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New York Post
4 days ago
- New York Post
Sean ‘Diddy' Combs, girlfriend used at least two dozen bottles of baby oil for single ‘freak-off,' influencer reveals at bombshell trial
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' and his girlfriend, 'Jane' regularly used 'two dozen or more' bottles of baby oil during 'freak-off' sex-sessions. Jane — who referred to 'freak-offs' as 'hotel nights' — said they had to cover 'everything' in the hotel rooms with bedsheets, blankets and towels 'for the excessive use of baby oil everywhere.' 3 Combs' and his girlfriend, 'Jane' regularly used 'two dozen or more' bottles of baby oil during 'freak-off' sex-sessions. Department of Justice Advertisement 3 Sean 'Diddy' Combs attends the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference National Town Hall on September 21, 2023, in Washington, DC. Getty Images for Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference 3 The jury saw pics of AR-15 rifle parts, bottles of baby oil and lube, 7-inch high heels and more, as an agent revealed details of a dramatic 2024 raid during the trial. Department of Justice She says they always used baby oil for 'hotel nights' and would go through 'two dozen or more' bottles of the lubricating product during a single sex session. 'He really enjoyed watching me pour oil all over myself, all over the man,' Jane said.
The Hill
19-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
New study offers legislative guidance on 7 key issues facing Black community
A new study offers lawmakers a roadmap for addressing key issues affecting Black communities, including voting rights, economic opportunity and education equity. The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) and the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies released Forward Together: Black Policy Playbook for an Equitable America on Monday. The playbook is designed to serve as a 'resource' for lawmakers, the organizations noted, and highlight that 'when Black people make progress, all Americans benefit.' 'Together, we are equipping lawmakers, advocates, and changemakers with the tools they need to enact policies that move us closer to equity and justice for all,' said Nicole Austin-Hillery, president and CEO of the CBCF. In total, the playbook offers policy recommendations on seven areas lawmakers 'can continue to advocate and fight for' to create 'an America where inequities are overcome and where everyone has an equal opportunity to pursue and achieve success and dignity.' The areas include: voting rights and civic engagement; economic opportunity and advancement; workforce; education; health care; criminal legal system reform; and technology and telecommunications policies. 'African Americans continue to face a myriad of systemic issues in the United States that are strategically outlined in this much-needed policy playbook,' said Dedrick Asante-Muhammad, president of the Joint Center. Each section offers an in-depth explanation of how current policies exacerbate racial disparities and offers action legislators can take to correct the disparities. For example, under Voting Rights and Civic Engagement, the study calls for addressing voter ID laws, which disproportionately affect Black Americans and restrict their right to vote. The study recommends expanding acceptable forms of ID for voting to include student IDs, employee IDs, and utility bills. It also recommends making voter rolls publicly accessible so voters can easily verify their registration status online and for the federal government to establish standards and guidelines for voter roll maintenance to ensure uniformity and fairness across states. The study also details the impact of the racial wealth gap and urges lawmakers to address some of the gap's driving factors, such as home ownership barriers. The study recommends legislators increase access to fair and affordable housing through investments in public housing, rental assistance and housing development and repair. The study also calls for lawmakers to oppose the privatisation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and ensure that companies using AI comply with existing civil rights and consumer protection laws in order to maintain fair lending. The study emphasized that though the seven areas listed do not offer full coverage of every issue that is important for Black equality, they do represent key areas for Black advancement. 'This is a pivotal moment for Black Americans,' said Jonathan Cox, PhD, vice president of the Center for Policy Analysis and Research at CBCF. 'History has shown us that progress is often met with resistance. However, we remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring that Black communities have the resources, rights, and opportunities to thrive.' The organizations note that they do not expect all of their policy recommendations to pass, particularly under the current White House administration. The CBCF and the Joint Center said the Trump-Vance White House is rolling back steps taken by the Biden-Harris administration to address some of the nation's longstanding racial disparities. 'Specifically, the harmful impacts of various efforts by President Trump and his new administration — through executive orders and other administrative actions in large part through the new White House Department of Government Efficiency — is undoing much of the Biden-Harris administration's progressive efforts,' the study reads. 'The Trump-Vance administration is undermining and challenging civil rights, too, cutting not just diversity, equity, and inclusion programs out of the federal government but also historic civil rights protections stretching back to the 1960s.' However, the study added, Black communities have faced the 'reversal' of progress before. The policy recommendations listed in the study, the CBCF and the Joint Center said, furthers the promise of advancing the social, political and economic status of Black Americans.
