NOTE: The next article comprises disturbing particulars and video footage. Please learn at your personal discretion.
The mom of Cassie Ventura testified on Tuesday in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex-trafficking and racketeering trial, revealing that she paid the hip-hop mogul US$20,000 after he threatened to launch specific intercourse tapes of her daughter.
Combs grew to become offended that Cassie was relationship another person, her mom, Regina Ventura, testified on the trial on Could 20.
Regina mentioned that she felt “bodily sick” when she acquired an electronic mail from her daughter in late 2011 saying that Combs was planning to launch two specific movies of her and ship somebody to harm her and rapper Child Cudi, the person Cassie was seeing, whose full identify is Scott Mescudi.
Day 7
Regina was on the stand for about quarter-hour and answered the prosecutor’s questions on her daughter’s relationship with Combs.
She mentioned that her daughter had despatched her an electronic mail earlier than Christmas in 2011 to let her know that Combs was threatening to launch intercourse tapes.
“I didn’t perceive numerous it. The intercourse tapes threw me,” Regina instructed the Manhattan federal courtroom.
Regina mentioned she then acquired a requirement from Combs for $20,000 “to recoup cash he had spent on her as a result of he was sad she was in a relationship with Child Cudi.”
Child Cudi performs at 2015 Lollapalooza at Grant Park on Aug. 1, 2015, in Chicago, Sick.
Michael Hickey/Getty Pictures
“He was offended that he had spent cash on her and he or she went with one other individual,” she mentioned.
Regina testified that she had to make use of a house fairness mortgage to make the fee to Combs and wired it to an account related to Unhealthy Boy, Combs’ firm.
“I used to be scared for my daughter’s security,” she added.
Days later, she mentioned, the cash was returned, and Cassie and Combs started relationship once more shortly after.
Throughout her testimony, the jury was proven 4 pictures of Cassie with bruises on her physique, together with on her thigh and higher again. Regina mentioned she took the photographs of her daughter on Christmas Eve 2011 when she first instructed her that Combs had overwhelmed her.
Regina Ventura, mom of Cassie Ventura, departs the Manhattan Federal Courtroom throughout the Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ trial on Could 20, 2025, in New York Metropolis.
John Lamparski/Getty Pictures
Combs’ lawyer Marc Agnifilo declined to cross-examine Regina. As she left the witness stand, she stared straight at Combs, who regarded straight forward.
Earlier than the jury arrived on Tuesday, Agnifilo tried to influence Choose Arun Subramanian to disallow the testimony, saying it was “purely prejudicial” as a result of it illustrated the extensive distinction between the monetary standing of the Ventura household and Combs. The choose allowed it, saying the threats to launch intercourse tapes and hurt Cassie made it an occasion of “potential extortion.”
Combs’ private assistant felt his ‘life was at risk’
Earlier Tuesday, David James, Combs’ private assistant from 2007 to 2009, instructed the courtroom that he stop when he realized that his life had been put at risk after he was compelled to drive a automotive wherein Combs sat within the again seat with three handguns on his lap.
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James mentioned his job generally required him to make sure that resort rooms the place Combs stayed below the identify “Frank Black” had been stocked with the rapper’s comforts, together with recent underwear, an iPod, applesauce, vodka, child oil, Viagra and condoms.
He instructed the jurors that Combs didn’t journey mild and his Louis Vuitton frequently carried $10,000 in money “and generally way more.”
James recalled a time in 2008 when Combs requested him to convey an iPod from his Miami residence to a resort room. Upon coming into, James mentioned he noticed Cassie on the mattress with a white comforter pulled as much as her neck and an unfamiliar bare man with lengthy hair strolling throughout the room.
He mentioned that he by no means spoke to Cassie or Combs about what he noticed and that he by no means had conversations with them about their private affairs.
One other time, he mentioned Combs summoned him to his workplace to indicate him a video he had recorded at a celebration of James dancing wildly and instructed him: “OK. I’m going to maintain this footage in case I ever want it.”
James admitted that he was excessive on ecstasy at a New Yr’s Eve celebration within the video and he took it as a menace to maintain him in line.
“He thought it will be embarrassing for me,” James added.
James additionally described being required to take lie detector exams twice when Combs was looking for out who stole money in a single occasion, and a watch in one other.
“It was very intimidating,” James mentioned. “I had by no means taken a lie detector check earlier than.”
He mentioned Combs was on medication almost on daily basis, usually taking Percocet by day and ecstasy by night time. When he stocked Combs’ resort rooms, he mentioned, medication had been in a bag dropped off by safety, together with the tablet meant to appear to be then-president Barack Obama.
