Diddy's ex-girlfriend on Cassie's lawsuit: 'Reading my own sexual trauma'

NEW YORK CITY - Sean "Diddy" Combs, one of the most influential figures in music and business over the last three decades, is standing trial on sweeping federal charges.

Prosecutors allege Combs physically and sexually abused individuals for over a decade as the acting leader of a sordid empire. Prosecutors also allege Combs used force and coercion to get victims to engage in what he called "Freak Offs," which were often recorded and could last days.

• MORE: What's happened during the Diddy trial? Day-by-day recap
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Combs' recent ex-girlfriend, known as "Jane" in the courtroom, testified earlier today that she felt as though she was "reading [her] own sexual trauma" as she read the lawsuit Casandra "Cassie" Ventura filed against Combs in 2023.

"Jane" went on to say certain pages of Ventura's lawsuit followed her own experience with Combs "word for word."

What happened last week?

What we know:

A woman who was dating Diddy at the time of his arrest last year broke down on Friday, describing their many drug-fueled sex marathons, saying the music mogul ignored her signals to stop and scolded her for crying after another encounter.

Testifying under the pseudonym "Jane", the woman recounted how Combs pushed her to continue having sex with men while he watched, even after she gave "subtle cues" – saying she was tired and hungry, making faces and gestures – that she wanted to stop. Instead, she said, he told her to "finish strong."

Asked why she didn't tell him outright, Jane sobbed, "I just, I don’t know." Later, she said Combs would shut her down when she tried to talk about ending the encounters, which she called "dark" and "sleazy."

What's next:

The trial will begin its fifth week. "Jane" will return to the witness stand when prosecutor Maurene Comey resumes her questioning. Combs’ lawyers have not yet had a chance to question her.

Prosecutors had indicated that they were ahead of their plans to finish presenting evidence within six weeks, but the optimistic forecasts have disappeared in recent days.

What is Diddy charged with?

The backstory:

Federal prosecutors have charged Combs with a series of crimes including:

• Count 1: Racketeering Conspiracy. Count One charges that, from at least in or about 2004 through in or about 2024, the defendant participated in a racketeering conspiracy during which he agreed with other employees and associates of his businesses to commit kidnapping, arson, bribery of a witness, obstruction of justice, drug distribution, forced labor, sex trafficking, and transportation for purposes of engaging in prostitution.
• Count 2: Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, or Coercion. Count Two charges the defendant with sex trafficking an adult female victim through force, fraud, and coercion between ~2009 and ~2018.
• Count 3: Transportation to Engage in Prostitution. Count Three charges the defendant with transporting that female victim and male commercial sex workers to engage in prostitution between ~2009 and ~2018.
• Count 4: Sex trafficking. Count Four charges the defendant with sex trafficking a second adult female victim through force, fraud, and coercion between ~2021 and ~2024.
• Count 5: Transportation to Engage in Prostitution. Count Five charges the defendant with transporting that second female victim and male commercial sex workers to engage in prostitution between ~2021 and ~2024.

He also faces more than 60 lawsuits from alleged victims.

Cassie says in a lawsuit that Combs subjected her to years of abuse, including beatings and rape. Cassie, whose legal name is Cassandra Ventura, signed to Combs' label in 2005, and the two were on-again-off-again romantic partners for more than a decade starting in 2007. The lawsuit filed in federal court says Combs was "prone to uncontrollable rage" and subjected her to "savage" beatings. It says he plied her with drugs, forced her to have sex with other men, and raped her in her home as she was trying to end the relationship in 2018. Combs, through his attorney, "vehemently denies" the accusations.

How many years does Diddy face?

If convicted, the 55-year-old Diddy could face 15 years to life in prison. 

In documents obtained by FOX News Digital, Diddy’s defense team admitted the disgraced rapper committed "domestic violence" against a partner. Diddy’s strategy seems to be to "admit to what is a lesser, state crime to avoid federal prison."

When was Diddy arrested? 

Diddy was arrested in Oct. 2024 at the Park Hyatt New York in Midtown Manhattan. He's been in jail ever since.

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