Extra.ie
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Who is Cassie Ventura? Star witness at trial of P Diddy to take stand
The second day of the trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs will see his ex-girlfriend and star witness Cassie Ventura take to the stand. The music mogul was indicted last March on several charges, including racketeering and sex trafficking, with his case before the courts in New York — as Cassie, who was in a relationship with him for over a decade, and who brought the allegations to light, set to be the prosecution's star witness. Cassie Ventura will take the stand at the 'Diddy Trial' on Tuesday. Pic:Casandra Ventura was born in New London, Connecticut, and began her musical career after meeting with producer Ryan Leslie, who signed her. Her career really took off when she signed with Combs' Bad Boy Records, with her debut album peaking at number 4 on the Billboard 200. She also had several high charting singles, including Long Way 2 Go, Must Be Love with Combs, and Let's Get Crazy. However, her relationship with Combs was what drew headlines — particularly in later years when she accused Combs of heinous crimes surrounding her, including physical, mental and emotional abuse. Diddy and Cassie were in an on-off relationship from 2007 to 2018, where, she alleged, he subjected her to a 'cycle of abuse, violence and sex trafficking.' Pic:for The Hollywood Reporter **THE FOLLOWING CONTAINS DETAILS OF ALLEGED DOMESTIC ABUSE AND PHYSICAL ABUSE, WHICH SOME READERS MAY FIND DISTURBING** From 2007 to 2018, Cassie and Combs were in an on-off relationship that, the singer later said in 2023, was marred by a 'cycle of abuse, violence and sex trafficking,' which included her allegedly being used 'as a toy' in the rapper's now infamous 'freak offs' that he would host during his parties. She alleged that he pursued her from 2005, when she was 19 and he 37. In 2023, she filed a lawsuit against Combs under the Adult Survivors Act — which allowed for civil lawsuits to be filed by victims of sexual assault after the statute of limitations expired — with the case being immediately settled out of court one day later. Some of the allegations in Cassie's lawsuit detailed alongside her being allegedly raped and assaulted in the 'freak offs' also included his alleged involvement in the explosion of rapper Kid Cudi's car, with whom Cassie was also in a relationship. The rapper and music mogul is currently on trial, charged with racketeering and sexual trafficking. Pic:for Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Two months after his homes in New York and Miami were raided, and before he was arrested and indicted on racketeering charges, CNN shared CCTV footage of an altercation between Combs and Cassie, which showed the rapper chasing after her in a hotel room before throwing her to the ground and repeatedly kicking her. Combs admitted full responsibility for the 2016 incident, but following his arrest in September 2024, Cassie has since taken to the stand as the star witness for the prosecution. Some of the alleged incidents included her being coerced into participating in the 'freak offs,' which would include her having sex with male escorts while Combs watched and 'directed' them, as well as being physically abusive toward her. When asked about the alleged physical abuse, Cassie said that Combs would 'bash on my head, knock me over, drag me, kick me,' and said that the alleged abuse happened 'too frequently.' As for the 'freak offs,' Cassie said that she remembers 'her stomach falling to my butt,' when she was asked to first participate, adding 'just the nervousness and confusion… I'd just turned 22.' She added that she didn't want to participate in the 'freak offs' but did so because she 'loved [Combs] very much,' and 'wanted to make him happy.' She added that she was afraid of what he would do, also alleging that he would blackmail her into doing more things, and that the violence was in the back of her mind. The trial continues. Anyone who is affected by this story can contact Women's Aid on 1800 341 900.
