U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian has ruled that a 2016 surveillance video depicting Sean “Diddy” Combs assaulting his then-girlfriend, singer Cassie Ventura, will be admissible as evidence.
This development occurred in a pivotal decision ahead of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial.
The footage, recorded in a Los Angeles hotel hallway, shows Combs kicking and dragging Ventura. Despite objections from Combs’ legal team, who argued the video was prejudicial and manipulated, the judge determined its relevance outweighed potential bias.
The trial, set to commence on May 5, 2025, in New York, stems from a September 2024 indictment accusing Combs of operating a criminal enterprise that facilitated sex trafficking and other offenses. Prosecutors allege that Combs orchestrated events where women were coerced into sexual acts, often involving drugs and violence. Ventura, expected to testify under her real name, is identified as “Victim-1” in the indictment.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to the charges and remains in custody at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center. His legal team has attempted to delay the trial and exclude certain evidence, including the aforementioned video, but these efforts have been unsuccessful.
The inclusion of the 2016 assault video is expected to play a significant role in the prosecution’s case, providing jurors with visual evidence of Combs’ alleged abusive behavior. The trial is anticipated to shed light on the broader allegations against the music mogul and the operations of his entertainment empire.
