Dateline: True Crime Weekly
Episode: Sean Combs: Listen to Combs’s Messages to “Jane”
Host: Andrea Canning
Release Date: June 10, 2025
Introduction to the Trial
In this gripping episode of Dateline: True Crime Weekly, host Andrea Canning delves deep into the high-stakes racketeering trial of Sean Combs. Combs, a prominent figure in the music industry, stands accused of sex trafficking, a charge he vehemently denies, pledging not guilty to all allegations. The trial has garnered significant attention, with Andrea providing daily updates and comprehensive coverage of the proceedings.
Andrea Canning [01:03]:
"This is ON Trial, a special series from DATELINE True Crime Weekly bringing you daily coverage from the Sean Combs racketeering trial. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him."
Key Testimonies and Jane’s Emotional Accounts
A pivotal moment in the trial involves testimony from Jane, the second woman alleging victimization by Combs. Over five weeks, Jane has taken the stand, offering harrowing accounts of her experiences. In this episode, Andrea and her guest, NBC News correspondent Chloe Meloss, explore the intense and emotional nature of Jane’s testimony.
Jane’s Relationship with Sean Combs
Jane's testimony paints a picture of a deeply toxic relationship. The prosecution has focused on revealing the manipulative and coercive dynamics between Jane and Combs through text messages and voice notes exchanged during their three-year relationship.
Chloe Meloss [02:14]:
"Jane was on the stand today reading between her and Combs in which she says she doesn't want to do this anymore. She's feeling used she doesn't want to take part in these hotel nights anymore." [02:27]
Exposing the Toxic Relationship Through Evidence
The prosecution has introduced significant evidence in the form of text messages and voice notes to demonstrate the extent of the manipulation and coercion. These pieces of evidence are crucial in illustrating the alleged abuse and the coercive environment Jane endured.
Notable Text Messages and Voice Notes:
-
Text Message Highlight
Jane expresses her frustration and desire to end the relationship, stating, "I don't want to do this anymore." -
Voice Note 1:
Sean Combs [03:25]:
"Girl, girl, girl, I done sent you flowers already. Ain't nobody talk about that in the past. That's what I'm talking about. You don't know how to just move on."
(Timestamp: 03:25)Andrea Canning [03:47]:
"Sean Combs tone seems non-threatening. At one point, he says he sounds like that because he just woke up. And he says he sent her flowers." -
Voice Note 2:
Sean Combs [04:42]:
"Ain't nobody threatening you. And I ain't trying to go back and forth with no woman where my life is at right now... You better get on your job."
(Timestamp: 04:42) -
Voice Note 3:
Sean Combs [05:53]:
"I'm not gonna be explaining to you. It don't matter if I just got finished her the other day. I'm single... You're nuts. So be sad, go crazy, do whatever you want to do."
(Timestamp: 05:53)
Chloe Meloss [03:57]:
"So he actually doesn't sound too intense. And when you're hearing that juxtaposed to Jane's testimony on the stand, I mean, she sounds incredibly emotional. It definitely could raise some questions with the jurors." [03:57]
Impact of Jane’s Testimony on the Courtroom
Jane’s emotional recounting of the events, especially in response to Cassie Ventura’s civil lawsuit, adds a profound layer to the case. Her reaction to the lawsuit, where she felt she was "reading her own sexual trauma," underscores the depth of her alleged experiences with Combs.
Andrea Canning [07:36]:
"Jane testified that she sent Combs a text about her reaction to the lawsuit, which she read aloud today." [07:36]
Chloe Meloss [07:44]:
"Jane writes, 'I feel like I'm reading my own sexual trauma. I'm sick. It's exactly word for word, drug filled days and nights... I feel very violated. This was sexual exploitation.'” [07:44]
Legal Analysis with MSNBC’s Lisa Rubin
Later in the episode, Andrea and Chloe are joined by Lisa Rubin, an MSNBC legal correspondent, who provides an in-depth analysis of the prosecution’s case. Rubin breaks down the elements required to prove sex trafficking and assesses the strength of the evidence presented so far.
Three Elements of Sex Trafficking:
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Recruitment or Enticement:
"Sean Combs knowingly enticed or recruited Cassie or Jane to be involved in these sexual encounters with him." [12:17] -
Commercial Sex Act Affecting Interstate or Foreign Commerce:
"The government's done a pretty good job of showing that there was absolutely an impact on the flow of money." [13:17] -
Coercion through Force, Threats, or Fraud:
"Coercion doesn't just mean physical harm. It includes creating a scheme intended to cause the victim to believe they would suffer serious harm if they didn’t comply." [14:09]
Lisa Rubin [15:13]:
"It looks less muddy from a legal perspective when you think about what the elements of some of the crimes are here." [15:13]
Rubin emphasizes that while there may not be a single "smoking gun," the cumulative evidence—including repeated abuse, drug use to incapacitate the victims, and the transactional nature of the relationship—builds a compelling case for coercion.
Andrea Canning [17:22]:
"These jury instructions are gonna be really important." [17:22]
Lisa Rubin [17:25]:
"They're gonna be huge. Complicated. Very complicated." [17:25]
Courtroom Dynamics and Inner Circle Insights
The episode also sheds light on the internal dynamics of Combs’s team during a critical moment in the trial. Jane testified about a meeting in Miami where Combs and his team strategized an apology following a widely publicized video incident.
Jane’s Testimony on the Miami Meeting:
Chloe Meloss [09:11]:
"She testified that Sean Combs had something to say about what happened in that hallway." [09:35]
Sean Combs [09:32]:
"My behavior on that video is inexcusable." [09:32]
Jane described how Combs's team sought to manage the fallout from the video, illustrating the pressures and manipulations within his inner circle.
Conclusion and Forward Look
As the trial progresses, Andrea Canning promises more detailed coverage in upcoming episodes, including additional evidence and testimonies that may further elucidate the complexities of the case. The episode concludes with a teaser for future discussions, highlighting the ongoing nature of the trial and the continuous revelations unfolding in the courtroom.
Andrea Canning [17:35]:
"Tomorrow we'll have more of the recordings played during Jane's testimony, including their phone calls right after she read Cassie Ventura's 2023 lawsuit." [17:35]
Final Thoughts
This episode of Dateline: True Crime Weekly provides a compelling and nuanced look into the Sean Combs racketeering trial. Through emotional testimonies, critical evidence, and expert legal analysis, Andrea Canning and her guests offer listeners an in-depth understanding of the case's complexities. The episode underscores the importance of cumulative evidence in legal proceedings and sets the stage for continued coverage of this high-profile trial.
Stay Updated:
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Production Credits:
Produced by Franny Kelly with contributions from the Dateline True Crime Weekly team. Senior Producers: Allison Orr and Liz Brown Karloff. Original Music by Jesse McGinty. Executive Producer: Paul Ryan. Senior Executive Producer: Liz Cole.