane started to earn less money after she prioritised her relationship with Combs, the rapper would support her with money - payments of $5,000, $10,000 or $20,000, she says. She tells the court she wanted to make her own money and had considered content creating on adult website OnlyFans - posting photos but not showing sexual activity. Combs told her to give it time, the court hears. Asked why she felt she needed his approval, she replies: "I felt like he was my boyfriend." 20:38:38 Jane describes 'debauchery' or 'hotel nights' - and says she felt 'obligated' as Diddy paid rent After that first night in May 2021, Jane is asked what percentage of the time with Sean "Diddy" Combs she was having sex with another man. She replies: "90%." Asked if this is what she wanted, she says: "No." Jane tells the court she wanted "an old-fashioned relationship with me and him" - which is how it felt when they first met. After the first sexual encounter with an escort, Combs quickly suggested they do it again, Jane says, telling the court she was agreeable because she wanted him to be happy. "I went along with it because I loved him at this point," she says. However, Jane says she started to tell him - more than once, in writing and in person - that she did not want to have sex with other men. Over the next three years she says she told him this "many times", but it would be "uncomfortable" whenever the subject came up. Combs would dismiss it and move the conversation on, she says, or tell her she didn't have to. He would also tell her she could break up with him if she wanted to, she says. Combs paid her rent, but would threaten to stop doing so, she adds. Jane says she felt "obligated" to perform on some nights "because I knew he was paying my rent". Asked the words she and Combs used to describe the sexual encounters with male escorts, she says they would call them "debauchery" or "hotel nights". 20:27:01 First sexual encounter with male escort 'opened Pandora's box', Jane tells court After being told by Sean "Diddy" Combs that he could make the fantasy of role play with another man come true, Jane says she went to the bathroom. When she returned, she says he was in his robe and "looking serious" on his phone. He told her he could "make it happen tonight", the court hears. Jane says she was taken aback but agreed. A few hours later, she says assistants set up a room for them and she was introduced to an escort, Don. She tells the court she was nervous but Combs told her to relax and asked her to stand up. At his suggestion, she started dancing, she says, as the escort got closer and started to touch her. Combs was naked, she says, and masturbated as he watched them. Jane says she wanted to "speed things up" so asked for a condom. Combs told her he "didn't want that", she says, saying the guys were "safe" and regularly tested. Eventually, however, he did give Don a condom and they had sex, she says. Afterwards, Don left and the two of them had sex together, she says. "We were really happy." The day afterwards, Jane says she "felt excited" that she had done something "taboo", something she had never done before. However, she says she thought it was a one-off. Asked how the relationship changed after this, she tells the court "it opened a Pandora's box", and "set the tone" going forward. 20:11:06 'Diddy wanted role play with other men and liked me to have baby oil all over' Jane tells the court her relationship with Sean "Diddy" Combs was kept private. Between February 2021 and May 2021, she says he would fly her to see him in Miami every few weeks, and also gave her money. During this period, they took drugs including ecstasy, molly (MDMA), cocaine and ketamine, she says. Jane says Combs wanted her to wear "provocative lingerie outfits" when they had sex and liked her to have baby oil "all over my body". Sexual sessions could last for up to 24 hours and he liked to have red lights on in their hotel rooms, she adds. Asked how she felt about the long sex sessions at this point, Jane tells the court she "really loved" Combs and enjoyed the affection. "Sean was really passionate," she says, and very complimentary. In those first three months, she says she "loved him very much". Asked what happened in May 2021, she bows her head and becomes emotional. "We would watch a lot of pornography, we started having a lot more fantasy conversations." Combs started to talk about role play with other men, she says, and one night told her he could make the fantasy a reality. Jane says she told him "okay" - but did not think it would really happen and says she did not want to have sex with anyone other than Combs. 19:55:02 Diddy 'used L word' - but made it clear he was seeing other women, Jane tells court In February 2021, Sean "Diddy" Combs and Jane went on a trip to the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Bahamas, the court hears. Jane says he organised the break after she told him her birthday was coming up, and that he had several members of staff there too, including an assistant, a chef and a butler. She says they had a good connection and were "passionate" about each other - that she told him about her work and being a single mother. Asked about gifts during this trip, Jane tells the court Combs gave her a bracelet - and later offered to send her $10,000 because she wasn't working while they were there. She is also asked about drugs, and says they took ecstasy. Jane tells the court she developed deep feelings for Combs and that they "started using 'the L word'." He told her he "really liked" her, she says, but made it clear he was seeing "multiple" women. She says she was okay with this because she liked him. Asked if she had the option of a monogamous relationship, she replies: "I don't think so." The relationship lasted, on and off, until Combs was arrested in September 2024, the court hears. 19:41:04 Alleged victim Jane says she fell 'head over heels' after first date with Diddy Jane tells the court she was in a relationship with Sean "Diddy" Combs between 2021 and 2024. She called him Sean or Diddy, the court hears, sometimes Schnookums, or sometimes Ernie - she was Bert and he was Ernie, like the characters from Sesame Street. Jane says she met the hip-hop mogul during a trip to Miami in late 2020. At the time, he was involved with one of her friends, she tells the court, and he invited a group of them to his home. The witness says they spent time on a yacht and that she was "drawn" to Combs. They flirted and exchanged numbers, which is when he suggested the Bert and Ernie nicknames, she says. Asked if she saw drugs, she says she remembers seeing a pink, powdery substance on that first night. Combs told her he wanted to take her out the following day, jurors hear. She says the situation was "complicated" but they remained in touch and Combs pursued her. After the friend who had previously been seeing him got engaged to someone else, Jane says she decided to "potentially entertain" the idea. They agreed to meet up in Miami in January 2021, the court hears. Jane says they went to a hotel, had dinner on the balcony, and she ended up staying for five days. Afterwards, she says, she was "head over heels". 19:23:35 Third alleged victim 'Jane' begins her testimony The government calls "Jane" to the stand. Jane, who is giving evidence under a pseudonym, is a former girlfriend of Sean "Diddy" Combs. After Cassie Ventura and "Mia", a former personal assistant to the hip-hop mogul, she is the third alleged victim to give evidence during this trial. Jane was allegedly engaged in commercial sex acts "as a result of force, fraud or coercion" by Combs. "The defendant used lies, drugs, threats, and violence to force and coerce, first, Cassie, and later Jane, to have sex with him in front of male escorts," prosecutors said in their opening statement at the beginning of the trial. Judge Arun Subramanian tells the court her real name will not be mentioned in court. Evidence monitors have been switched off in overflow rooms. 19:18:03 Investigative analyst answers questions on Cassie's mobile phones Enrique Santos tells the court he is an investigative analyst for the US attorney's office for the Southern District of New York. His duties include forensic examination of mobile phones, tablets and other devices with GPS technology, the jury is told. Santos says he has carried out close to 3,000 mobile phone "extractions", which means preserving and analysing electronic data, during his career, and tells the court about the methods and tools he uses for his work. He says he was asked to extract three iPhones for this case and later found out they belonged to Cassie Ventura. They were generally in good shape, he says. Santos says investigators recovered several deleted records from the devices. After a few questions from both the prosecution and the defence, he finishes his evidence.
