Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial live updates:

Cassie Ventura testifies about

violence and 'freak offs'

Witness testimony will continue as the sex trafficking

trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs enters its second day.

Where the sex trafficking trial stands
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.
The prosecution and defense delivered their opening statements yesterday. Prosecutors alleged that Combs used his fame and power to run a criminal enterprise that facilitated his "freak offs," drug-fueled orgies involving paid sex workers. The defense admitted that Combs was jealous and occasionally violent, but insisted all the alleged victims participated willingly in his sex life.
Cassie Ventura, Combs' ex-girlfriend, has taken the stand as the government's star witness.Daniel Phillip, a male escort who said he was paid to have sex with Cassie in 2012 and 2013, completed his testimony today. He testified that Combs directed the sexual encounters, which were all paid for, and denied questioning from the defense that he was in a relationship with Cassie.

2h ago / 2:04 PM PDT

Court adjourns for the day, Cassie returns to stand tomorrow
Adam Reiss and Mirna Alsharif
Court has adjourned for the day, Judge Arun Subramanian said.

Cassie Ventura will return to the stand tomorrow.

[With jury gone]
Judge: What about pool reporters seeing thevideos?
AUSA: We oppose that, and Jane does too.
Judge: I am provisionally denying any pool viewing, that's my reading of Maxwell

2h / 2:01 PM

Judge: We'll break for the day

2h / 2:00PM

AUSA: What are you doing?
Ventura: Trying to use the hotel phone.
AUSA: What is Sean doing?
Ventura: Taking my phone and my bag.

3h / 1:57 PM

AUSA: What happened next?
Ventura: I got to the elevator. Next thing I knew I was thrown to the ground.
AUSA: Who threw you down?
Ventura: Sean. He grabbed me by my neck and my hoodie.
AUSA: Let me show you the video
[Hotel hallway video played]

3h / 1:49 PM

AUSA: Did you ever leave a freak off before it was over?
Ventura: Yes. At the Century City Inter Continental... I finally had a premiere coming up and I didn't want to mess it up. But Sean hit me.
AUSA: At what point did Sean hit you?
Ventura: Between sessions

3h / 1:39 PM

Ventura: I would delete them.
AU: Why?
Ventura: They were disgusting. I never wanted anyone to see them.
AUSA: Were Sean's devices used sometimes?
Ventura: Yes. I asked him to delete them.
AUSA: Did he?
Ventura: I don't know

3h / 1:37 PM

ASA: How did you feel?
Ventura: I was an object, being heavily objectified by men... Sometimes he would watch by Facetime.
AUSA: Were some session recorded on your devices?
Ventura: Because they were there.
AUSA: If you saw them on your device what would you do?

3h / 1:24 PM

AUSA: What would happen after the escort finished on you?
Ventura: Sean would want it put on his body in the next room.
AUSA: Did you do that?
Ventura: I did.
AUSA: Where?
Ventura: Usually on his nipples.
AUSA: Did you want to do that?
Ventura: No.

3h / 1:20 PM

Cassie Ventura is back, jury is back]
Judge: You may continue.
AUSA Johnson: When drugs ran out, how did you know who to reach out to?
Ventura: Sean would tell me...
AUSA: During the session, how would you know to move to the next step?
A: Sean.

3h / 1:00 PM

Judge: We'll take a break.

4h / 12:57 PM

AUSA: Did you want to continue to have intercourse when you wanted to vomit?
Ventura: No.
AUSA: How does GHB make you feel?
Ventura: Drunk. Tipsy.
AUSA: Cocaine?
Ventura: Makes my heart race. I'm not a huge fan.
AUSA: Mushrooms?
Ventura: The walls come alive

4h / 12:56 PM

AUSA: Why did you take more drugs?
Ventura: To not be present with the experience.
AUSA: Why?
Ventura: Because it was something I hated
AUSA: How did you react to Ecstasy and MDMA?
Ventura: It could make me vomit.
AUSA: What would he say?
Ventura: To continue

4h /12:49 PM

AUSA: I'll read Sean's parts of this email, you read you
Ventura: "When should i take the thing? When will you be there?"
AUSA: Pausing you there, what did you mean?
Ventura: Drugs.
AUSA/Sean: I took mine. I'm flying
AUSA: What does he mean?
Ventura: He's high

4h / 12:41 PM

AUSA: Did you use drugs at every freak off?
Ventura: Yes. I need to disassociate and become emotionless.
AUSA: Who else used drugs at freak offs?
Ventura: Sean did. Sometimes the escort.
AUSA: What other drugs did you use:
Ventura: Special K, GHB, mushrooms

4h / 12:33 PM

AUSA Johnson: Do you recognize Jules?
Ventura: Yes.
AUSA: In what cities did you have freak offs with Jules?
Ventura: NY, LA, Vegas.
AUSA: Do you know his last name?
Ventura: No.
AUSA: Who's this?
Ventura: I knew him as The Punisher

4h / 12:31 PM

[Ventura: Judge: Security or he brought it himself.]
AUSA: The escort Dave, do you know his real name?
Ventura: Clayton Howard.
AUSA: Who is this? [Photo shown to witness]
Ventura: Daniel.
AUSA: What service did you use?
Ventura: A dancer service

4h / 12:22 PM

AUSA: Why not a cop?
Ventura: I learned this whole situation was not legal-
Defense: Objection!
Judge; Jury will disregard that last answer.
AUSA: How did cash get there?
Judge: Security or he brought it himself.

4h / 12:21 PM

USA: Did you ever not use an escort who arrived?
Ventura: One couldn't perform so Sean sent him on.
AUSA: What was a safe escort?
Ventura: Not a cop, and someone who'd not run and tell everyone about their experience with us.

4h / 12:14 PM

AUSA Johnson: Who directed you to communicate with escorts?
Defense: Objection!
AUSA: Who if anyone-
Defense: Same objection - assumes a fact not in evidence.
AUSA: Did you ever reach out to escort independently?
Ventura: No.

4h / 12:13 PM

Judge Subramanian: Ready? All rise!
AUSA: Ms. Ventura, in what cities did you respond to ads on Criagslist?
Ventura: In New York.
AUSA: Did you respond to ads on Backpage as well?
Ventura: Yes.

5h / 11:48 AM

Judge: We'll break here

5h / 11:47 AM

Ventura: It was obvious I didn't want to be on the ground being urinated on by two men.
AUSA: Where did you find escorts?
Ventura: Initially Craigslist

5h / 11:44 AM

AUSA: Which hotel charged the most for damage to the room?
Ventura: The Inter Continental in New York. They redecorated the whole room for ridiculous money.
AUSA: Back to the urination-
Judge: Ms. Johnson, only a few more questions.
AUSA: Why didn't you say no?

