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Cassie Ventura Poised to Testify Against Sean “Diddy” Combs in Federal Trial
Casandra “Cassie” Ventura is reportedly prepared to take the stand and offer testimony against Sean “Diddy” Combs in his forthcoming federal trial. The singer and performer is expected to testify openly, using her own name, in the legal proceedings slated to commence on May 5. This development arrives amidst ongoing legal scrutiny surrounding the music mogul and mounting accusations of serious misconduct.
Ventura to Forego Anonymity in Testimony
According to reports from People magazine, Cassie Ventura intends to publicly identify herself as she testifies in the federal trial against Sean “Diddy” Combs. This information was confirmed in a motion filed by prosecutors in April, which explicitly stated that “Victim-1,” understood to be Ventura, would not be testifying anonymously.
“She is prepared to testify under her own name,” the court filing declared. In contrast, the document noted that “Victim-2, Victim-3 and Victim-4 have requested that their identities remain confidential from the press and the public.”
Prosecutors involved in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ current legal battle have refuted allegations of intentionally disseminating video footage depicting the acclaimed rapper physically assaulting Cassie, his former girlfriend, in 2016. Court documents, submitted on Wednesday, October 30 and accessed by Us Weekly, showcase prosecutors opposing Diddy’s petitions for a gag order pertaining to the video. “The Court should deny the Leak Motion […]
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Us Weekly has reached out to representatives for both Ventura and Combs for comments on the impending trial and testimony.
Diddy’s Indictment and Allegations
In September 2024, Combs faced indictment on charges including sex trafficking and racketeering following his arrest in New York City. The 14-page indictment, reviewed by Us, details accusations that the rapper allegedly “abused, menaced, and coerced women and individuals within his circle.”
The alleged incidents, as stated in the indictment, were purportedly enacted to satisfy “his sexual urges, safeguard his image, and conceal his actions,” with some dating back to 2009. Combs has denied all accusations and is currently held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York.
“We are disappointed by the choice to pursue what we consider an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” Combs’ attorney, Marc Agnifilo, conveyed to Us in a September 2024 statement. “Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is a celebrated music figure, a self-made entrepreneur, a devoted family man, and a recognized philanthropist who has dedicated the past three decades to building an empire, cherishing his children, and striving to uplift the Black community. While imperfect, he is not a criminal.”
Cassie’s Prior Allegations Against Sean Combs
Prior to the commencement of Diddy’s trial, it is important to revisit the allegations Cassie Ventura previously leveled against the music executive.
Details of Cassie’s Lawsuit
Cassie Gotham/GC Images
In November 2023, Us verified that Cassie Ventura had initiated legal action against Combs, accusing him of rape and sustained physical abuse spanning nearly a decade. Ventura and Combs maintained an on-again, off-again romantic relationship from 2007 to 2018.
“After years of enduring silence and obscurity, I am finally prepared to articulate my narrative,” Ventura stated at the time, “and to advocate for myself and for the betterment of other women who encounter violence and maltreatment in their relationships.”
In her lawsuit, Ventura asserted that Combs established a pattern of dominance and mistreatment subsequent to their initial meeting in 2005. She alleged that Combs pressured her into drug use, physically assaulted her, and coerced her into engaging in sexual acts with male sex workers while being filmed.
Ventura is characterized as “a victim of sex trafficking” in the legal documents, asserting that the described events transpired in upscale hotels and Combs’ residences across the United States.
Diddy’s Response to Initial Claims
Sean Combs Dave Benett/Getty Images
Shortly after Ventura’s lawsuit was filed, Combs refuted his former girlfriend’s claims through a statement issued by his legal representative.
“Mr. Combs vehemently denies these offensive and preposterous allegations,” his attorney Ben Brafman stated to Us. “For the preceding six months, Mr. Combs has been the recipient of Ms. Ventura’s relentless demand for $30 million, under the threat of publishing a damaging account of their relationship, a proposition unequivocally dismissed as blatant extortion. Despite retracting her initial threat, Ms. Ventura has now resorted to initiating a lawsuit saturated with unfounded and outrageous falsehoods, intending to damage Mr. Combs’s reputation and extract a financial settlement.”
By November 2023, Ventura reached a settlement in her lawsuit against Combs. “I have opted to resolve this issue amicably under conditions that afford me some degree of control,” Ventura stated. “I extend my gratitude to my family, supporters, and legal counsel for their unwavering support.”
Combs’ legal team clarified that the settlement did not imply guilt on his part. “To be explicitly clear, the decision to settle a lawsuit, especially in 2023, does not constitute an acknowledgment of wrongdoing,” Brafman conveyed in a statement to Us. “Mr. Combs’ decision to settle this lawsuit in no manner undermines his outright denial of the allegations. He is pleased to have reached a mutual settlement and wishes Ms. Ventura well.”
CNN Airs Video of Diddy and Cassie Incident
Cassie Ventura and Sean “Diddy” Combs attend the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 7, 2018 in New York City. John Shearer/Getty Images
Roughly six months after Ventura and Combs settled the aforementioned lawsuit, CNN obtained video evidence allegedly depicting the rap magnate assaulting Ventura in 2016.
“The harrowing video has further substantiated the disturbing and predatory conduct of Mr. Combs,” Ventura’s attorney Douglas Wigdor stated to Us following the video’s re-emergence in May 2024. “Words are insufficient to convey the bravery and resilience Ms. Ventura has demonstrated in stepping forward to bring this matter to public attention.”
Subsequently, Combs issued an apology for his actions in a video posted on Instagram. “It’s challenging to reflect on the darkest periods of your life, but sometimes it’s necessary,” Combs stated. “I was wrong. I have reached a low point, and I offer no justifications. My behavior in that video is inexcusable. I accept complete accountability for my actions in that video. I am ashamed.”
In a court document pertaining to Combs’ federal indictment, acquired by TMZ in March, Combs’ legal representatives claimed that “CNN procured the sole known copy of the hotel’s surveillance footage, uploaded it into freely available editing software, manipulated the video, and then destroyed the original footage, despite awareness of and repeated reporting on the federal investigation.”
CNN has refuted these assertions, maintaining that they never altered the video and did not destroy the original copy, which remained in the possession of their source. CNN also emphasized that their news coverage of the video preceded Combs’ arrest by several months.
Cassie Ventura’s Role in the Upcoming Trial
Weeks after reports emerged regarding Ventura’s anticipated testimony in the Combs trial, her legal counsel submitted a motion on April 17 requesting the judge to nullify a subpoena directed at her. According to Ventura’s legal team, Combs issued a subpoena on March 19 seeking her financial records and “all draft memoirs, autobiographies, narratives, diaries, journals or notes … and any communications concerning plans to publish or threaten to publish such a document.”
In an official letter to the judge acquired by Us, Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky concurred with Ventura’s motion to dismiss the subpoena, deeming it “clearly improper” and noting that the draft memoirs would constitute “inadmissible hearsay.”
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, please reach out to the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).