Forbes
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Forbes
Pete Hegseth Hates DEI. His Deputy Put Tens Of Millions Into It
Steve Feinberg has connections all over Washington, including to Democrats, having donated millions to the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) Embattled Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth assumed his role with a clear mission in mind: 'DEI is going to be ripped out root and branch,' he said on Fox News four days after taking office. His deputy secretary, billionaire investor Steve Feinberg, has a different perspective, having spent nearly $40 million on scholarship programs for Black students in recent years—making diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives the largest recipients of grants from his foundation. Feinberg's commitment to the cause began in 2020, the year George Floyd's murder sparked a national outcry. The biggest beneficiary appears to be Tuskegee University, which received a $5 million grant from Feinberg's foundation that year, one of the largest gifts ever for the historically Black school. A press release issued at the time said the money would go toward scholarships for needy students. The famously private Feinberg did not provide any quotes for the announcement, but his foundation issued a statement with no name attached to it. 'We're very pleased to honor our founder's philanthropic vision,' it said, 'with a grant that has real potential to advance racial equity in postsecondary education.' Money continued to pour in from Feinberg's foundation over the ensuing years, eventually reaching about $20 million. The investor also bankrolled a similar effort through the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, to which he gave another $5 million in 2020. That organization then provided $8,500 a year to about 60 students, who had to be Black or of African descent to qualify. Another organization that received big money from Feinberg: the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, a nonprofit connected to the all-Democrat group on Capitol Hill. The Black caucus foundation helps with the Stephen Feinberg Multi-Year Scholarship Program, which provides African-American and Black undergrads with $10,000 a year for up to four years. Feinberg has now contributed at least $13 million to the group. Asked about all of this—and how it jibed with Secretary Hegseth's comments—a spokesperson for Feinberg issued a carefully worded statement that tried to make it seem like the defense department leaders are on the same page about DEI matters, without actually saying that explicitly. 'Deputy Secretary Feinberg is fully aligned with Secretary Hegseth's priorities,' the spokesperson, Eric Pahon, said in a statement. 'His many charitable donations have gone to organizations that prioritize merit and performance to build a stronger America, and today he is working with Secretary Hegseth to advance those same values for a stronger military.' Feinberg grew up in a modest home in Spring Valley, New York, then worked on Wall Street, where he eventually opened his own firm, Cerberus Capital Management. It invested in Chrysler, Fila and debt tied to Donald Trump's tower in Chicago, ultimately growing to manage about $70 billion in assets. Overseeing so much money for others provided Feinberg with plenty of his own—an estimated $5 billion. At the end of 2015, he dumped $130 million into a private foundation. He initially gave to the sorts of causes that lots of billionaires support—a hospital near his home and the university he attended, Princeton, where Feinberg did R.O.T.C., played tennis and left an impression on classmates. 'When he walked across campus, you know, he was in his own world,' says someone who knew him back then. 'He was kind of a force unto himself.' In 2017, Feinberg sprinkled in some contributions that hinted at his interest in politics and national defense. He gave $400,000 to Turning Point USA, the conservative student group led by Trumpworld insider Charlie Kirk. Feinberg handed over another $150,000 to the National Cryptologic Museum, which houses all sorts of code-making-and-breaking artifacts in a building next to the National Security Agency's headquarters. Another $176,000 went to the Institute for State Effectiveness, a nonprofit focused on nation-building cofounded by Afghanistan's former president, Ashraf Ghani. The following year, in 2018, Feinberg became chair of Trump's Intelligence Advisory Board. He devoted not just time to national-security issues but also money—his foundation dispersed $5 million to In-Q-Tel, a venture-capital nonprofit created by the Central Intelligence Agency that has that has backed companies including Palantir, Databricks and Anduril. Smaller donations went to Princeton, New York Presbyterian hospital, Turning Point USA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Feinberg continued focusing on defense in 2019, this time contributing $5 million to a subsidiary of the multibillion-dollar nonprofit Mitre, which operates federally funded research and development facilities. The subsidiary focused on enhancing private-sector collaboration in many of the same areas in which Feinberg has invested—telecommunications, cybersecurity, unmanned aviation. A tax return for his foundation listed a $5 million 