First Site News - In a gripping testimony during Sean “Diddy” Combs’s ongoing sex trafficking trial, his former partner Casandra Ventura — known to the public as Cassie — described how the music mogul exerted control over her life through manipulation, threats, and sexual blackmail.
Speaking before a jury on Tuesday, the pregnant singer and model tearfully recounted years of alleged abuse, detailing how Combs maintained dominance over her by threatening to release compromising sexual material. “He controlled a lot of my life,” she said, pausing often during the emotional testimony, which is expected to span several days.
Jurors were shown hotel surveillance footage from March 2016, appearing to show Combs violently assaulting and dragging Ventura down a hallway. The incident reportedly took place at a Los Angeles-area InterContinental Hotel, where former security guard Israel Florez testified that he witnessed the aftermath and that Combs attempted to bribe him for his silence.
The footage, previously made public by CNN, is a critical piece of evidence in the case being built by federal prosecutors, who say Combs used threats, violence, and fear to coerce women into participating in drug-fueled sex parties.
Prosecutor Emily Johnson emphasized the gravity of the charges. “This case is not about a celebrity’s private sexual preferences,” she told jurors. “It’s coercive and criminal.” She also alleged that Combs once set a man's car on fire, dangled a woman from a balcony, and made extreme demands of those close to him.
Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including racketeering and sex trafficking. If convicted, he could face life in prison.
His defense attorney, Teny Geragos, acknowledged instances of domestic violence but argued they did not rise to the level of racketeering or sex trafficking. “This is a case about love, jealousy, infidelity, and money,” she said, describing the relationship between Combs and Ventura as toxic but consensual. “Being a willing participant in your own sex life is not sex trafficking.”
The court also heard from a male dancer who testified that he had a sexual relationship with both Combs and Ventura from 2012 to late 2013, often in exchange for money.
Combs, a prominent figure in hip-hop credited with helping to mainstream the genre, attended the proceedings alongside family and past romantic partners, including Misa Hylton. The trial is expected to continue for another eight to ten weeks.
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