Editor's note: This story contains graphic descriptions that some readers may find disturbing. Sean "Diddy" Combs'lawyers are cross-examining his former girlfriend, singerCasandra "Cassie" Ventura Fine, followingtwo days of her emotional testimony onhis allegedphysical, sexual and psychological abuse. Combs' federalsex-crimes trialresumed in Manhattan on May 15, and the one-time mogul's lawyers have signaled they'll ask Cassie about what they have called her ownhistory of domestic violence. Therapper's lawyershave also alleged she was motivated by money to get back at him. The defense showed emails and text messages from early in Combs and Ventura Fine's relationship, where they professed love for each other and she sought more attention from him. "I wanted to spend so much time with him, at this point in 2010, because I'd fallen in love with him and I cared about him very much," Ventura Fine told jurors. Cassie's testimony comes a year after CNN released2016 hotel surveillance videothat showed Combs kicking, hitting and dragging the woman during an altercation at a Los Angeles-area hotel. Combsapologized for his violent behaviorsoon after thevideo's release. In court, Ventura Fine said Combs repeatedly threatened to release videos of her participating in his allegeddrug-fueled "freak offs." Combs, 55, wasarrested in September 2024on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Diddy on trial newsletter:Step inside the courtroom as music mogul faces sex-crimes charges. Combs' lawyers asked Ventura Fine todescribe her early careerwhen she and Diddy first met. She said Combs and fellow celebritiesDallas Austin and Britney Spearsall attended her 21st birthday party. One of Diddy's lawyers, Anna Estevao, pointed out that her first album did well, and she had recognizable songs. "You're very beautiful and charming," Estavao said, and Ventura Fine replied, "Thank you," smiling. "It's true," Estevao said, to laughter in the courtroom. Ventura Fine went on to explain how when she signed on to Bad Boy Records, which Combs founded, she had a platonic relationship with rapper. After describing a tough performance on the program "106 & Park," she said Combs came to her aid and supported her. Estevao also pulled up an email from 2007, in whichVentura Fine said Combsis "constantly weary of me" and described herself as "sneaky," "needy" and "a spoiled brat." "I hate that you think I'm a malicious person," Ventura Fine wrote, adding, "You just don't think I'm the right one." The courtroom became tense when defense attorneys questioned Ventura Fine over the effect of her2023 lawsuiton Combs' career. When lawyers asked what happened to Combs' careerafter she filed the case, Ventura Fine paused and said,"That's a lot." "Is it fair to say his career was ruined?" a lawyer for the defense said, at which point prosecutors rapidly jumped in with objections, which the judge approved. In texts from December 2009,Ventura Fine told Combsthat in order for her to "be more open with the things I do in bed," she needed to feel like "this is my husband and the only one who will see this side of me." She went on to write that thealleged "freak offs"were starting to make her "feel a little dirty," adding that she was going "back and forth in my mind" about whether she wanted to do them. Ventura Fine explained on the stand that the"freak offs"became "a very integral part" of their relationship early on, but she wanted to develop the relationship more. Combs' attorneys argued this showed that she put deep thought into the "freak offs" and felt comfortable expressing her concerns to her then-partner. "At that time," she clarified. "Do you recall having conversations with Mr. Combs about theswingers lifestyle?" Estevao later asked, to which Ventura Fine responded, "Yeah." She went on to say the conversations were mainly about protocol, including how you act, and that some see it as a taboo topic. The exchange offered a preview of what is expected to be one of the defense team's main arguments – that while unconventional, Combs wasa "swinger"and not a sexual abuser. Nicole Westmoreland of Westmoreland Law LLC is the latest lawyer tojoin Combs' legal teamafter filing a notice of attorney appearance with the court on May 6. Combs' defense team was already led by attorneys Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos. Both are founding partners at Agnifilo Intrater. Geragos is "particularly experienced in defending and investigating allegations of sexual misconduct," according to the firm's website. Brian Steel, who representedYoung Thugin the rapper's RICO trial, is also working with Combs, as are attorneys Alexandra Shapiro, Xavier R. Donaldson, Anna Maria Estevao and Jason Driscoll. Diddy's lawyers read texts between the former couple in the early years of their relationship, includingextremely explicit messages, in court. In messages from August 2009, the couple discussed plans for a freak off. Combs wrote, "When do you want tofreak off?" with Ventura Fine responding, "I'm always ready to freak off. Lolol." He wrote, "You tell me the day, you choose." In more texts from 2009, the court saw sexually explicit messages between them. In one message, Ventura Fine expressed eagerness to have sex, with Combs responding, "I can't wait to watch you. I want you to get real hot."On another occasion, she texted Combs how she anticipated being positioned during sex. The defense repeatedly sought topaint Ventura Fine as a jealous ex-partner."This is about nature of relationships," attorney Marc Agnifilo said before she took the stand. "This is about jealousies." The defense said Combs needed someone to take care of him, and Ventura Fine was one of the only people who saw the "real" him. "You knew how special you were to him," the defense said, to which Ventura Fine responded, "Sometimes." Combs' lawyers noted that he lied to and cheated on Ventura