A federal judge on Tuesday denied a renewed motion for a mistrial in the sex trafficking and racketeering case against Sean "Diddy" Combs, as explosive testimony continued with a former girlfriend saying she "still loves" the rapper despite alleging years of abuse and coercion.
Judge Arun Subramanian rejected the defense's request, which centered on the credibility of witness Bryana Bongolan, who testified that Combs allegedly dangled her from a 17th-floor balcony in Los Angeles in 2016. The defense argued Combs was on the East Coast at the time and accused the prosecution of introducing knowingly false testimony.
"The government has presented testimony that it knew or should have known was materially false," Combs' attorneys wrote in a June 7 letter to the court. They said witness Cassie Ventura's corroboration of the balcony incident was based only on what she heard afterward and not firsthand observation.
Subramanian acknowledged flaws in the government's handling of the testimony but ruled that "the defense was able to attempt to undermine the credibility of the testimony using documents and questions." He added, That's “not fodder for a mistrial," but rather the "adversarial process at work."
As proceedings resumed, Combs' attorneys began cross-examining a woman testifying under the pseudonym "Jane," a former girlfriend of the defendant who described being coerced into multi-day group sex sessions involving male escorts and drugs.
Under questioning by defense attorney Teny Geragos, Jane confirmed she "loves him currently." Asked to explain, she testified: "I was so hooked from the beginning on the love and affection, I fell in love with him, and I didn't understand the terms of the relationship."
Jane said she endured so-called "freak offs" arranged by Combs, during which she engaged in sex acts with multiple men while the rapper watched. "That was truly the only reason why I endured these nights," she told jurors. "So that at the end I could just have the love and affection with my partner."
She further testified that Combs continues to pay her $10,000 monthly rent and contributes to her legal fees, adding that he even helped hire her current attorney.
On Monday, jurors heard a voice message from Combs berating Jane after she declined to participate in one of the events. "I'm about to really disappear on you, you feel me? You better get on your job, that's all it is all. Because you got me on my job," Combs said in the recording.
Jane said she believed her "job" was to keep Combs happy, which included the sex acts and submitting to his demands. She broke down while describing a four-day New Year's "freak off" in 2022, during which Combs allegedly provided her with ecstasy, caffeine, water, and protein shakes to sustain her through prolonged sessions.
When asked why she didn't leave or say no, Jane revealed she felt "obligated" to please Combs, as he was paying her pricey rent at the time.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to all charges, including sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution.