5h / 11: 42 AM

AUSA: Why were you choking?
Ventura: Too much urine in my mouth.
AUSA: Who else urinated on you?
Ventura: Sean.
AUSA: Did you want Sean to urinate on you?
Ventura: I didn't want anyone to urinate on me.
AUSA: How often did it happen?
Ventura: Often enough

5h / 11:40 AM

AUSA: Did you want to be urinated on?
Defense: Objection!
Judge: Grounds?
Defense: Asked and answered.
Judge: Overruled.
Ventura: No I did not want it.
AUSA: How did it feel?
Ventura: It was disgusting, it was too much. I choked. No one could think I wanted it

5h / 11:39

AUSA: Any other use of candle wax?
Ventura: A few times poured on my body.
AUSA: Who set the temperature of the room?
Ventura: Sean.... I was expected to do freak offs on my period.
AUSA: Did you want to do that?
Ventura; No.

5h / 11:33 AM

AUSA: We were just talking about Astroglide. How was it used?
Ventura: Lubricant.
AUSA: If you ran out, what?
Ventura: We'd call either staff or the bell desk, give them a tip
AUSA: Were the freak offs lit?
Ventura: Initially it was candle, strong smelling, Glade

5h /11:29 AM

AUSA: Where there freak offs where you ran out of baby oil?
Defense: Objection, Your Honor, this is - Irrelevant.
AUSA: You also mentioned Astroglide.
Defense: Same objection, irrelevant
Judge: Sidebar!

5h / 11:25 AM

AUSA: What supplies for freak offs?
Ventura: Astroglide, baby oil, condoms.
AUSA: Who brought the supplies?
Ventura: Security, Sean's assistants.
AUSA: Which brand of baby oil?
Ventura: Johnson's
AUSA: How was it used?
Ventura: Sean said, you need to be glistening

5h / 11:22 AM

AUSA: In what hotels in NY did you have freak offs?
Ventura: Trump, Gramercy...
AUSA: Inter Continental?
Ventura: 44th Street, yes.
AUSA: Elsewhere?
Ventura: Mandarin Oriental, Fontainebleau
AUSA: What names were used?
Ventura: Jackie Star, I used, Frank Black

5h / 11:19 AM

AUSA: Did you get piercings?
Ventura: Yes, Sean came with me.
AUSA: Which of his homes did you have freak outs in?
Ventura: Miami, New York
AUSA: What other homes?
Ventura: My homes, all but Studio City.
AUSA: In what other cities?
Ventura: Atlanta, Ibiza

5h / 11:14 AM

AUSA: What did you think this meant?
Ventura: That he knew I didn't want to do the freak offs anymore. But then I backpedaled.
AUSA: Why?
Ventura: To not make him angry. He could be violent.
AUSA: Where's you get your outfit?
Ventura: Pleasure Chest, elsewhere

5h / 11:09 AM

AUSA: What did you write?
Ventura: I really need to f*ck.
AUSA: Why did you write that?
Ventura: Because I wanted to be with him.
AUSA: I'll read your messages, you read yours
AUSA/Sean: You don't wanna do any more?
Ventura: I'm so predictable

5h / 11:07 AM

AUSA: What is this?
Ventura: Email between me and Sean.
AUSA: What did you call him?
Ventura: Pop Pop.
AUSA: Why?
Ventura: He asked me what I called my grandfather... I did it but now I think it was disrespectful

5h / 11:03 AM

Ventura: I brought it up gently. I didn't want him to just do it with someone else.
AUSA: Were you able to express your concerns to him?
Defense: Objection - leading.
Judge: Re-phrase.
AUSA: Why would you talk to him gently?
Ventura: I didn't want him to be angry

5h / 11:01 AM

AUSA: Do you recall all of the freak offs?
Ventura: That would be impossible.
AUSA: Did you want to stop?
Ventura: Yes. I was humiliated. I didn't have those words then. I couldn't talk to anyone about it [sobs]
AUSA: Did you tell him you didn't want to?
A: Yes

6h / 10:57 AM

AUSA: How frequent did the freak offs become?
Ventura: Weekly for a consistent amount of years.
AUSA: When was your last one?
Ventura: 2017, 2018
AUSA: How long were you awake during the freak offs?
Ventura: I never slept. I took drugs. Ecstasy and Molly, cocaine

6h / 10:55 AM

AUSA: How did you feel?
Ventura: I was high. So I didn't feel much. Dirty and confusion. And that he was happy with me.
AUSA: Why did you feel you couldn't say no?
Ventura: I didn't want to make him angry, or upset after he'd shared this part of himself with me

6h / 10:53 AM

AUSA: Did you disguise your appearance?
Ventura: Sean said we would disguise ourselves. I wore a masquerade mask.
AUSA: What was a session in a freak off?
Ventura: Until the escort finished.
AUSA: How many session with First Escort?
Ventura: At least two

6h / 10:50 AM

AUSA: Do you know his name?
Ventura: No.
AUSA: I'll call him the "First Escort." Were you aware he was paid?
Ventura: Yes. To dance and to have intercourse with me.
AUSA: What drugs did you take?
Ventura: Ecstasy and alcohol. Before things started

6h / 10:48 AM

AUSA: How old were you?
Ventura: 22.
AUSA: Why did you agree to try a freak off?
Ventura: Good question. I wanted to make him happy.
AUSA: Where was the first freak off?
Ventura: One of his homes in Los Angeles.
AUSA: 2A-627 who is this?
Ventura: The 1st escort

6h / 10:45 AM

Ventura: Another time I saw them get dressed and grab guns and leave in an SUV.
AUSA: How long were they gone?
Ventura: 30 or 40 minutes.
AUSA: Let me switch topics. How soon into the relationship did Sean mention voyeurism to you?
Ventura: 1st 6 months or a year

6h / 10:42 AM

AUSA: Were you ever handed a gun?
Ventura: Yes. We were doing to a club in downtown LA. We'd taken mushrooms, I was high. I was told to put the gun in my bag. I was freaking out.
AUSA: Who was present?
Ventura: A driver, security, and Sean.

6h / 10:39 AM

AUSA: Do you recall an incident between Sean and Suge Knight?
Ventura: Yes. We were having a freak-off in LA. D-Roc came in and said Suge was down at a diner. Sean drove over there.
AUSA: What was your reaction?
Ventura: I cried, said don't do something stupid.

6h / 10:37 AM

AUSA: How frequently were you in Sean's residences?
Ventura: All the time.
AUSA: Did they all have safes?
Ventura: Yes.
AUSA: What did you observe in them?
Ventura: Cash, jewelry, cameras and video tapes, guns - in NY, LA and Miami, and Alpine New Jersey.

