Sean "Diddy" Combs is charged with sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.
This story may contain accounts and descriptions of actual or alleged events that some readers may find disturbing.
This is week five of testimony in the trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs.
The highly anticipated trial of hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs has reached an end.
The jury found Sean Combs not guilty of racketeering conspiracy, the most serious charge.
The jury found Combs guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution (in connection with his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura) and guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution (in connection with his ex-girlfriend who testified under the pseudonym "Jane").
He was found not guilty of both charges of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion in connection with Ventura and "Jane."
Combs was accused of being the ringleader of an alleged enterprise that "abused, threatened and coerced women" into prolonged, drug-fueled sexual orgies with male prostitutes, which he called "freak-offs," and then threatened them into silence. Combs has said that all of the sex was consensual and that while his relationships sometimes involved domestic violence, he wasn't engaged in trafficking.
Combs' lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, said Combs was simply part of the swinger lifestyle and that he "vehemently denies the accusations made by the SDNY."
Thursday's testimony has not started yet in the trial against Sean "Diddy" Combs.
The day began with a lengthy discussion about the prosecution’s re-direct examination of "Jane," the former Combs girlfriend who's testifying under a pseudonym.
Then, the judge called the prosecutors, defense counsel and "Jane’s" lawyer into chambers for a private meeting.
The subject of the discussion remains unclear.
The former Sean Combs girlfriend testifying under the pseudonym "Jane" became emotional and cried on the witness stand while reading a message she sent to Combs about “her thoughts.”
The court was told that she sent the message in the middle of 2023 after the two had taken a trip to Turks and Caicos.
"Jane" testified on direct examination that she would not have gone on the trip had she known an escort, named Paul, would also be there but the message read in court today seemed to express different feelings.
“You are truly a blessing in my life. I have never had a man take care of me like you,” "Jane’s" message said. “I feel blessed to have you in my life and I only wish to be a blessing in yours.”
"Jane" ultimately couldn't continue reading the entire message.
Defense attorney Teny Geragos also showed the jury messages about time "Jane" and Combs spent together without other men.
“Movie night was off the chain,” Combs wrote in August 2023.
"Jane" texted in response, “Loving that. Delicious.”
The jury also revisited an angry text September 2023 message from "Jane" after Combs had asked her to send him explicit videos of her and another man. At the time, Combs was with another woman.
“It’s clear to me you just want me there for a hotel binge. You got plenty of hos for that,” the message from "Jane" said. “Coming to the realization of what this really is.”
With "Jane" under cross-examination, the jury saw a subsequent message in which her tone softened. “I see where I overreacted. We’ll be good when we’re together,” the message read.
Additionally, the jury saw a video that "Jane" took on her phone in 2023 when she was feeling depressed about the relationship.
The sound of Combs making kissing sounds filled the courtroom as the video played. He was heard saying, “We got in a little funk … we have to make sure we just listen to each other.”
After the video played, defense attorney Teny Geragos began to question "Jane" about former Combs girlfriend Cassie Ventura’s lawsuit but then asked Judge Arun Subramanian for a sidebar.
When the brief conference ended, the judge announced that court would adjourn about a half-hour early.
Geragos said she expected to finish her cross-examination of "Jane" Thursday morning.
Prosecutor Maurene Comey said the government anticipated cutting several additional witnesses from their list and expected to rest their case no later than Friday of next week, perhaps as soon as Wednesday of next week.
The former Sean Combs girlfriend testifying under the pseudonym "Jane" flashed a moment of exasperation during cross-examination when she was asked about her birthday.
The jury saw a text in which she asked Combs, “is Nobu the only option tonight?”
"Jane" recalled Combs put her up in the Nobu Hotel in Miami Beach but she had hoped for a birthday celebration outside of the hotel.
“I was praying he would read in between those lines,” "Jane" testified. “In hopes he would take me out of the hotel.”
She recommended two other high-end restaurants, Papi Steak and Carbone, the court heard.
“You know Papi Steak is a good restaurant in Miami?” defense attorney Teny Geragos asked.
“I wouldn’t know,” "Jane" testified in response.
“Carbone is another international Italian restaurant, right?” Geragos asked.
“I guess so,” "Jane" told the court. “I just wanted to recommend another option so I could be romanced on my birthday.”
Geragos also pointed out that Combs gifted "Jane" a Van Cleef necklace for her birthday.
“I am given my gift, I’m taking a pill and awaiting an entertainer,” "Jane" testified, with "entertainer" referring to a third-party participant in a "hotel night" sexual encounter, describing a pattern that she testified defined her relationship with Combs. She also told the court that she was made to have sex with three escorts in that instance.
The defense also showed the court a text message that "Jane" sent on her way home afterward. “Just wanted to say I loved and appreciated every detail you put together for my birthday,” the message said.
“You tell him you love and appreciated every detail, right?” Geragos asked.
“Every detail in regards to him,” "Jane" testified.
The jury was told that "Jane" -- the former Sean Combs girlfriend testifying under a pseudonym -- and Combs had spent the week prior to New Year’s Day 2022 together. In a text message shown to the court, she described a sexual encounter with a male prostitute as “one for the books.”
"Jane" then saw on social media, the court was told, that Combs had taken a different woman away on vacation, prompting "Jane" to text Combs.
“It’s not right how you’re treating me right now and how you’re doing me and the last thing I’d expect from you is coming at me sideways about a girl you like,” "Jane" wrote.
“You completely had your way with me.” The message concluded, “You have me feeling so taken advantage of.”
Combs’ response wasn't read aloud in court but defense attorney Teny Geragos characterized it, saying. “He was saying if the relationship was as toxic as you say you were welcome to leave, right?”
“That’s what he was saying,” "Jane" told the court in response.
The defense also showed additional text exchanges in which Combs obliged when "Jane" said she didn't want to engage in a sex performance with a male prostitute. "Jane" also testified that there was a two-month stretch in 2022 when there were no so-called “hotel night” sexual encounters with third parties.
Geragos has been showing "Jane" and the court several other messages that show her initiating sexual conversation, as the defense continues efforts to try and support their argument that "Jane" was complicit in "hotel night" sexual encounters.
"Jane" testified that she would buy matching shorts for Combs and the escorts to wear during “hotel nights,” as well as erectile dysfunction pills for them to use.
