Singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, a former girlfriend of Sean “Diddy” Combs and a key witness in the federal sex-trafficking and racketeering trial of the music mogul, returned to the stand on Thursday for cross-examination.
During the first few hours of cross-examination, Combs stared at Ventura as she answered questions. His sons and mother were present in the courtroom, as well as his publicist. Ventura’s husband was also present. As Ventura entered the courtroom, she did not look at Combs and had not looked at him yet as of Thursday’s lunch break. She’s been looking directly forward or to her screen showing the exhibits.
The defense team spent the first half hour of their cross-examination establishing the trust and love that was once between Ventura and Combs. The defense cited messages, via text and emails, between Combs and Ventura, to depict their relationship to the jury. Ventura later told the defense that the “freak-offs” were “an integral part” of her relationship with Combs.
Other messages between Combs and Ventura that were shared were much more graphic and detailed, depicting both former partners’ various desires. She also told the court that she took ecstasy and MDMA to “be high during the freak offs” and said that for points of their relationship, she and Combs were both addicted to opiates. At times during the cross-examination, Combs was seen nodding his head and whispering to his lawyers. He would sometimes turn around to look at who is in the courtroom. During Ventura’s second day of testimony on Wednesday, she provided more details about the physical and psychological abuse she alleged she experienced from Combs during their on-and-off again relationship that lasted about 11 years, and accused the music mogul of rape and blackmail.
At one point on the stand, Ventura broke down in tears as she testified that Combs raped her in 2018 at her home after they had broken up. She told the court that she and Combs had met up for a meal, for what she thought would be a “closure conversation”. During the meal, she described Combs as “playful” and “nice”, but said that Combs drove her back to her apartment after and raped her. The alleged rape was first mentioned in 2023 when Ventura filed a civil lawsuit against Combs. The lawsuit accused him of physical and sexual abuse. Combs has denied the allegations.
Combs is facing charges including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty and denies all allegations. If convicted, Combs, who has been jailed since his arrest last year, could spend the rest of his life in prison.
In the final hour of testimony on Wednesday, prosecutors asked Ventura why she decided to testify against Combs:
“I can’t carry this any more. I can’t carry the shame, the guilt, the way I was guided to treat people like they were disposable. What’s right is right, what’s wrong is wrong. I am here to do the right thing.”