*As Sean “Diddy” Combs faces a federal sex trafficking trial set to begin May 12, his defense team is preparing to attack the credibility of his former partner, Cassie Ventura, who is expected to be a central witness for the prosecution.
Cassie, who dated Combs on and off from 2007 to 2018, will testify under her real name, unlike three other alleged victims who will use pseudonyms in court. Her testimony is expected to include graphic accounts of “years’ worth of beatings, drug-fueled coercive sex marathons, and multiple rapes,” according to reports.
In a pre-trial hearing, Combs’ attorney Marc Agnifilo stated his strategy is to portray the relationship as “mutually violent,” telling the judge, “I think we’re probably going to refer to that as domestic violence.” As Page Six reports, U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian has said he will determine this week whether such claims will be admissible during the trial.
Cassie’s name became publicly tied to the case in November 2023 when she filed a lawsuit accusing Combs of rape and abuse. Though that case was settled in less than 24 hours, her role in the federal investigation intensified after a disturbing 2016 hotel surveillance video was published by CNN. In the footage, Combs is seen violently attacking her, an incident he later admitted to in a now-deleted apology video, calling it “inexcusable” and “disgusting.”
Combs, 55, is currently being held without bail at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center. He was arrested in September 2024 on charges including racketeering, sex trafficking, and transporting individuals for prostitution. The arrest came after federal raids on his homes uncovered assault rifles and thousands of bottles of lubricant.
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Despite the mounting evidence and his rejected plea deal, Combs maintains his innocence. His attorney claims the case has been misrepresented, insisting, “There’s a lifestyle, call it swingers or whatever you will… he thought it was appropriate because it was common.”
Opening statements are expected to begin on May 12.
MORE NEWS ON EURWEB.COM: Cassie Ventura to Testify in Diddy’s Sex Trafficking Trial
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