6h / 10:33 AM

AUSA: How often were you in contact with Sean's staff?
Ventura: Daily.
AUSA: Who are in these photos?
Ventura: Kristina Khorram and Ms. Fletcher.
AUSA: What did you call Ms. Khorram?
Ventura: K.K.
AUSA: And who's this?
Ventura: D-Roc. He was Sean's security

6h / 10:27 AM

Ventura: I assume staff
Defense: Objection.
Judge: Jury will disregard that last answer.
AUSA: Who look your laptop and phone?
Ventura: Security.
AUSA: How long would they be gone for?
Ventura: How ever long I was being punished for

6h / 10:25 AM

AUSA: What else did Sean pay for?
Ventura: Cars
AUSA: Did he give you cash?
Ventura: Yes. But he would take things away, depending on how he felt.
AUSA: What else would he take away?
Ventura: My self confidence.
AUSA: Who would take things away?
Ventura: Staff

6h / 10:23 AM

AUSA: How did he like your nails?
Ventura: White. French tipped.
AUSA: Hair?
Ventura: It varied. I shaved my head in 2009.
AUSA: Your body?
Ventura: He told me to work out, prepare for the freak offs.
AUSA: How did you feel about his comments?
Ventura: It varied

6h / 10:20 AM

AUSA: How did you make money, if your records weren't being released?
Ventura: I did hosting parties, when Sean approved them.
AUSA: What comments did Sean make about your physical appearance?
Ventura: That I looked too Mexican with my hair like that

6h / 10:19 AM

Judge: Welcome back.
AUSA: Who was your manager at Bad Boy Records?
Cassie Ventura: James Cruz.
AUSA: What did he tell you?
Ventura: That he was managing me with one hand tied behind his back - he had to check everything with Sean

7h / 9:22 AM

Judge: We'll break here

7h / 9:20 AM

Ventura: The freak offs became a job. There was no time to do anything else but do them then try to recover.
AUSA: How much time in your week would freak offs take?
Ventura: The longest was four days, significant periods of time.

7h / 9:18 AM

AUSA: How many songs did you write while with Sean?
Ventura: 100s. Most were never released. Some got leaked on the Internet. Some on mix tapes.
AUSA: How many albums on your deal were not released?
Ventura: Nine.
AUSA: Did you get paid for them?
Ventura: No.

7h / 9:16 AM

AUSA: Who paid your rent in LA?
Ventura: Sean, except when I had the house in Studio City.
AUSA: Why'd you pay then?
Ventura: I could afford it then. And I wanted to have some control. It was accepted.
AUSA: By whom?
Ventura: Sean.

7h / 9:12 AM

AUSA: Where did you live in LA?
Ventura: 875 Comstock Avenue [Wilshire Corridor Condos]
AUSA: How tall was the building?
Ventura: No more than 17 floors.
AUSA: Where did Sean live?
Ventura: 200 South Mapleton. Sean would use a golf cart to get back and forth

7h / 9:05 AM

AUSA: Did you see other men?
Ventura: Yes.
AUSA: Did Sean see other women?
Ventura: Yes. He said, I am Puff Daddy. I was insanely jealous.
AUSA: Did you move to LA with him?
Ventura: Yes. He wanted to be close to his kids who were there.

7h / 9:01 AM

AUSA: How would he keep tabs on you?
Ventura: We didn't live far apart. He'd send security to come find me. Or a trusted assistant.
AUSA: Like who?
Ventura: David James, Kristina Khorram...
AUSA: Was your relationship exclusive?
Ventura: No.

8h / 8:54 AM

AUSA: When it swung, could you describe it?
Ventura: Anger, zoning out
AUSA: How did it impact you?
Ventura: Greatly. The next thing I knew I was getting hit in the face. There was also psychological abuse. He'd tell me to watch my mouth, change my face

8h / 8:51 AM

AUSA: What was his lifestyle like?
Ventura: He had all these assistants. He could get things done. He traveled quite a bit.
AUSA: What's this photo?
Ventura: Sean and I at a strip club in NY, like 2007 or 2008, Halloween
AUSA: How did Sean's moods vary?
Day to day

8h / 8:44 AM

Ventura: I thought we were monogamous.
AUSA: Was it made public?
Ventura: No. I was his artist. Also, his family, his children.
AUSA: Who was linked to him publicly?
Ventura: Kim Porter.
AUSA: How did Sean treat you at this time?
Ventura: We had fun

8h / 8:41 AM

AUSA: How did you take Ecstasy unintentionally?
Ventura: It was in Gatorade.
AUSA: When you took it intentionally with Sean, how did it feel?
Ventura: Like, rolling.
AUSA: At the time, what did you think?
Ventura: That we were spending a lot of time together

8h / 8:38 AM

AUSA: Did you visit Sean in Miami?
Ventura: Yes. I went with Kerry Morgan and Dallas Austin.
AUSA: What did you & Sean do together?
Ventura: Sexual intercourse. He gave me Blue Dolphin ecstasy on a boat.
AUSA: Had you once before taken Ecstacy unintentionally?
Yes

8h / 8:32 AM

AUSA: What is the age difference between you and Sean?
Ventura: 17 years.
AUSA: How did you feel when Sean invited you to hotels?
Ventura: Nervous. Excitement, we're going to talk about music.... He introduced me to oral sex. I didn't understand it.

8h / 8:28 AM

AUSA: When you got back to New York?
Ventura: I'd visit him in the Trump Hotel in Columbus Circle. His apartment was being renovated.
AUSA: What were you going with your music career?
Ventura: Trying to come up with a concept. Sean called all of the shots

8h / 8:27 AM

AUSA: Where did you celebrate your birthday, in this photo?
Ventura: In Las Vegas. Kerry Morgan was there too. We are out on his patio on my 21st birthday, VMAs
AUSA: What happened then?
Ventura: Sean kissed me in the bathroom. I ran back to my hotel. I told Kerry

8h / 8:23 AM

AUSA: When did you sign with Bad Boy Records?
Ventura: 2006. It was a ten album deal.
AUSA: Did you release any after late 2006?
Ventura: No.
AUSA: Who's in this photo?
Ventura: Kim Porter, she was Sean's X from before me and the mother of his children

8h / 8:20 AM

AUSA: I've handed up GX-B, do you recognize it?
Ventura: Yes, I've reviewed this drive. It has communication and documents pertaining to Mr. Combs.
AUSA: Did you review photos on it?
Ventura: Yes.
AUSA: What's this photo?
Ventura: Me in 2004, with Kerry Morgan

8h /8:16 AM

Ventura: I didn't know what No could turn into
AUSA: What do you mean?
Ventura: Making him angry.
AUSA: What were you afraid would happen if you said No?
Ventura: Though time he had blackmail materials...
AUSA: What did you give the Government?
Ventura: Laptops

8h / 8:11 AM

AUSA: How did you feel when he first asked for it?
Ventura: Confused, nervous, I wanted to make him happy
AUSA: Did you agree to one when he first proposed one?
Ventura: Yes. Then there were more. It wasn't something I wanted to do, at least not that frequently

8h / 8:08 AM

AUSA Johnson: Let me show you a video
[LA hotel elevator lobby shown]
AUSA: Where is this?
Ventura: The Inter Continental in Los Angeles. It was after freak-off.
AUSA: What does that entail?
Ventura: The hiring of an escort, setting it up

8h / 8:05 AM

AUSA Johnson: Did you get in arguments?
Ventura: Yes, it would result in violence, dragging
AUSA: What else did he do?
Ventura: Stomp me in the head if I was down
AUSA: How frequently was he violent?
Ventura: Too frequently. I would get black eyes and bruises

8h / 8:03 AM

All rise!
AUSA Johnson: The Government calls Cassandra Ventura.
[She takes the stand, extremely pregnant]
AUSA Johnson: How old are you?
Ventura: 38.
AUSA: What is you work?
Ventura: Musician and entertainer.
AUSA: How long were you with Sean?
Ventura: 10 years

