The week of the trial concluded with Cassie Ventura's closing statements, dramatic testimony from Dawn Richard — and lingering uncertainty.
Cassie Ventura Breaks Down on the Stand as Judge Presides Over Diddy’s Federal Trial
NEW YORK CITY — Tears filled Cassie Ventura’s eyes on Friday as she testified in a federal courtroom in Manhattan. Judge Arun Subramanian presided over the high-profile trial of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, who faces severe federal charges including sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation to engage in prostitution. If convicted, the charges could result in a life sentence. Combs has pleaded not guilty.
Ventura, 38, concluded her fourth and final day of testimony, enduring a strenuous cross-examination by Combs’s legal team. The courtroom, brimming with tension, also heard from two additional witnesses: singer Dawn Richard and Homeland Security agent Yasin Binda.
Defense Pushes Back as Ventura’s Testimony Ends
Visibly fatigued, Ventura fielded persistent questions from Combs’s defense attorneys who attempted to downplay her accounts, casting her as sexually assertive and suggesting that her recollections were inconsistent. They probed into the emotional and physical dynamics of her long-term relationship with Combs, now 55.
In a significant revelation, Ventura disclosed a $10 million settlement reached with InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG). This related to a brutal 2016 incident in which Combs assaulted her at one of their Los Angeles properties. IHG declined to comment when contacted by The Washington Post.
Flashback to a 2016 Assault and Aftermath
During her testimony, Ventura revisited the 2016 beating at the InterContinental. In the aftermath, text exchanges between her and Combs showed emotional dissonance: Combs apologized and initiated sexual overtures; Ventura responded, “We need a different vibe,” yet both ended the messages with “Love you.”
She also described attending a detox retreat in Sedona, Arizona shortly after, citing substance abuse struggles triggered by the trauma.
A Complex Relationship: Love, Assault, and Control
One particularly troubling focus was the alleged 2018 rape, followed by a consensual sexual encounter just weeks later. Ventura admitted, “We’d been together 10 years; you just don’t turn feelings off that way.” That same night, she missed a video call from her then-boyfriend (now husband), Alex Fine, who reacted violently upon learning of the encounter.
Despite their break, Ventura testified that Combs continued to reach out, sending her messages about missing her, congratulating her on her pregnancy, and saying he dreamed about her.
Audio Recording Unveils Ventura’s Outburst
A dramatic moment during cross-examination came when an audio recording was played in court. In it, Ventura is heard threatening to kill a DJ who allegedly possessed a video of her and Combs in a compromising situation. Her voice escalates from calm to furious:
“It’s my f---ing life, and I will kill you. I will kill you. I will cut you up, and I will hide you. … There’s not going to be blood on my hands. It’s going to be someone else.”
The defense also brought up a 2013 altercation during her brother’s birthday party, where she allegedly fought with another woman and told Combs, “I tried to kill the b----.”
Inside the Scene of Combs’s Arrest
Homeland Security agent Yasin Binda testified next, offering new insight into Combs’s arrest. The raid took place at the Park Hyatt in Manhattan. Combs was detained in the hotel lobby while agents searched his room.
What they found was chilling: bags of baby oil and lubricant, some stored in the bathtub and on the nightstand, a Louis Vuitton bag containing prescription drugs under the alias “Frank Black,” and pill bottles of ketamine and MDMA. An external hard drive and a fanny pack with $9,000 in cash were also recovered.
Binda demonstrated the evidence to the jury, fanning out the bills for visual impact.
Dawn Richard Testifies to Witnessing a Beating
To close the day, prosecutors brought in Dawn Richard, a former Danity Kane singer and ex-protégé of Combs. Richard recounted a violent 2009 incident at Combs’s home in Los Angeles. As she described it:
“He came downstairs angry… yelling at Cassie about his eggs. Then he went to the skillet and tried to hit her over the head with it.”
She testified that Ventura collapsed, and Combs continued beating her, dragging her upstairs. The next day, Richard and fellow bandmate Kalenna Harper were invited to record music with Combs. He allegedly referred to the violence as “passion” and warned them:
“Where I come from, people who talk end up missing.”
Richard is scheduled to return Monday, though the admissibility of all her statements remains under legal review.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs: A Trial That Shocks the Industry
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The Charges: Combs was indicted on five federal counts related to sex trafficking and racketeering.
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The Accusations: Since November 2023, Combs has faced over 70 sexual assault lawsuits. Cassie Ventura was the first to file a lawsuit that was settled within 24 hours.
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The Evidence: Surveillance footage, financial records, and disturbing testimonies from multiple women shape the prosecution’s case.
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The Stakes: This trial could serve as a defining moment in the broader conversation about abuse, power, and accountability in the entertainment industry.
Cassie Ventura’s Legacy in the Case
Having endured intense scrutiny and emotional toll, Cassie Ventura’s testimony may become one of the most pivotal aspects of the case. Her courage to speak, her detailed recollections, and the evidence corroborated by other witnesses may ultimately influence the course of this landmark trial.
As proceedings continue, the world watches closely.
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