Second woman tells jury Sean Diddy Combs raped her
Trial highlights Combs' alleged coercion and abuse
Lawyers for hip-hop artist claim Freak Offs were consensual
He pleads not guilty to racketeering and sex trafficking charges
(Recasts top with new testimony in paragraphs 1-3, 5-6)
By Jack Queen and Luc Cohen
NEW YORK, May 29 (Reuters) -
Sean 'Diddy' Combs was accused of rape by a second woman on Thursday as the hip-hop mogul stands trial for sex trafficking and racketeering, charges that could lead to life in prison if he is convicted.
A former personal assistant to Combs, testifying under the pseudonym Mia, testified in Manhattan federal court that the Bad Boy Records founder raped her at least twice.
'I was just frozen. I didn't do anything. I just let it happen,' Mia said, fighting back tears and staring into her lap as she described an incident in which Combs allegedly grabbed her head and put his penis in her mouth.
Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to five counts including racketeering and sex trafficking.
Mia told jurors Combs climbed on top of her while she was sleeping and raped her while she lay frozen with fear. Combs' lawyers have acknowledged he was at times abusive in domestic relationships but said any sex was consensual.
During the testimony, Combs occasionally passed notes to his lawyers but otherwise showed little outward reaction.
Testimony before a panel of 12 jurors and six alternates in Manhattan federal court is in its third week. Prosecutors say Combs, the founder of Bad Boy Records, coerced women over two decades to take part in days-long, drug-fueled sexual performances with male sex workers known as "Freak Offs."
In emotional testimony during the first week of trial, Combs' ex-girlfriend Casandra Ventura told jurors Combs physically and emotionally abused her throughout their tumultuous 11-year relationship and raped her shortly after they broke up for good.
Ventura, a rhythm and blues singer known as Cassie, said she participated in the Freak Offs because she feared Combs would release sex tapes of her if she didn't, but also because she loved him.
Friends and associates of Combs and Ventura have testified about Combs' alleged abuse, describing Combs as a domineering figure who relied on bodyguards and associates to enable his alleged crimes and keep victims in line.
The trial has drawn intense media coverage due to Combs' cultural influence and role in taking hip-hop mainstream through legendary artists like the Notorious B.I.G.
Combs was arrested in Manhattan last September and is being held at a federal prison in Brooklyn when not in court.
Dawn Richard, a former member of the pop group Danity Kane, testified last week that she felt threatened when Combs told her to keep quiet about what she saw.
Richard faced a sharp cross-examination by one of Combs' lawyers, who sought to point to inconsistencies between her testimony and what she said during interviews with prosecutors.
Last week, Scott Mescudi - the rapper known as Kid Cudi - testified that his car was set on fire in 2012, shortly after Combs learned that Mescudi had a romantic relationship with Ventura.
Prosecutors say the alleged arson of Mescudi's car was one of several violent or illegal acts that Combs or his associates undertook to prevent women from leaving his orbit and keep his abuse quiet. (Reporting by Jack Queen and Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Howard Goller)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
42 minutes ago
- Mint
Rubio condoles deaths as Ukraine blows up Russian bridges, discuss forthcoming Istanbul talks with Sergei Lavrov
The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Sunday discussed the prospects for ways to settle the Russia-Ukraine conflict ahead of second round of direct peace talks in Istanbul on Monday. This comes as Ukraine and Russia sharply ramped up the war with one of the biggest drone battles of their conflict. "The situation linked to the Ukraine crisis was discussed," the ministry said in a statement on its website. "S.V. Lavrov and M. Rubio also exchanged views on various initiatives concerning a settlement of the Ukraine crisis, including plans to resume direct Russian-Ukrainian talks in Istanbul on June 2." Meanwhile, the US State Department said Rubio reiterated President Donald Trump's call for continued direct talks between Russia and Ukraine to achieve "a lasting peace." It also said that during the conversation Rubio expressed condolences over deaths that occurred when two bridges were blown up in separate Russian regions bordering Ukraine. "It was stressed on the Russian side that competent bodies will proceed with a thorough investigation and the results will be published. The guilty parties will be identified and will without doubt be subject to a worthy punishment." At least seven people were killed and 69 injured when a highway bridge in Russia's Bryansk region, neighbouring Ukraine, was blown up over a passenger train heading to Moscow with 388 people on board. No one has claimed responsibility. Ukraine attacked Russian nuclear-capable long-range bombers at a military base deep in Siberia