9h / 7:55 AM

AUSA Johnson: In my initial examination I will ask about post 2018, but only about devices.
Judge: Ms. Geragos?
Combs' Teny Geragos: That's OK.
Judge: We'll be back in a couple of minutes

9h / 7:51 AM

AUSA Johnson: I am not sure how Mr. Fine's testimony would be relevant.
Judge: Ms. Geragos?
Combs' Teny Geragos: Give me 15 seconds.. If he wants to come in to the courtroom today, but we ask that he be excluded when the testimony gets into post 2018

9h / 7:46 AM

Judge: Jurors, take a break, we have some issues to deal with.
Jurors leave.
Combs' Anna Maria Estevao: We'd like Ms. Ventura's husband to not be allowed in the courtroom during her testimony, we may need to call him as a witness later, depending on the direct

9h / 7:41 AM

AUSA: Sidebar before the next witness?
Judge: Yes
[Sidebar -

9h / 7:39 AM

Combs' Donaldson: And that was after the beating?
Phillip: Yes.
Donaldson: Nothing further.
[Re-re-direct]
AUSA: Why did you write that?
Phillip: I wanted them to see I had no problem with what he had done, it keep it going
AUSA: No further questions.

9h / 7:37 AM

Combs' Donaldson: This document, do you see where you said, "I'm on the Upper West Side," she says, 10 West End Ave, hit me when you're there?
Phillip: Yes.
Donaldson: Do you see your text, Don't give a f*ck if I'm a little tipsy, I love y'all N-word?
Phillip: Yes

9h / 7:34 AM

AUSA: Was that the same man who called her b*tch and beat her?
Phillip: I did not see the beating, I presume-
Combs' Donaldson: Objection.
Judge: Sustained.
AUSA: You heard slapping
Phillip: Yes.
AUSA: Nothing further.
Judge: Re-cross?
Donaldson: Briefly

9h / 7:33 AM

AUSA: What did Mr. Combs say to you?
Phillip: He said, It's time for you to go.
AUSA: In the Gramercy Hotel, who was in the room?
Phillip: Sean Combs, myself and Cassie.
AUSA: When she appeared to enjoy herself, was Sean Combs always in the room?
Phillip: Yes

9h / 7:30 AM

AUSA: Do you know who she was with?
Phillip: No.
AUSA: Did she answer your text messages?
Phillip: Never, almost.
AUSA: You said you wanted to hug her. Why?
Phillip: I could see she was afraid.
AUSA: What did you do?
Phillip: I could not engage. I was messed up

9h / 7:27 AM

Phillip: $3800 more.
AUSA: How much were you paid to perform, when you could?
Phillip: $700 to five or six thousands of dollars.
AUSA: And when you couldn't perform?
Phillip: They paid me nothing then.
AUSA: Did Ms. Ventura call you after the Dream Hotel?
Yes

9h / 7:25 AM

Judge: Re-direct.
AUSA: Please explain why you now say Mr. Combs' directed you
Phillips: He asked about positions. But Mr. Combs did tell us what to do, use baby oil.
AUSA: The timing of the handing of cash, how did the amount compare to your stripping services?

9h / 7:23 AM

Combs' Donaldson: Didn't you tell the Government that you would feel jealous because you liked Ms. Ventura romantically?
Phillip: I do not recall that.
Donaldson: Put up 35-70-
AUSA: Just for the parties.
Phillip: I do not recall that.
Donaldson: Nothing further

9h / 7:20 AM

Combs' Donaldson: Did you not tell them that Mr. Combs would tell you, It's my turn-
AUSA: Objection! Can we have a sidebar?
[Sidebar]

9h / 7:17 AM

Combs' Donaldson: You thought you were in a relationship with Cassie, didn't you
Male dancer Phillip: No.
Donaldson: You wanted to get alone with her, to date her?
Phillip: If she'd let me, I would have.
Donaldson: You'd get jealous of Mr. Combs?
Phillip: No

9h / 7:16 AM

Combs' Donaldson: You said Mr. Combs was directing... But do you recall meeting the prosecutors on March 28, 2025 and telling them you didn't recall Mr. Combs giving directions about positions?

Phillip: Yes.
Donaldson: So he didn't direct?
Phillip: Incorrect.

9h / 7:12 AM

Combs' Donaldson: You only saw her inebriated one time?
Phillip: I saw her passed out on the couch, Mr. Combs told me, I don't think it's going to happen today
Donaldson: The time with the other male, you rotated?
Phillip: Not correct.
Donaldson: You watched?
Yes

9h / 7:07 AM

Male dancer Phillip: Yes.
Combs' Donaldson: You thought Cassie wanted to see you one on one, nothing to do with Sean Combs, right?
Phillip: I don't see what you mean.
Donaldson: In front of the Dream Hotel, that's what you thought?
Phillip: No.

9h / 7:05 AM

Combs' Donaldson: Did you date a model named Melia?
Male dancer Phillip: Malia. And I didn't say I dated her, we were friends
Donaldson: You were with her and saw Cassie, with someone not Mr. Combs?
Phillip: Yes.
Donaldson: You told Melia you saw Cassie socially?

9h / 7:03 AM

Judge: Sustained. You can only use it to try to refresh his recollection
Combs' Donaldson: Read it to yourself. Does it refresh you?
Male dancer Phillip: I do not remember saying that, what I am reading here, get the f*ck out
AUSA: Objection!
Judge: Disregard tha

9h / 7:01 AM

Combs' Donaldson: Isn't it true Mr. Combs told you, Yo man, I'm gonna have to deal with this, you need to get the f*ck out?
Male dancer Phillip: That is not correct.
Donaldson: In 2023 didn't you tell prosecutors he said "Yo man-
AUSA: Objection, not in evidence

10h / 6:59 AM

Combs' Donaldson: You claim Mr. Combs told her to come over, she said she had her personal information on the computer so wait a minute - and he threw a bottle at her?
Phillip: Correct.
Donaldson: He comes out and says, Are you ready?
Phillip: Are *you guys* ready

10h / 6:57 AM

Combs' Donaldson: She paid with her credit card?
Male dancer Phillip: I have nothing to do with that. She used her card to pay for the dancer.
Donaldson: OK, that assault at her apartment on 11th Avenue-
Phillip: I believe it was West End Avenue

10h / 6:54 AM

Combs' Donaldson: Fair to say she was in complete control of everything she was doing?
Male dancer Phillip: I can't say that
Donaldson: You did not wear a condom?
Phillip: I did not.
Donaldson: Your boss told you Ms. Cassie Ventura paid for the hotel?
Phillip: Yes

10h / 6:53 AM

Combs' Donaldson: While you and Ms. Cassie Ventura were having sex for hours, Ms. Ventura took the lead?
Phillip: No.
Donaldson: You took the lead?
Phillip: We were equally doing our thing. There wasn't a leader.
Donaldson: You decided together?
Phillip: Yes

10h / 6:51 AM

Judge: But the standard has not yet been reached as to B332 and B339. OK, get Mr. Phillip in the witness box then bring in the jury.
All rise!
Combs' Xavier Donaldson: So to continue - you returned to the Gramercy Hotel?
Male dancer Phillip: Yes

10h / 6:48 AM

Combs' Shapiro: The predicate for prior consistent statements hasn't been met.
Judge: I find that it has, for this exhibit. The defense opening said there will million$ of reasons for people to testify here. That's the attack that was used. As to B316 too

10h / 6:45 AM

Combs' Alexandra Shapiro: We submit that these are hearsay until re-direct
Judge: If they come in, they're in. You don't object?
Shapiro: We do. What we said in the opening was that Mr. Combs-
Judge: You seemed to say she was lying about threats to release videos

10h / 6:42 AM

AUSA Johnson: In their opening, they said Ms. Ventura made her own choices. They asked, Who really had control in this relationship? Clearing begging the answer that it was Ms. Ventura. Exhibit B315, the threat to release the sex tape - they said only she had it

10h / 6:39 AM

Teny Geragos: She was taking drugs while close with her family, in another state.
Judge: I overrule the Government's objection. This can be asked about. Now, prior consistent statements. We're talking about a sequencing issue - are they on direct, or in rebuttal?

