Cassie Assault Footage Admissible in Diddy’s Trial, Federal Judge Rules

Photo Credit: Sean “Diddy” Combs for Cannes Lions Learnings / CC by 3.0

Footage of Diddy physically assaulting Cassie Ventura will be shown to the jury in his criminal sex trafficking trial, a federal judge has ruled. The trial is scheduled to begin next month.

Sean “Diddy” Combs and his legal team pushed to have the 2016 hotel footage of him brutally assaulting then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura excluded from the evidence in his upcoming trial. But a federal judge has denied those requests, allowing the footage to be shown to the jury.

Despite his repeated efforts to exclude the footage, Combs admitted in May 2024—just after the footage was aired by CNN—to physically assaulting Ventura. He posted an apology video on his Instagram account, calling his behavior in the footage “inexcusable,” and taking “full responsibility” for his actions.

However, Combs and his attorneys have since claimed the footage was inaccurate. But Judge Arun Subramanian said many of the defense’s concerns can be alleviated “through technology.” Prosecutors said they had a video expert going through the footage and further verifying its authenticity.

CNN has also doubled down on their assertion that they did not alter the footage. “CNN never altered the video and did not destroy the original copy of the footage, which was retained by the source,” said a spokesperson for CNN. “[We] aired the story about the video several months before Combs was arrested.”

Combs has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution, and racketeering conspiracy. He has been held without bail at a federal detention center in New York City since his arrest while he awaits trial. Jury selection begins on May 5, while opening statements are expected to begin on May 12.

Marc Agnifilo, Combs’ lead attorney, suggested in a court hearing on Friday that Combs is simply a “swinger,” rather than a sexual predator. This offers some insight into the defense’s strategy, claiming all Combs’ sexual encounters were consensual. However, assertions that some encounters involved minors would undoubtedly throw that theory out the window, even without the footage of his vicious assault on Cassie.

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