on Sunday, a Ukrainian intelligence official said, the first such attack so far from the front lines more than 4,300 km (2,670 miles) away. Ukraine's domestic intelligence service, the SBU, acknowledged it carried out the attack, codenamed "Operation Spider's Web," planned for more than a year and a half. The intelligence official said the operation involved hiding explosive-laden drones inside the roofs of wooden sheds and loading them onto trucks that were driven to the perimeter of the air bases. A total of 41 Russian warplanes were hit, the official said. The SBU estimated the damage at $7 billion and said Russia had lost 34% of its strategic cruise missile carriers at its main airfields. Zelenskiy expressed delight at the "absolutely brilliant outcome," and noted 117 drones had been used in the attack. (With inputs from Reuters)
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Victims set on fire in Boulder attack; FBI labels it ‘targeted terror'
A male suspect was taken into custody on Sunday after an attack in Boulder, Colorado, that injured several people. FBI Director Kash Patel called it a "targeted" act of terror. However, police officials say it is too early to know the motive behind the attack occurred near a walk to remember the Israeli hostages who remain in Gaza. Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said the information they have is still "very preliminary." He added that police were called after reports of a man carrying a weapon and "setting people on fire."advertisementAlthough FBI Director Patel described the attack as "targeted terror," Chief Redfearn said the police are not officially calling it a terror attack yet. He said, "This was a beautiful Sunday afternoon in downtown Boulder on Pearl Street and this act was unacceptable. I ask that you join me in thinking about the victims, the families of those victims, and everyone involved in this tragedy." Several victims suffered injuries, including burns, according to the police chief. The suspect was taken to the hospital and had not been identified at the time of the blocks of the pedestrian mall area were evacuated by police. The scene after the attack was tense. Law enforcement agents with a police dog walked through the streets looking for threats and instructed the public to stay clear of the pedestrian IN THE US OVER ISRAEL-GAZA CONFLICTadvertisementTensions in the United States are on the rise over the escalating war between Israel and Hamas. According to Reuters, antisemitic hate crimes and heated debates between supporters of Israel and pro-Palestinian groups are on the supporters of Israel, including President Donald Trump, have called many pro-Palestinian protests antisemitic. The Trump administration is targeting protestors by arresting them without charge. In this quest, the Trump administration froze funding to some prominent universities where protests took Boulder attack comes after another violent event in Washington, D.C., where a man was arrested for shooting and killing two Israeli embassy employees. The victims were leaving a gathering organised by the American Jewish Committee, a group that fights antisemitism and supports Israel.A statement from Boulder's Jewish community read, "We are saddened and heartbroken to learn that an incendiary device was thrown at walkers at the Run for Their Lives walk on Pearl Street as they were raising awareness for the hostages still held in Gaza."Colorado Governor Jared Polis said that he is closely watching the situation and that "hate-filled acts of any kind are unacceptable."With inputs from Reuters
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
‘Targeted terror attack': FBI Director after many feared injured in Boulder, Colorado; suspect held
Acting swiftly on plaint calls about someone with a weapon who was 'setting people on fire' in Boulder, Colorado— police here have apprehended a male suspect after the attack is said to have left many people injured. The attack took place in the vicinity of a walk to remember the Israeli hostages who remain in Gaza. Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn was quoted by Reuters as stating that the initial information was 'very prelimnary'. The police chief said that multiple injuries were reported from the spot 'ranging from very serious to more minor'. Redfearn further said that he is yet to identify the alleged attacker as the latter has been taken to the hospital. We are aware of and fully investigating a targeted terror attack in Boulder, Colorado. Our agents and local law enforcement are on the scene already, and we will share updates as more information becomes available. @FBI — FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) June 1, 2025 FBI Director Kash Patel reacting to the incident stated it to be a 'targeted terror attack' while stating that agents were at the scene. The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the United States over Israel's war in Gaza, which has spurred both a an increase in antisemitic hate crime as well as moves by conservative supporters of Israel led by President Donald Trump to branded pro-Palestinian protests as antisemitic.