10h / 6:34 AM

Combs' Teny Geragos: He suspected she was cheating on him. She did not answer her phone. She got into a bar fight and tried to kill someone. So it's relevant, to his suspicions. And her substance abuse outside of their sexual relationship.

10h / 6:32 AM

Judge: On the two incidents with Ms. Ventura, when we discussed this last week-
Defense: The assault in Connecticut, messages between Ms. Ventura and Mr. Combs, it's relevant.
Judge: Let's see if there's any issue
AUSA Johnson: It should be excluded

10h / 6:27 AM

Combs' Agnifilo: What would the NYT or WSJ do with this? [Note: they are not the only press] Sometimes things get unsealed and published

10h / 6:24 AM

Combs' Agnifilo: This is adult pornography, that's what this is. So it's narrowly tailored. Our application is only that the visual images and the audio is within the ambit of the sealing order. We could ask questions tastefully.

10h / 6:22 AM

AUSA Johnson: We just wouldn't show the videos to the courtroom gallery. And the jurors and everyone in the well would wear headphones. These materials are sexually explicit or involve nudity. One has submitted a letter

10h / 6:20 AM

Judge Subramanian: This is about evidence that is coming into the case. The public has a right to know what is happening at trial. I don't see how we would navigate that concern. There's a potential impact on the jurors of signaling some evidence requires sealing

10h / 6:18 AM

All rise!
Judge Subramanian: Let's try to get through these issues efficiently as we have the jurors waiting... We have a letter from a juror that we will make Court Exhibit 1. On the videos, when will they be offered into evidence?
AUSA Johnson: This afternoon

10h / 6:15 AM

OK - US v Sean Combs May 13, Cassie on deck, after cross of escort Phillip

AND NOW THE VERSION NBC NEWS

POSTED TO THEIR WEBSITE

2h ago / 2:03 PM PDT

Cassie describes being 'kicked' and 'dragged' during 2016 hotel incident

Adam Reiss and David K. Li
When asked if she ever left one of Combs' alleged "freak offs," Cassie Ventura said yes "in Century City," alluding to the 2016 incident at a Los Angeles hotel in which security video footage showed the rapper assaulting her.

“I chose to leave,” Ventura said. “I got out and Sean followed me into the hallway, and grabbed me, shoved me to the ground, kicked me and dragged me back to the room and took my stuff.”

In a setback for Combs’ legal team, Judge Subramanian had said in April that the video, first broadcast by CNN last year, was admissible as evidence.

After the jury was shown the video, Ventura was asked how many other times Combs had thrown her like that.

“Too many to count," she said.

2h ago / 1:45 PM PDT

Cassie says it was Combs 'fantasy to direct' 'freak-offs'

Adam Reiss and Mirna Alsharif
Cassie Ventura detailed explicit events that she said would happen in the "freak offs" that Sean Combs requested her to participate in.

Sometimes, she said Combs would join in as she had intercourse with the sex worker, and other times he would watch from a corner. He would also set up phones on FaceTime so he could watch from another room, she said.

"It was his fantasy to direct it — what to say, how to act," she said. "I did that to speed the process along so I could get it done. I wanted it to be over and get to the other room where we could spend time alone."

Ventura said Combs began recording some of the "freak offs" in the first year.

"I didn't want to do it," she said. "I would watch them with Sean afterwards, while we were having intercourse. If i saw them on my devices i would delete them, I felt disgusted."

2h ago / 1:13 PM PDT

Cassie says she took drugs to disassociate

Adam Reiss and David K. Li
Cassie Ventura testified that she used "marijuana, ketamine, mushrooms, whatever was the drug of choice at that point" to get through "freak offs."

"I couldn’t imagine myself doing any of that without having some sort of buffer, " Ventura told the court.

Ventura has testified, at length about her having intercourse with sex workers while her then-boyfriend Combs watched. Even when she became ill, she said Combs told her to keep going.

"I would actually vomit," she said. "When I got sick during a 'freak off,' he would encourage me to get up and continue on with it."

2h ago / 12:53 PM PDT

Cassie says she questioned legality of soliciting sex workers online

Adam Reiss and Mirna Alsharif
Cassie Ventura said she questioned the legality of soliciting sex workers online when Combs would ask to see the escort to check if they were a cop.

This prompted an objection from defense attorneys. Judge Arun Subramanian told the jury to disregard Ventura's comment concerning legality.

Ventura said she would contact sex workers online at Combs' request and tell them that it was his fantasy to watch her having sex with another man, she said in court.

Sex workers were paid $1,500 to $6,000, she said.

2h ago / 12:21 PM PDT

Cassie says she was directed to find sex workers online

Adam Reiss and David K. Li
Cassie Ventura said she used several websites to find sex workers across the country — and always under Combs' direction.

Craigslist, the now-defunct Backpage and the escort service Cowboys 4 Angels were among the sites Ventura testified that she used. But any final hire had to have Combs' OK, she said.

"I showed the photos to Sean to see if he was interested. If he wasn't interested I would tell them 'no' and ask for someone else," she said. "Sean had to approve."

3h ago / 11:54 AM PDT

Cassie says she was expected to participate in 'freak offs' during her period

Adam Reiss and Mirna Alsharif
Cassie Ventura told the court that she was expected to participate in "freak offs" during her period against her will at Combs' request, resulting in blood getting on furniture.

Ventura also said Combs had an escort urinate on her during an encounter because it was a "turn on" for him. Combs also participated, she said.

"I just felt humiliated, it was disgusting, it was too much," she said. "I choked, I didn’t want to be doing that, I was in a position I couldn’t easily get out of. I eventually put my hands up and Sean saw and told him to stop. I was choking ... Sean urinated on me at the same time."

Ventura was asked why she didn't say no.

"I was squeamish immediately, but high in the moment," she said. "That’s about it, you don't have a lot of control at that moment."

3h ago / 11:47 AM PDT

Baby oil used in ‘freak offs’ at Combs’ request, Cassie says

Adam Reiss and Mirna Alsharif
Baby oil was used in "freak offs" at Sean Combs' request, according to Cassie Ventura, who said everyone involved, including her, would pour it all over their bodies.

