NEW YORK — A second woman has come forward to accuse Sean “Diddy” Combs of rape, testifying in federal court Thursday that the music mogul assaulted her multiple times while she worked as his personal assistant. The woman, using the pseudonym Mia, said Combs forced oral sex on her and later raped her while she was asleep — a harrowing revelation that adds to an already explosive federal trial for racketeering and sex trafficking.
“I was just frozen. I didn’t do anything. I just let it happen,” Mia told jurors through tears, staring down as she recounted a disturbing moment in which Combs allegedly grabbed her head and forced her to perform oral sex. She later testified that Combs climbed on top of her while she was asleep and raped her again.
Now in its third week, the high-profile trial is taking place in Manhattan federal court, where Combs, 55, faces five felony charges, including racketeering, sex trafficking, and sexual assault. If convicted, the charges could result in a life sentence.
Combs has pleaded not guilty, and his defense team has acknowledged that while he may have been abusive in past relationships, all sexual encounters were consensual. Throughout Mia’s testimony, Combs largely remained stoic, occasionally passing notes to his attorneys without showing outward emotion.
Federal prosecutors argue that Combs orchestrated a pattern of sexual exploitation, intimidation, and violence spanning more than two decades. Central to their case are alleged drug-fueled sex parties — known as “Freak Offs” — during which Combs is accused of coercing women to participate in explicit acts with male sex workers.
Earlier in the trial, Combs’ former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, offered emotional testimony describing years of physical and emotional abuse. The R&B singer said Combs raped her shortly after their final breakup and manipulated her into taking part in the Freak Offs under threat of releasing sex tapes. Ventura testified that despite loving Combs, she feared him and the consequences of disobedience.
Other witnesses — including friends, staff, and former colleagues — have backed up Ventura’s and Mia’s accounts, depicting Combs as a controlling and volatile figure who allegedly used bodyguards and associates to carry out his orders and silence victims.
Last week, Dawn Richard, a former member of the girl group Danity Kane, testified that she felt threatened by Combs after witnessing inappropriate behavior. She said Combs pressured her to stay silent, a claim met with a rigorous cross-examination by Combs’ defense.
Another high-profile figure, rapper Kid Cudi (Scott Mescudi), also took the stand. He testified that his car was set on fire in 2012, just after Combs allegedly learned of his romantic involvement with Ventura. Prosecutors point to the arson as part of a broader campaign of violence and intimidation intended to prevent women from leaving Combs’ inner circle and speaking out.
Combs, who revolutionized hip-hop through his label Bad Boy Records and helped launch the careers of icons like the Notorious B.I.G., was arrested last September. He remains in custody at a federal facility in Brooklyn during the ongoing proceedings.
The federal trial has drawn intense media coverage, not only due to the graphic nature of the allegations, but also because of Combs’ cultural stature and influence within the entertainment industry. Prosecutors assert that his success provided a powerful shield of fame and money, allowing him to abuse women unchecked for years.
As the courtroom hears more from alleged victims and witnesses, prosecutors say they are working to expose the systemic nature of Combs’ crimes, which were “enabled by a network of loyal enablers and fueled by a desire for control and power.”
The trial is expected to continue for several more weeks as new witnesses take the stand.
