Cassie Ventura faces cross examination today

Updated 9m ago

The trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs is taking place in federal court, so there’s no broadcast of the proceedings allowed.

Sketch artists are allowed in the court, however. 

CBS News New York’s Alice Gainer has been at court since the start of the trial and will be providing updates to this live blog all day. 

Updated 28m ago

Some of the details from Ventura’s testimony are disturbing. 

Wednesday, she told the jury that after a break-up, she was raped by Combs in 2018.

Jurors were shown images from the so-called “freak offs,” where Combs allegedly directed Ventura and male escorts to perform sex acts. 

She also testified about years of psychological and physical abuse during their decade-long relationship, including the video of Combs attacking her at a Los Angeles hotel in 2016.

For more details of Ventura’s testimony, CLICK HERE.

Updated 43m ago

CBS News New York’s Alice Gainer has been following the case from the start and will be at the courthouse each day providing real-time updates. Watch her recap from Wednesday, the second day of Ventura’s testimony. 

Updated 43m ago

Casandra Ventura, who performs under the name Cassie, rose to fame with the single “Me & U” on her self-titled debut album. The song landed the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart in 2006.

John Shearer/Getty Images for The Hollywood Reporter

In her testimony, she said she signed with Bad Boy Records when she was 19, and Combs first kissed her on her 21st birthday. She and Combs dated off-and-on for more than 10 years, from about 2007 to 2018.

Ventura is now married and pregnant with her third child. 

CLICK HERE for more about Ventura and the other accusers.

Updated 43m ago

Three witnesses have testified in the case so far.

Jane Rosenberg

Israel Florez was the first on the stand. 

Florez worked as the security manager at the hotel where Combs was caught on video attacking Ventura in 2016. He testified Combs offered him a stack of cash as a bribe and asked him not to tell anyone about the incident. Florez said he rejected the bribe. 

Jane Rosenberg

Daniel Phillip told jurors he was paid to have sex with Ventura while Combs watched. He also testified he was present when Combs threw a bottle at Ventura and dragged her by her hair into another room, where he described what sounded to him like Combs hitting Ventura. 

Jane Rosenberg

Ventura has testified about her relationship with Combs. She alleged that Combs suggested she have sex with other men while he watched, and that he provided drugs for “freak offs.” She accused Combs of repeatedly beating her, and testified that arranging the “freak offs” became her job. 

She went on to accuse Combs of raping her in 2018. 

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