"Sean wanted it heated and he wanted it to be glistening so we applied every five minutes," Ventura said.

Ventura said there was "a pool filled with baby oil" during a "freak off" at the Montage Beverly Hills, which she got into at Combs' request.

"If Sean wanted it to happen, that was what was going to happen, there was no way around it," she said. "We used 10 bottles of baby oil, regular size."

Ventura also mentioned other items used in "freak offs," including Astroglide lubricant and condoms. Staff would bring the items, but if the "freak off" was last minute, Ventura would bring them, she said.

3h ago / 11:40 AM PDT

Cassie describes Combs as 'a scary person'

Adam Reiss and David K. Li
Cassie said she was always conscious of appeasing Combs and did everything possible to stay in his good graces.

"I didn't want him to be upset or not trust me," she testified. "He was a scary person, he would be violent."

She said they engaged "in freak offs in all the homes" and hotels, listing several places in Southern California and across the country.

4h ago / 11:12 AM PDT

Cassie gets emotional when recalling feelings for Combs

Adam Reiss and Mirna Alsharif
Cassie Ventura got emotional in court this afternoon when she was asked what she enjoyed about being with Sean Combs.

Ventura, who is eight months pregnant, was crying and grabbed a tissue as she answered the question.

"When we had one-on-one time," she said. "When you care about somebody and love them, you don't want to disappoint them."

Ventura began to cry again when shown an email she wrote to Combs, in which said, "I really need 2 f--."

"So who you wanna f--, gonna call someone?" Combs wrote back.

"I want to f-- you are you crazy," Ventura responded.

When asked why she wrote that, she said, "Because that's how I felt."

4h ago / 11:11 AM PDT

Cassie felt 'disgusting' and 'humiliated' during 'freak offs'

Adam Reiss and David K. Li
Drug-fueled orgies were a regular element of Cassie Ventura's time with Combs, even though she hated virtually every moment of it, the former partner testified.

"I felt pretty horrible about myself. I felt disgusting. I felt humiliated," she said. "I didn’t have the words to show how horrible I felt. I couldn’t talk to anyone about it."

The witness recalled drinking alcohol and taking ecstasy when first having intercourse with a sex worker for Combs' entertainment.

"I was high so I didn't feel much," she said. "Did this really happen to me? I didn’t know what was going to happen after that, if we were going to do it more frequently, I said yes to more, I didn't want to make him upset or angry."

4h ago / 11:07 AM PDT

Combs confessed voyeurism fantasy before proposing 'freak offs,' Cassie says

Adam Reiss and Mirna Alsharif
Sean "Diddy" Combs had a voyeurism fantasy, according to Cassie Ventura, mentioning it to her in the first six months of their relationship.

"He described it as a fantasy he had where he would want to see me having sexual interactions with another male so he could watch," Ventura said in court, adding that she agreed because she didn't want to upset him.

Ventura said she was 22 when Combs first proposed "freak offs."

"I loved him, I didn't want him to think I thought anything bad of him," Ventura said of the experience.

4h ago / 10:53 AM PDT

Combs was ready to confront Suge Knight in the middle of a 'freak off,' Cassie says

Adam Reiss and David K. Li
Combs and Cassie Ventura were engaged in one of their "freak off" sessions when the rapper was told that long-time rival Suge Knight was at a nearby diner, prompting him to get dressed for confrontation, she said.

"We were having a freak off in one of his homes in L.A. and he said Suge was at Mel’s Diner and we packed up and drove down there," Ventura testified.

"I was screaming and crying, 'Please don't do anything stupid.' I didn't know what they were going to do."

Knight is now serving a lengthy prison term after pleading guilt to voluntary manslaughter.

4h ago / 10:49 AM PDT

Combs had guns in safes in his homes, Cassie says

Adam Reiss and Mirna Alsharif
Sean "Diddy" Combs had guns in safes in his multiple homes, according to his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura.

Ventura, who sometimes had access to these safes, said Combs had guns in New York, Los Angeles, Miami and New Jersey. She said she saw the guns outside of the safes "a few times." The safes also contained cash, jewelry and video tapes, she said.

When she asked if she ever handled any of Combs’ alleged guns, she said she was handed a gun at a club in downtown Los Angeles to put in her bag while she was on mushrooms.

“I was freaking out it was going to go off,” she said, adding that she handed the gun off to someone after she left the club. Ventura said it wasn’t the only instance she came in contact with one of Combs’ alleged guns.

"The guns came out here and there. I always felt it was a little bit of a scare tactic," she said.

4h ago / 10:41 AM PDT

Visibly pregnant Cassie appears in courtroom sketch
Claudia Hernández

The sketch shows Sean “Diddy” Combs watching as his former girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura is sworn in today.

4h ago / 10:37 AM PDT

Combs would take away Cassie's electronics and cars as punishment, she testifies

Adam Reiss and David K. Li
Cassie Ventura recalled how Combs would lash out at her by taking away her electronics, cars and other possessions as a form of punishment.

"He would take the car away, the house, jewelry," she said. "The physical things didn't matter; I just wanted his approval."

The former romantic partner said Combs would dispatch his staffer for these take backs.

"Staff would take them," she recalled. "If I wasn't there, it would be a staff member or security."

4h ago / 10:31 AM PDT

Cassie says Combs controlled her career and appearance, said she looked 'too Mexican'

Adam Reiss and Mirna Alsharif
When Cassie Ventura came back to the stand after a lunch break, she said Combs had the final say on her career and her appearance.

While James Cruz managed her, he told her that he was doing it with "one hand tied behind his back," and that everything had to go through Combs, she said.

Ventura also said Combs made comments about her physical appearance, including telling her that she "looked too Mexican," that her hair looked bad, or that her nails "needed to look a certain way."

"My appearance was very important to him, it was pretty immediate," she said in court. "Some days he would want me to be really sexy and other days like a tomboy. He was just very involved in it."

Ventura added that he preferred her nails to be white, and during "freak offs" they had to be white or a French tip. Combs would also make comments about her working out and keeping her shape, and talked to her about breast implants, she said.

"I had to look a certain way during freak offs," Ventura said. "Definitely my self-worth took a hit during the entirety of the relationship."

5h ago / 10:17 AM PDT

Court is back in session

Adam Reiss

The defendant’s former partner, Cassie Ventura, returned to the witness stand following the court's lunch break.

Ventura donned a camel-colored overcoat, which she did not have before lunch, on top of her brown dress.

5h ago / 10:15 AM PDT

Cassie appeared emotional describing 'freak offs' in testimony
Doha Madani

Cassie Ventura walked into court today wearing a long-sleeved brown dress that went down to her ankles. Her pregnant belly was very obvious to onlookers.

She remained soft-spoken and composed through the majority of her testimony, though there were times she needed to take steadying breaths while answering questions. This was most obvious when she was describing what "freak offs" were to the courtroom. She dabbed at her eyes a few times with tissues when answering the question.

Ventura adjusted herself several times during her testimony, mostly keeping her hands clasped in her lap, though there were times she rubbed or pressed down on her stomach.

