NEW YORK (AP) 鈥 Under cross-examination, 鈥 ex-girlfriend testified Tuesday she took part in sex acts with male sex workers at the music mogul's request because it made her feel loved by him, but now regrets what she came to recognize as the 鈥渃uckold鈥 lifestyle.
The woman testified at Combs鈥 sex-trafficking trial under the pseudonym 鈥淛ane鈥 to protect her identity. A day earlier, she revealed their three-year relationship lasted until the Bad Boy Records founder was arrested in September , where she'd been planning to meet him.
Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges that carry a potential penalty of 15 years to life in prison. He has been jailed without bail.
Prosecutors allege Combs used violence, threats and a network of employees and associates to control and abuse women for two decades. His lawyers have told the jury in federal court in Manhattan that although there was domestic violence in his relationships, everything he did sexually was consensual.
Earlier in the trial, R&B signer Casandra 鈥 鈥 Ventura testified over four days that Combs physically abused her and that she participated in hundreds of 鈥渇reak-off鈥 sexual performances during a nearly 11-year relationship that ended in 2018.
The Associated Press doesn鈥檛 name alleged victims of sexual abuse without their consent unless they have shared their identities publicly, as Cassie has.
Attorney Teny Geragos, representing Combs, cross-examined Jane on Tuesday by leading her into discussing the drug-fueled sexual marathons choreographed by Combs 鈥 which Jane said sometimes happened weekly 鈥 by reminding her that she mentioned regrets in earlier testimony.
鈥淚 resent him for leading me into the lifestyle he led me to,鈥 Jane said. 鈥淚 resented the way he went about introducing me to this lifestyle.鈥
She said she agreed to these 鈥渉otel nights鈥 while 鈥渦nder a lot of emotional pressure鈥 鈥 and already hooked on love and a desire to stay in a relationship with Combs.
Jane testified that she partook in the encounters, sometimes grudgingly, because they pleased Combs and she enjoyed spending time alone with him afterward.
Jane testified she began therapy about three months ago. She previously met with lawyers on Combs' defense team but cut off those meetings in April, days before .
She said she struggles to understand why she kept participating in 鈥渉otel nights鈥 even though she only wanted to have sex with Combs, however the reasons are 鈥渂ecoming more and more clear鈥 as she proceeds with therapy.
Jane initially felt it was 鈥渟omething very special鈥 to have these secret sexual experiences with Combs. She said she didn't want to judge him and 鈥渞eally wanted to just go along with these things because if I can be my partner's escapes than I would be.鈥
Jane said she researched sexual variations in 2022 and came across the words 鈥渃uck鈥 and 鈥渃uckold,鈥 which seemed to fit the lifestyle she found herself in because she said a man known as a 鈥渃uck鈥 derives pleasure seeing 鈥渉is woman receive pleasure鈥 from another man.
鈥淗e likes to use the words 鈥榲oyeurism鈥 and 鈥榚scapism,鈥欌 Jane said. She added: 鈥淚 would use the word cuck for him more so.鈥
Geragos reminded Jane that she had testified last week that she loves Combs currently.
鈥淚 do,鈥 she responded.
Geragos had Jane read aloud some of the many sexually explicit messages in which she expressed the types of activities she wanted to engage in during 鈥渉otel nights鈥 with Combs and male sex workers as she tried to portray Jane as a willing and eager participant in frequent sex events.
In earlier testimony, Jane provided recent examples of Combs acting violently toward a woman while seeking to fulfill his sexual desires. Cassie sued Combs in November 2023 alleging sexual abuse. The lawsuit was settled within hours for $20 million, but it touched off the criminal investigation into Combs.
Michael R. Sisak And Larry Neumeister, The Associated Press