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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.
- Sign up for the “Diddy on Trial” newsletter for key developments and analysis; listen to the podcast “Dateline: True Crime Weekly” for daily coverage.
Court adjourned for the day
Judge Subramanian adjourned court for the day, asking jurors to return tomorrow before 9 a.m.
Subramanian told jurors there could be some longer days next week, perhaps with testimony lasting to 5 p.m., to make up for lost time.
Travel and prep for 'hotel nights' was extensive, including dozens of baby oil bottles, 'Jane' says
Combs went to extraordinary lengths to make travel and hotel arrangements for his exotic trips with "Jane."
Typically, the planning included Combs’ travel agent, assistants and others to secure hotel stays, suites, red lights, music, lotions, alcohol, bed sheets, blankets and towels, “because of the excessive use of baby oil,” "Jane" testified.
“I would say two dozen or more bottles of baby oil,” she said of her trips to Turks and Caicos, Miami, Los Angeles and New York between May or 2021 and October of 2023.
'Jane' describes marathon 'hotel nights' that could last for more than a day
"Jane" said "hotel nights" with Combs and other men could last between 24 and 30 hours with no sleep.
The witness gave very graphic and detailed testimony about her exact role in these hourslong sex sessions and the direction she'd receive from Combs.
'Jane' said Combs threatened her financially if she refused to have sex with other men
The witness said she had no choice but to keep having sex with other men for Combs' enjoyment, because "he was paying my rent."
'Jane' — a single mother — made it clear that if she didn't agree to these sexual demands, their relationship would be over and she'd have to find somewhere else to live.
"I felt an obligation because I knew he was paying my rent," she testified.
These sex acts were also called "debauchery or hotel nights," Jane added.
'Jane' said her first 'freak off' opened a Pandora's box in relationship with Combs
'Jane' testified that the first time she had sex with another man as Combs watched in May of 2021 opened up “Pandora’s box” in their relationship.
“Just completely set the tone for our relationship going forward,” she said. “I felt like it was a door I wanted to shut.”
She said Diddy immediately began requesting more of the "freak offs."
Asked what percentage of the time she had sex with another man while in a relationship with Combs, "Jane" responded 90 %.
She said she repeatedly told Combs she did not want to have sex with other men, but would eventually relent. “I was agreeable because I wanted him to be happy, turn him on, and satisfy my partner,” she told the court
'Jane' tearfully recalls first time she had sex with another man as Combs watched
The witness began tearing up when she said she recalled Combs first arranging for her to have sex with another man.
"He said we can make it happen tonight and I said, 'tonight?' I was taken aback but I said 'OK,' " she said of a May, 2021 encounter.
When asked by the prosecution if she thought she was going to have sex that night with another man or if she wanted to have sex with someone other than Combs, 'Jane' responded, "No and no."
"We went to hotel room a couple of hours later, I saw assistants setting up the room, getting his room ready, there was a bustle of getting this room ready."
Prosecutors said Combs operated a criminal enterprise to, in part, have these "freak offs" when he wanted.
'Jane' says drugs, including ketamine, were a constant in her sex life with Combs
'Jane' said she did drugs — including ecstasy, cocaine and ketamine — every time she saw Combs in February and May of 2021.
The witness said she enjoyed her sex life with Combs, in 12- or 24-hour-long romps that often included baby oil.
Combs kept huge supplies of baby oil, authorities said, which was used in his alleged sexual abuse of victims.
But at this point in their relationship, Jane said, she was engaged in consensual sex with Combs.
'Jane' testifies about 'screaming' after Combs gave her ecstasy
'Jane' testified to using drugs with Combs while on a trip to the Turks and Caicos in February 2021.
It was their first trip together in celebration on her birthday.
“We were at the pool, and he said ‘Here take this’ and I took the whole pill. I was walking down the beach with him and it just hit me and I fell to the sand,” she testified. “My body was just convulsing and I was screaming, I said, ‘Help me.”
She said Combs took her back to the shower to calm her down.
“I started to subside after that, we were taking it every day and I would take small doses, Sean decided."
She said he gave her ecstasy.
It “made me feel relaxed, euphoric, sexual, even more loving, it lasted about 12 hours, after the 12 hours I would say we would take something to relax or go to bed,” Jane testified.
'Jane' fell 'head of over heels' for Combs in Miami
The witness recalled a five-day first date with Combs in Miami in early 2021 as she fell "head over heels" for the music mogul.
"Lots of love, made love, it was just amazing," said 'Jane.'
"I remember it was like morning time and we just decide to go for a walk on the beach."
'Jane' testifies that Combs gave girls a pink powdery substance
"Jane" testified that Combs gave a pink powdery substance to a group of girls during a Miami trip in 2020.
“One of the girls requested drugs and somebody brought the drugs,” she testified.
Jane said she then walked with Combs to a studio where they encountered another man and saw the drugs. Jane said she asked if the drugs were safe.
“And I remember both of them looking at me like, kind of just gave me this look like, yeah, this is the best," she said.
Jane said Combs took the pink powder back to the pool and gave it to the girls.