When Cassie first began discussing freak offs, a member of the public seated in the overflow viewing room yelled out, “That’s disgusting!” She expressed concern that Cassie was made to testify about such things while pregnant and exited the room after being told by a U.S. marshal to conduct herself the same as she would in a courtroom.

5h ago / 10:07 AM PDT

Combs flashes 'heart hands' to family members
Matthew Nighswander

A courtroom sketch shows Combs making a heart gesture to family members arriving at his trial today.

6h ago / 9:29 AM PDT

Court on lunch break

Adam Reiss and David K. Li
U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian dismissed the jury for a 40-minute lunch break.

All parties should be back in court by 1 p.m. ET as the defendant's former partner, Cassie Ventura, continues her testimony

6h ago / 9:28 AM PDT

'Freak offs' lasting up to 4 days became Cassie's primary job, she says

Adam Reiss and Mirna Alsharif
Cassie Ventura said that "freak offs" became her job "and there was no space to do anything else."

"Staying out for days on end, taking drugs and drinking, having sex with a stranger," she said in court. "They would be 36, 48, 72 hours, the longest one was four days."

Ventura said that she recorded hundreds of songs despite only releasing one studio album and one mixtape. The "freak offs" took priority over her music career, she said.

"Sean decided I could not release another album," she said.

6h ago / 9:26 AM PDT

Combs would 'check in' unannounced at homes where Cassie lived, she says

Adam Reiss and David K. Li
Cassie lived in multiple homes across Southern California, and Combs made a point of making unannounced visits when she was residing at a place he paid for, she said.

And "depending on his mood," he would frequently pop in without notice "to check in on us without us knowing," according to the witness.

"It was a stomach-in-knots moment, didn’t know what was going to come of the visit," she told the court.

6h ago / 9:07 AM PDT

Combs' mood swings would often lead to violence, Cassie says

Adam Reiss and Mirna Alsharif
Cassie Ventura described Combs as mercurial, saying his moods "swung different ways quite a bit."

Ventura said his moods affected her "greatly," and that an example of this was abuse he allegedly inflicted on her, even when she wasn't the reason he was in a bad mood.

"Make the wrong face and the next thing I knew I would get hit in the face," she said in court. "He would say, 'Watch your mouth.'"

6h ago / 8:57 AM PDT

Cassie says Combs was with Kim Porter when they started relationship

Adam Reiss and Mirna Alsharif
Cassie Ventura said that Combs was in a relationship with Kim Porter when they started a physical relationship.

Ventura said in court that after a Miami trip when she and Combs had intercourse for the first time, they began to spend more time together, but their relationship "was not public for many years."

"He just didn't want it to look bad, but also knew it was because of his children and personal things like his family," Ventura said.

When asked who he was with at the time, Ventura said, "Kim Porter."

6h ago / 8:55 AM PDT

Cassie recalls first sexual intercourse with Combs while high on boat in Miami

Adam Reiss and David K. Li
Cassie recalled having sex for the first time with Combs, an encounter that she said happened while she was high on drugs on a boat in Miami.

"I was drinking wine, then started to take drugs, a blue dolphin ecstasy pill," the witness said. "Sean gave it to me; I had never taken it before. I was just out of it, laughing, didn't know what it was until a little bit later."

Cassie recalled how the drugs gave her a "euphoric" feeling as "you are just really high, sensitive to touch and all of your senses."

6h ago / 8:46 AM PDT

Cassie discusses Combs kissing her on 21st birthday, how he taught her about oral sex

Adam Reiss and Mirna Alsharif
Cassie Ventura discussed Combs allegedly kissing her on her 21st birthday in a bathroom at the VMAs.

"I was confused, I was a new artist that didn't know the lay of the land and things like that," she said in court. "I wasn’t used to an executive or anyone being that forward that way with me, in a more than friends way, a sexual way, a romantic way. I remember running out and back to my hotel and telling someone about it."

Ventura said she did not want to kiss Combs on that day. There is a 17-year age gap between her and Combs, she said.

After the incident, Ventura said she went to see him a handful of times at the Trump Hotel in Manhattan, where they discussed her music career and "started to develop a comfortable relationship with each other."

During those meetings, he introduced her to the idea of oral sex, she said, teaching her how to perform it and giving it to her.

When asked if she reciprocated, Cassie said no.

"He made me feel crazy for not reciprocating, at the time I did not understand that kind of relationship and I was in a relationship with someone else," she said. "I was just so young and did not have the vocabulary for some of the things we talked about. I was just trying to understand it, just completely inexperienced at that point."

6h ago / 8:36 AM PDT

Cassie describes meeting Combs and signing with Bad Boy

Adam Reiss and David K. Li
As a 19-year-old aspiring artist, signing a deal with Combs' Bad Boy Records seemed like a huge, early career break, Cassie said.

"He was a larger-than-life musician, a fan of music, didn’t know too much about him personally," she told jurors.

"When I signed contract, I was 19, it was a 10-album deal, released an album later that year in 2006 in August," she said.

It was the only album she'd release with Bad Boy.

7h ago / 8:26 AM PDT

Cassie feared what Diddy would do if she said no to 'freak offs'

Adam Reiss and Mirna Alsharif
Cassie Ventura said she was 22 when Combs first introduced "freak offs" to her, adding it made her nervous, but that she loved him and "wanted to make him happy."

"At some point I felt I didn't have much of a choice, I didn't know what 'No' could turn into," she said in court.

Ventura said Combs controlled a lot in her life at the time, including her "career, sex, everything."

"I didn’t know if he would be upset enough to be violent or not want to be with me at all," she said, adding that she also feared she would be blackmailed with videos and pictures of her encounters with escorts.

7h ago / 8:20 AM PDT

Cassie describes how Combs asked her to participate in 'freak offs'

Adam Reiss and David K. Li
The government witness described herself as a confused 22-year-old when Combs first asked her to have sex with another man as he watched.

"I was 22 at the time, my stomach churned, didn't have a concept of how that would be a turn on but I accepted the responsibility," Cassie testified. "I was confused, nervous, but also loved him very much and wanted to make him happy."

Even if she didn't like these kinds of sexual encounters, Cassie said she just wanted to please Combs.

"It wasn't something that I wanted to be doing especially as regularly as it became," she said. "But again, I was in love and wanted to make him happy. At some point, I felt I didn't have much of a choice."

7h ago / 8:16 AM PDT

Cassie discusses InterContinental Hotel incident

Adam Reiss and Mirna Alsharif
Minutes into taking the stand this morning, Cassie Ventura was asked to identify a still image of the hallway in which she was beaten by Combs. Video of the incident circulated last year.

"That's me and Sean, InterContinental, Century City," Ventura said in court. "We were having an encounter, we call it a 'freak off.'"

Ventura was asked to describe what a "freak off" was, which she said was a sexual encounter proposed by Combs a year into their relationship, in which she would "perform" for him with a third party, usually an escort.

"And he would direct us in what we were doing," she said.

Ventura said Combs was in charge of hiring escorts for the "freak offs" at first, but eventually it became her job.