'returned grant' as income in 2019—it's unclear if In-Q-Tel, the Mitre subsidiary or someone other organization sent its money back. The world changed in 2020, and Feinberg's philanthropic strategy adapted with it. As Covid-19 swept the globe, Feinberg quadrupled his donations to New York Presbyterian hospital from $250,000 to $1 million. Two months after the pandemic landed, on May 25, 2020, a white police officer kneeled on the neck of George Floyd. Like many corporate leaders, Feinberg decided to do something. For help, he turned to Greg Nixon, a Black executive at Cerberus with a personal story that underscored the promise of historically Black universities. After graduating from Tuskegee, Nixon joined the U.S. Air Force, became an intellectual property attorney inside the government and moved into the private sector, where he worked for McKinsey, Booz Allen Hamilton and DynCorp. He advised Tracker Capital, the family office that Feinberg used to make some of his defense-related deals and ultimately became the head of strategic investments at Cerberus. With Nixon at his side, Feinberg funneled tens of millions of dollars to Tuskegee University, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. Feinberg's Wall Street firm, meanwhile, launched internal committees to support women and promote inclusion. 'Cerberus is fully committed to DEI,' Nixon explained on a panel hosted by one of the firm's legal partners. A few years later, as Feinberg awaited confirmation to become deputy secretary of defense, President Trump issued an order making it clear that his priorities were the opposite. On his first day in office, the president demanded the removal of all diversity, equity and inclusion considerations in federal employment. Hegseth vowed to root out DEI efforts from the military. And, shortly after the new administration arrived in town, the Air Force reportedly briefly removed training material with videos of Tuskegee airmen, Black World War II heroes. Meanwhile, Feinberg lined up a strategy to divest from his multibillion-dollar business empire and move into public office. Rather than sell his assets, he planned to give them to family and charity. On March 17, the day Feinberg became deputy secretary of defense, Tuskegee University announced that his foundation donated $6.2 million, more than ever before.
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Breaking Barriers: Adoption challenges in NC facing Black and Brown children
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Mez has spent most of his life facing the complexities of the foster care system. 'I have always stayed with grandparents, aunts, and uncles and been like the extra person on top of a family,' the 19-year-old said, reflecting on his journey. Mez's life took a turn for the better when he turned 16, thanks to the support of a loving family. 'The first meeting, I picked him up, and we had breakfast and just talked about how we did things in our home, and he was like, that sounds wonderful,' said Jerrie Teague. Despite being turned down by 25 families, Jerrie and her husband, Daniel Teague, opened their hearts and homes to Mez. 'I said I wanted to make a difference, and it didn't matter to me about race, color, or culture; it was whoever God wanted me to have. He was going to send it to me,' said Teague. The Teague family became foster parents 11 years ago after having one biological child. Since then, they have cared for 46 foster children and counting in Alamance County. Their journey has been filled with both challenges and rewards, as they have seen the struggles and triumphs of each child they have welcomed into their home. Gaile Osborne with Foster Family Alliance of North Carolina says 1 in 5 foster youth become homeless within 24 hours of aging out of the system. 'These children as young adults will go out into the real world without that one person that can be their safety, without that person who is their confidant,' said Osborne. The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation found Black children make up a disproportionate percentage of youth in foster care and face lower adoption rates nationwide. Fortunately for Mez, he beat the odds, thanks to the unwavering support from the Teague family. 'Within a year, he had accomplished his diploma, he had gotten his license, he had saved his money, and he had got a car,' said Teague. On his 18th birthday, Mez took a significant step forward. The Teague family officially adopted Mez, changing his last name after he signed off on it. 'We went to the courthouse to file paperwork as a family, and two months later, we had an official adoption ceremony at the courthouse,' said Teague. 'It's a blessing to be where I am today,' said Mez. Jerrie Teague's mission is unwavering. She's determined to continue opening her home to those in need. 'I just want to make a difference, whether it's for a day, a weekend, a week, or a lifetime,' said Teague. Today, Mez is working, living on his own, and, of course, stopping by the Teague's for a good home-cooked meal. The Foster Family Alliance of North Carolina can help you learn more about becoming a foster parent or just a mentor. If you're interested in making a difference in a child's life, consider reaching out to them today. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
