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Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial updates: 'Jane' testifies on 'hotel nights' with Combs: 'Lonely and sad'

The hip-hop mogul 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 four of testimony in the trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs.


Sean Combs trial reaches an end with mixed verdict

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."


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'Jane' testifies about meeting Combs in Miami: 'I was already drawn to him'

The alleged Sean Combs victim appearing under the pseudonym "Jane" testified that she called Combs “Ernie” and he called her “Bert.”

“Like from 'Sesame Street,'” prosecutor Maureen Comey said.

It was late 2020 when, "Jane" testified, she met Combs during a girls trip to Miami.

“Sean was romantically involved with one of my girlfriends,” "Jane" told the court, saying that he invited the group to his house on Star Island, Miami Beach.

“He was really charming, really nice and I was already drawn to him pretty instantly. He was really hospitable, really funny. We had a nice night all together,” "Jane" testified.

On a yacht, “we were just having drinks, partying, being friendly, there was a little bit of flirting going on,” "Jane" told the court. She also testified that she remembered seeing a pink powder substance brought to Combs upon request.

Their first official date happened in January 2021 and lasted five days, according to "Jane's" testimony.

“I remember when I first saw Sean. He walks in the door of the hotel room and he was just larger than life, he had a big personality, really charming, very passionate just in how he speaks,” "Jane" told the court.

"Jane" had been in a relationship years earlier “with someone close to Sean,” she testified, adding that another man who is her child’s father “did not get along with Sean.”

According to "Jane's" testimony, she and Combs discussed those relationships and she remembered Combs saying he wasn't concerned about it.

“He just said that he didn’t mind, and he was okay with it and it doesn’t matter,” "Jane" told the court.

That night, “We made lots of love. It was just amazing. And I remember it was morning time and we just decided to go for a walk on the beach,” "Jane" testified, telling the jury, “I was pretty head-over-heels for Sean already.”


'Jane' takes the stand

An alleged sex trafficking victim of Combs' who is testifying under the pseudonym 'Jane' has taken the witness stand.


Prosecutors introduce text message from Ventura recounting alleged Combs balcony incident

Federal prosecutors introduced a text message from Sean Combs' ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, extracted from a cell phone seized at the Miami Airport from Combs’ one-time chief of staff, Kristina Khorram.

The message, dated Sept. 30, 2016, read: “He came into my house and my friends were here. They woke me up because he was ringing the bell like crazy,” apparently referring to Combs.

The message continued: “He went at Bana and choked her then dangled her feet off the balcony.”

The text message, read into the record, is meant to reinforce a claim made by Bryana Bongolan, also known as Bana, after the defense accused her of lying about Sean Combs allegedly dangling her from the balcony of Ventura’s 17th-floor apartment.

The next witness is Enrique Santos, an analyst at the U.S. attorney’s office who performed cell phone extractions on devices seized as part of the case.

Testimony from another alleged Combs victim, appearing under the pseudonym “Jane,” is scheduled to follow after Santos.


Defense concludes dramatic cross-examination of Ventura friend; judge issues Combs warning

After the defense accused Bryana Bongolan of lying about Combs allegedly dangling her over a balcony in Los Angeles, contending that Combs wasn't even in California at the time Bongolan said the alleged incident occurred, she testified on re-direct examination that she has “no doubt” it occurred but does not know exactly when.

Bongolan used hand gestures to demonstrate for the jury how she said Sean Combs lifted her onto the railing of the balcony of Cassie Ventura’s 17th-floor apartment.

“Where did his hands go?” prosecutor Madison Smyser asked.

“Down this way,” Bongolan testified, moving her hands.

“So were they on your breasts?” Smyser asked. Bongolan affirmed in her testimony that they were.

Bongolan also testified on re-direct that she wore the neck brace the jury saw in a photo on more than one occasion.

“Why did your neck hurt?” Smyser asked.

“Because I got slammed into the furniture,” Bongolan testified. “By Puff.”

Bongolan conceded that she doesn't know exactly when the alleged incident occurred, telling the court “because it was a while ago.”

Asked for a second time whether she had any doubt “that Mr. Combs held you up on a 17th-floor balcony,” Bongolan testified in answer, “I have no doubt.”

On re-cross, defense attorney Nicole Westmoreland said Bongolan’s testimony was motivated by money.

“You’re suing Mr. Combs because it’s your opportunity to become a millionaire,” Westmoreland said.

“I can’t agree with that,” Bongolan testified.

“You’re seeking $10 million, isn’t that true?” Westmoreland asked.

“I’m seeking whatever the judge finds is correct,” Bongolan testified.

“It means a lot to you to become a millionaire?” Westmoreland asked.

“No ma’am,” Bongolan told the court.

Bryana Bongolan’s testimony has concluded. The court is now in a brief lunch break.

During the break and without the jury present, Judge Arun Subramanian threatened to expel Sean Combs from the courtroom if he makes facial expressions during testimony.

“I was very clear there were not to be any facial expressions,” Subramanian told lead defense counsel Marc Agnifilo. “There’s a line of questioning where your client was nodding vigorously and looking at the jury and there was a subsequent moment when there was a sidebar and I saw your client looking at the jury.”

Subramanian added emphatically, “That is absolutely unacceptable.”

He then asked Agnifilo: “Will it happen again?”

Agnifilo said it would not.

“If it happens again, if it happens even once, I will hear an application from the government to give a curative instruction to the jury, which you don’t want,” Subramanian said, also declaring that an additional violation “could result in the exclusion of your client from the courtroom.”

He instructed Agnifilo to talk with Combs, telling the attorney “there should be no efforts whatsoever to have interaction with this jury."