Cassie Ventura, the longtime former girlfriend of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, is set to serve as the star witness in his highly anticipated federal trial, which is scheduled to begin later this month.
Her testimony is expected to be pivotal, given her decade-long relationship with Combs and her direct involvement in several allegations at the heart of the case.
In November 2023, Cassie filed a civil lawsuit against Diddy, accusing him of rape, human trafficking, and orchestrating so-called “freak offs”—alleged scenarios in which Diddy arranged sexual encounters between Cassie and male prostitutes while he watched.
Though Diddy’s legal team initially dismissed the suit as a “shakedown,” it was quietly settled just a day later for an undisclosed sum.
While the NYPD at the time claimed Diddy wasn’t under investigation, a wave of new lawsuits quickly followed from additional accusers. Federal agents later raided Combs’ properties in Los Angeles, New York, and Miami—raids reportedly supported by Cassie’s cooperation with authorities, suggesting she may have helped investigators secure critical warrants.
The case took another dramatic turn in May 2024, when CNN released surveillance footage showing Diddy physically assaulting Cassie in a hotel hallway. The video shows Cassie attempting to flee a room before being violently thrown to the ground by Combs.
The footage has sparked legal debate over its admissibility, with Diddy’s team bringing in expert witnesses to question its context and authenticity.
Of the four alleged victims set to testify, Cassie is the only one appearing under her real name. Jury selection begins tomorrow, with opening statements expected early next week.
