LOS ANGELES — Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs exerted intense control over the life of his former partner, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, and allegedly used explicit material to manipulate and silence her, a jury heard Tuesday during his ongoing sex trafficking trial.
Ventura, who is currently pregnant, took the stand to recount years of alleged abuse, emotional manipulation, and blackmail. In her emotional testimony, she told jurors, “He controlled a lot of my life,” pausing several times to wipe away tears. She claimed Combs threatened to use sexually explicit videos to damage her career and reputation if she ever disobeyed or attempted to leave.
The harrowing testimony comes on the heels of hotel surveillance footage from March 2016 shown to the jury on Monday. In the video, Combs is allegedly seen violently assaulting Ventura—dragging and beating her in a hallway. The footage was authenticated by former InterContinental Hotel security officer Israel Florez, who testified that Combs offered him a bribe to keep quiet about the incident.
Florez’s account enabled the prosecution to submit the damning video, which CNN previously published. His testimony also painted a picture of Combs’s attempts to preserve his celebrity status at any cost, including through bribery and intimidation.
Federal prosecutors allege that Combs, 55, led a sex trafficking ring fueled by drugs, threats, violence, and coercion. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson emphasized to the jury, “This case is not about a celebrity’s private sexual preferences. It’s coercive and criminal.”
Johnson accused Combs of extreme acts, including setting a man’s car on fire and hanging a woman off a balcony. She described the environment surrounding Combs as one built on power and fear, where women and employees were subjected to abuse and manipulation.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to all charges, which include racketeering and sex trafficking. His defense attorney, Teny Geragos, admitted that the relationship between Combs and Ventura was troubled, describing it as “toxic” and fraught with “love, jealousy, infidelity, and money.” However, Geragos maintained that Combs’s actions did not rise to the level of sex trafficking.
“Being a willing participant in your own sex life is not sex trafficking,” she argued, asserting that the women involved were “capable, strong adults.” Geragos further acknowledged instances of domestic violence but emphasized that Combs is not currently facing charges related to that specific offense.
Also taking the stand was a male dancer who claimed to have had a transactional sexual relationship with both Combs and Ventura between 2012 and 2013. His testimony concluded on Tuesday.
If convicted, Combs—widely credited for helping bring hip-hop into the mainstream—could face life imprisonment. The high-profile trial is expected to continue for another eight to ten weeks. Combs was accompanied in court by family members and former partner Misa Hylton.
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