Fine and let her down, but she "kept coming back to himfor 11 years."She paused before responding, "I wouldn't use 'coming back.'" Ventura Fine said she was in love with Combs, a "charismatic, big personality that everybody really loved," and described him as "sweet" and "caring" at times. Recalling the"early stages" of her relationshipwith Combs, Ventura Fine said she spent a lot of time feeling hurt. In texts from April 2010, she wrote: "So you hung up…It's like I need … I haven't seen you at all." She testified that she was worried she would lose him if she didn't have sex with him the way he wanted. When asked whether she told him shewanted to do "freak offs"to make him happy, she responded, "No, there's a lot more to that." "I'm sure we'll get to that," the defense attorney replied. Combs' attorneys kicked off their cross-examination bydisplaying kind messagessent between Cassie and Diddy early in their relationship. "I'm truly a lucky man. I love you, I miss you," Combs wrote in one email shown during cross-examination. She emailed back saying that she was a lucky woman. In another text from 2009, Combs wrote, "I love sooooo much it makes me cry," to which she responded "You hungry, pop pop?" Ventura Fine waspreviously asked by prosecutorsabout her and Combs' nicknames for each other. Ventura Fine revealed Combs called her "BG" for baby girl and "CC," which stood for Cassie Combs. Her nickname for him was "pop pop," which he decided on after asking what she called her grandfather. In another text exchange, from a little overtwo years into their relationship, Combs wrote: "I love you so much it consumes my life. I never knew it could be like this." A text from the same year from Ventura fine read: "Pop pop, I really miss you." When the defense asked how often they saw each other, Ventura Fine said there were long breaks between seeing one another since they both traveled for work. Ventura Fine in court testified that in early 2023, around the time before she went to rehab for opioid addiction and began trauma therapy, she experienced suicidal ideation. "I was spinning out" at the time, Ventura Fine testified. "I didn't want to be alive anymore at that point." She recalled a time when she went home to herhusband Alex Fineand children, "I remember telling him, 'You can do this without me.'" Ventura Fine said during testimony it all just felt "too painful" and that "I tried walking out the door into traffic and my husband wouldn't let me." Another major revelation came from 2018, after Ventura Fine and Combs were no longer together and she had started dating her now-husband, Alex Fine. She said she and Combs met up for dinner, during which he was friendly and kind. Afterward, he drove her back to her home and walked her inside. "And then he raped me in my living room," Cassie alleged. She said she cried and told him "no" during the alleged rape. Prosecutors asked how she felt in that moment: "It was like someone taking something from you." Cassie testified about herbrief relationship with rapper Kid Cudiin 2011, whichbegan after they started working together on music. Ventura Fine said she didn't initially tell Combs about Cudi, whose real name is Scott Mescudi, but Combs went through her phone during a "freak off" and found out about the relationship. He allegedly became enraged after he saw the emails, lunging at Cassie with a wine bottle opener between his fingers, she testified. As she left Combs' house, Ventura Fine said the rapper kicked her in the back. When she got back to her hotel room, someone had urinated on the floor, knocked over the furniture and defecated in the toilet without flushing it. Cassie alleges Diddy assaultedand threatened her over Kid Cudi relationship Several members of the embattled rap mogul's family, includinghis adult children, have turned out in New York this week as hiscriminal trialgets underway.From stepson Quincy Brown to Combs' biological sons and daughters and former partners,here's a lookat his loved ones who have been spotted at the courthouse. Combs is facing federal sex-crimes and trafficking charges in a sprawling suit that has eroded his status as a power player and kingmaker in the entertainment industry. He wasarrested in September 2024and has been charged with racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. He haspleaded not guiltyto all five counts. Racketeering is the participation in an illegal scheme under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Statute, or RICO, as a way for the U.S. government to prosecute organizations that contribute to criminal activity. Using RICO law, which is typically aimed attargeting multi-person criminal organizations,prosecutors allegethat Combs coerced victims, some of whom they say were sex workers, through intimidation and narcotics to participate in "freak offs" — sometimes dayslong sex performances that federal prosecutors claim they have video of. The trial will not be televised, as cameras are typically not allowed in federal criminal trial proceedings. USA TODAY will be reporting live from the courtroom. Contributing: USA TODAY staff;Reuters This article discusses suicide and suicidal ideation. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at988lifeline.org. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental and/or substance use disorders, you can call theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's free and confidentialtreatment referraland information service at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). It's available 24/7 in English and Spanish (TTY: 1-800-487-4889). If you are a survivor of sexual assault, RAINN offers support through the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673) andHotline.RAINN.organd en EspañolRAINN.org/es. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Diddy trial live updates: Lawyers read explicit Cassie, Diddy texts
