By Jack Queen and Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK (Reuters) -Sean "Diddy" Combs' defense team sought to portray Casandra Ventura on Thursday as a willing participant in his drug-fueled sex performances known as "Freak Offs,

Casandra "Cassie" Ventura is opening up about why she participated in the "Freak Offs" — hours-long sex parties where she alleges her former boyfriend Sean "Diddy" Combs forced her into sexual activities with other men.

Freak-offs have become a central part of the government’s case, which charges Mr. Combs with sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution. Mr. Combs has pleaded not guilty, and his lawyers have strongly denied that any of his sexual encounters with women were not consensual.

Combs faces five federal charges of racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution, to which he has pleaded not guilty.

Sean "Diddy" Combs is on trial. Here are the most striking revelations so far.

Sean "Diddy" Combs, who is on trial for alleged sex trafficking among other allegations, was accused by his ex of hosting "freak offs"

Media outlets are asking the judge in Sean "Diddy" Combs' case to allow the press to view video evidence of "freak-offs."

Texts between Sean 'Diddy' Combs and Cassie Ventura were shown to the jury, which included messages about preparing for a 'freak off'.

Sean 'Diddy' Combs is on trial facing a number of charges, including racketeering conspiracy, sex ­trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and transportation to engage in prostitution

In a 2009 message, Cassie told her former partner Sean "Diddy" Combs that she was "always ready" to participate in freak-offs.