The second when James noticed the three weapons on Combs’ lap — he testified that he was concerned in Combs’ try and confront his music business rival Suge Knight at a Los Angeles diner in November 2008 — he knew he needed to stop, which he did shortly thereafter. (Cassie additionally testified in regards to the diner incident earlier within the trial.)
“I used to be actual shook up by it,” James testified. “This was the primary time being Mr. Combs’ assistant that I spotted my life was at risk. I instructed them I need to go away however give six months’ discover so I might prepare the subsequent assistant.”
David James, witness for the prosecution, arrives at Manhattan Federal Courtroom for the trial of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs on Could 20, 2025, in New York Metropolis.
John Lamparski/Getty Pictures
Taking up the cross-examination, Agnifilo requested James why he didn’t present extra particulars on the incident with Knight.
James mentioned that he was instructed “to not say something that will incriminate himself.”
He testified that Combs’ safety element usually included a second automotive when he was travelling. James mentioned Combs’ crew was “suspicious” of anybody “pulling up on him to shoot him.”
James mentioned that individuals would attempt to ask Combs for his autograph in public, which he wouldn’t signal. He mentioned employees would signal the objects and ship them out on Combs’ behalf.
“I don’t suppose ‘gracious’ is a phrase I’d use to explain him,” James mentioned.
Extra testimony about freak-offs
Earlier than Tuesday’s lunch break, Sharay Hayes, an unique dancer often known as “The Punisher,” testified that Combs and Cassie introduced him into the freak-offs world. He mentioned a girl — Cassie utilizing the pseudonym of “Janet” — referred to as and instructed him it was her birthday and that her husband mentioned she ought to rent a dancer.
Hayes, 51, mentioned he arrived at a Manhattan resort room anticipating to carry out a striptease for a small group of individuals however as an alternative discovered the girl who employed him — whom he later discovered was Cassie — alone with an in any other case bare man who hid his face with a burqa-like fabric. That man, he mentioned, turned out to be Combs.
Hayes recalled seeing bottles of child oil in bowls of water and getting handed a stack of $800 in money. Later, after Combs watched him have a sexual encounter with Cassie, he mentioned he was handed a further $1,200. He mentioned he was a fan of Combs however didn’t understand it was him within the room till a subsequent encounter at one other resort the place the message on the TV display mentioned: “Essex Home want to welcome Mr. Sean Combs.”
Hayes mentioned that Cassie instructed him to not acknowledge Combs, to attempt not to have a look at him or talk with him throughout the encounter.
He testified that in a dozen or extra sexual performances with the couple, Hayes by no means had the sense that Cassie was uncomfortable with it, including that he believed it appeared consensual.
Prosecutor Meredith Foster requested Hayes whether or not Cassie’s focus was on him or Combs.
Hayes mentioned that there was a constant consciousness of Combs and his notion.
A federal agent describes a raid of Combs’ residence
Jurors additionally noticed elements of two AR-15 rifles that federal brokers discovered final yr whereas looking out Combs’ mansion on Star Island, a star enclave off of Miami.
Particular agent Gerard Gannon, of Homeland Safety Investigations, testified that brokers executing a search warrant for the property in March 2024 used an armoured automobile to bust by way of Combs’ safety gate and had groups on boats close by.
Along with weapons, he mentioned they discovered platform excessive heels and objects that prosecutors say Combs ceaselessly used throughout his freak-off intercourse marathons, together with lingerie, intercourse toys, child oil, lubricant and condoms.
What Combs is on trial for
U.S. prosecutors allege that for 20 years, behind the scenes, Combs was coercing and abusing ladies with assist from a community of associates who helped silence victims by way of blackmail and violence.
Combs faces an indictment that features descriptions of freak-offs, that are outlined within the courtroom doc as “elaborate and produced intercourse performances that Combs organized, directed, masturbated throughout, and infrequently electronically recorded.”
Quite a few witnesses have come ahead to accuse Combs of terrorizing folks into silence by choking, hitting, kicking and dragging them, in accordance with prosecutors. One indictment alleges that Combs dangled somebody from a balcony.
Though dozens of women and men have alleged in lawsuits that Combs abused them, this trial will spotlight the claims of 4 ladies.
Combs is charged with intercourse trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to interact in prostitution. He has denied all the fees towards him and has rejected a plea deal, selecting to go to trial as an alternative.
If discovered responsible within the New York courtroom, he might face life in jail.
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Day 6 testimony
Day 5 testimony
Day 4 testimony
Day 3 testimony
Day 2 testimony
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World Information might be overlaying the Diddy trial in its entirety. Please test again for updates.
— With information from The Related Press