7h ago / 8:10 AM PDT

Judge ruled Ventura's husband can be in courtroom when she takes the stand

Adam Reiss and Mirna Alsharif
Before Cassie Ventura took the stand, Judge Arun Subramanian ruled that her husband, Alex Fine, can be in the courtroom when she takes the stand as a witness, but will have to leave in the event a 2018 rape that she accuses Combs of comes up.

Defense attorneys asked that Fine not be in the courtroom during Ventura's testimony because he could be called as a witness himself, while prosecution said she should have her support system, including her husband, in the courtroom. The judge decided on a compromise.

7h ago / 8:07 AM PDT

Cassie describes frequent violence she allegedly suffered at Combs' hand

Adam Reiss and David K. Li
Ventura told jurors that Combs was often violent toward her during the course of their 10-year relationship.

"Yes, they were violent arguments, usually resulted in physical abuse and dragging, different things," she told jurors. "He would mash my head, knock me over, drag me, kick me."

When asked how often this would happen, she said: "Frequently."

The injuries were frequent and visible, according to the witness.

"Usually I would get knots on my forehead, black eyes, red eyes, bruises all over my body, it just depended," Ventura added.

7h ago / 8:06 AM PDT

Cassie Ventura takes the witness stand

Adam Reiss and David K. Li
The government called Combs' former partner, Cassie Ventura, to the witness stand.

She is wearing a brown, snug fitting dress that shows off her pregnancy as she takes the stand, indicating the defense lost their motion to have her seated before the jury returned so they could not see her pregnant stomach.

Prosecutor Emily Johnson is set to question the government's star witness.

7h ago / 7:45 AM PDT

Male escort testimony wraps up

Gavon Laessig

After a brief cross and redirect from attorneys, Daniel Philip is finished with his testimony and has left the stand.

There is now a 10 minute break in court.

7h ago / 7:40 AM PDT

Sex with Cassie was directed by Combs, male escort says

Adam Reiss and David K. Li
A male escort's sexual encounters with Cassie Ventura all came at the direction of Combs, the sex worker testified, as prosecutors seek to blunt defense efforts to cast these acts as consensual.

All of Philip's sex with Ventura were paid jobs, Phillip said under re-direct questioning by prosecutors, recalling how he once wasn't compensated because he couldn't maintain an erection.

Under cross examination, Phillip denied he ever saw Ventura outside these paid events or had developed any romantic feelings for her. The defense wants to paint any Phillip-Ventura encounters as consensual and perhaps undermine the government's assertion that Combs was using his business as a criminal enterprise to satisfy sexual desires.

8h ago / 7:30 AM PDT

Defense asks male escort if he had feelings for Cassie

Adam Reiss and Mirna Alsharif
An attorney for Combs pressed Daniel Phillip, a male escort who is alleged to have had multiple sexual encounters with Cassie Ventura, on if he had feelings for her.

Attorney Xavier Donaldson asked Phillip if he thought he was establishing a bond with Ventura, to which he said "correct," but when asked if he thought he was in a relationship with her, he said "incorrect."

Phillip also described a situation in which Ventura was scared and shaking after Combs allegedly hit her. When Combs left the room, Phillip and Ventura spoke, started kissing and were moving in the direction of having intercourse, he said. Phillip said he lost his erection after Combs came back into the room.

Phillip was also asked if he told federal prosecutors last year that he was jealous when Ventura and Combs were having sex, to which he said he does not recall.

8h ago / 7:19 AM PDT

Defense presses male escort on if Cassie was drunk or high during sexual encounters

Adam Reiss and David K. Li
Combs' team repeatedly brought up whether Cassie Ventura was drunk or high in her sexual encounters with a male escort, seemingly to contradict prosecutors' allegations Combs forced her to take drugs.

Phillip, the escort who said he was paid to have sex with Ventura as Combs watched, recalled only one instance out of several encounters with Ventura when she did appear to be under the influence.

8h ago / 7:02 AM PDT

Male escort returns to testify

Adam Reiss and David K. Li
Daniel Phillip, the male escort who told jurors he witnessed Combs' alleged attacks on girlfriend Cassie Ventura, entered the courtroom to resume his testimony.

Judge Arun Subramanian has yet to rule on what kind of explicit material will be shown in open court or if Ventura, the government's star witness, should be seated on the witness stand before jurors enter the room.

The defense fears that Ventura, who is eight months pregnant, would be an unfairly sympathetic witness if jurors see her in this state.

8h ago / 7:02 AM PDT

Debate over Cassie allegedly assaulting security guard and her drug use

Adam Reiss and Mirna Alsharif
Defense attorney Anna Estevao brought up an alleged instance in which Cassie Ventura assaulted a security guard and said the defense would address her alleged drug use.

Prosecutor Emily Anne Johnson said the alleged assault is a prior bad act that does not assist her credibility. Estevao argued that prosecutors say violence was part of Ventura and Sean "Diddy" Combs' relationship, but actually that it was related to Combs believing that his longtime-girlfriend was cheating on him.

Estevao also said that prosecutors are attempting to blame Combs for Ventura's drug use, but that the defense will argue she did that of her own free will.

Judge Arun Subramanian overruled prosecutors' objection.

8h ago / 6:37 AM PDT

Defense wants to tailor sexually explicit material shown in court

Adam Reiss and David K. Li
Combs' attorneys asked Judge Arun Subramanian to carefully edit what kind of explicit material is shown in open court, saying much of it amounts to porn.

"There is no aspect to any of the videos the government is looking to put into evidence that is not adult pornography, that is what it is, people who are nude having sex or about to have sex," defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo said. "It’s a privacy issue and it's pornography, what would the press do with it if they had it?"

Robert Balia, an attorney for news organizations covering this trial, said that "our preference is for videos to be shown in open court."

"Testimony is not a substitute for this videos," Balia said. "The people in the press should be able to see justice being done and to see if these people were being coerced."

9h ago / 6:23 AM PDT

Combs is back in court

Adam Reiss

Sean "Diddy" Combs arrived back in court today wearing a cream-colored shirt with slacks — similar to what he wore in court yesterday. He waved to his family in the courtroom.

9h ago / 6:20 AM PDT

Defense doesn't want jurors to see a pregnant Cassie Ventura

Adam Reiss and David K. Li
Sean Combs' attorneys are opposed to jurors seeing the government's star witness, Cassie Ventura, as pregnant.

The defense would want the eight-months expecting Ventura seated on the stand before jurors enter court.

“Because I think there is a prejudicial quality,” defense attorney Marc Agnifilo told the judge. "Pregnancy is beautiful and wonderful. It also is a source of potential sympathy."

10h ago / 4:42 AM PDT

Male escort will return to witness stand

Adam Reiss and Doha Madani
Daniel Phillip, the male escort who testified yesterday, will return to continue cross-examination today.

Judge Arun Subramanian ordered Phillip not to speak to his attorney, even overnight, before he comes back to testify again.

10h ago / 4:42 AM PDT

Court to resume this morning

Adam Reiss and David K. LiCourt will resume at 9:15 a.m. Yesterday ended with the defense cross examining Daniel Phillip, a stripper who testified that he was paid thousands of dollars to have sex with Cassie as Combs watched.