Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ Ex-Girlfriend Continues Testimony in High-Profile Sex Trafficking Trial – RT
The federal criminal trial of hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs entered its third day on Wednesday, with his former girlfriend and key prosecution witness, Casandra "Cassie" Ventura, resuming her testimony in Manhattan federal court. Ventura, a 38-year-old rhythm and blues singer, detailed a decade-long relationship marked by alleged abuse and coercion, central to the allegations of sex trafficking and racketeering against Combs.
Ventura testified that she participated in Combs' drug-fueled parties, known as "Freak Offs," often out of fear of violence if she refused. These events, she said, could last up to four days, with Combs directing every detail, from her appearance to her interactions with male escorts. Jurors were shown a 2016 surveillance video from a Los Angeles hotel hallway, where a towel-clad Combs is seen throwing Ventura to the ground and kicking her after a "Freak Off" that left her with a black eye. Ventura recounted feeling that staying on the ground was the safest option during the assault.
The prosecution alleges that Combs, 55, used his business empire, including Bad Boy Records, to orchestrate a criminal enterprise involving sex trafficking, forced labor, and other crimes over two decades. Ventura described Combs’ controlling behavior, including threats to ruin her career with videos of the "Freak Offs," which she said derailed her music career and left her with physical and emotional scars, including black eyes, bruises, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to five felony counts, including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. If convicted, he faces a minimum of 15 years in prison, with the possibility of a life sentence. His defense team argues that the sexual activities were consensual, part of a "swinger" lifestyle, and that the hotel video reflects a domestic dispute rather than evidence of trafficking. They are expected to cross-examine Ventura to challenge her credibility, citing her $20 million settlement with Combs in 2023, reached just 24 hours after she filed a civil lawsuit accusing him of rape and abuse.
The trial, presided over by U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, has drawn significant attention, with Combs’ family, including his mother Janice and sons Quincy, Justin, and Christian, present in court. Ventura, who is pregnant and due to deliver next month, has been emotional on the stand, fighting back tears as she recounted the abuse. Prosecutors may call additional accusers and former employees to testify about Combs’ alleged criminal conduct, while the defense has signaled plans to question Ventura’s own actions, including instances where she initiated physical violence.
The case, expected to last up to eight weeks, continues to unfold with intense public scrutiny, as Combs, a pivotal figure in hip-hop known for launching the careers of artists like Notorious B.I.G. and Mary J. Blige, faces allegations that could redefine his legacy.